The Holy Spirit, Adoption, and Hope - Romans

Even though believers are God's children, we still experience troubles, sufferings, and doubts. But we can have assurance that we are God's children through the work of the Holy Spirit who gives us hope in times of trouble.
This passage shows us three things about the Holy Spirit that gives us this hope. 1) The Spirit leads God's children. 2) The Spirit is the Spirit of adoption. 3) The Spirit testifies that we are God's children, and thus God's heirs and co-heirs with Christ. Being co-heirs with Jesus gives us hope for the future (1 Peter 1:3-5).
What does this hope look like in our lives?
Romans 8:18-25: the hope of glory inspires us to persevere
Romans 8:26-27: when we can't find the words to pray, the Spirit intercedes and prays for us
Romans 8:28-30: God will see us through our troubles and conform us to the image of Jesus
Romans 8:31-39: God keeps us in his love.
We have the Holy Spirit of adoption indwelling us, leading us, testifying that we do indeed belong to God as his children. And he testifies to the hope that we have because we are God's children: heirs of an eternal inheritance that outshines and outweighs our present struggles, doubts, troubles, and sufferings.
This sermon was preached on Sunday PM, July 21, 2024, at Zion Hill Baptist Church, Farmerville, LA.