“How Do You Know?”
"Those who are led by the Spirit of God
are sons of God."
Romans 8:14
"Oh Don," I recall my University of Minnesota academic advisor saying, "there are so many different ways of being a Christian. Which is right?" My religion class was offered in the "Classics" department which gave some indication of where the University thought religion belonged. My advisor and professor denied any supernatural possibilities yet seemed pleased with his Lutheran ordination. His skepticism gutted his question of the hope of any single answer. He suffered from having an open mind - open at both ends!
Still, his question is legitimate and our text speaks to it. "How do you know who the real "children of God" are? What is the right way of being a Christian? The right way, the Apostle Paul said, is way that is led by the Spirit of God. The true children of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God. Granted, you may find this less well defined than you wished, however, maybe God wanted it that way. It is simple without being simplistic. The Spirit of God reveals Himself in the Word of God. Study it and follow it. It will lead you to repentance of your sin; it will reveal to you the grace God offers you in Christ's death and it will give you the hope of eternal life through the resurrection of Christ. It will motivate you to love as Jesus loved. This is the way of the Spirit of God.