Gal. 3 : 8, seq. John I : 12. 1 John 3:2," Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be," &c. The term may indeed express any one of the various relations in which children stand to their parents, as derived from them, dependent on them, &c. &c. The above, however, are the most common of its meanings. In this pas- sage the first and third ideas appear specially intended. ' Believers shall live, because they are the peculiar objects of the divine aifection, and are heirs of his kingdom,' vs. 15, 16. That those who are led by the Spirit are really the sons of God, appears from their own filial feelings, and from the testimony of the Spirit.
For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear^ hut ye have received the Spirit of adoption, &c. That is, * The Holy Spirit, which you have received, does not produce a slavish and anxious state of mind, such as those experience who are under the law ; but it produces the filial feelings of affection, reverence, and confidence, and enables us, out of the fulness of our hearts, to call God our Father.'
The phrase, the spirit of bondage, may mean a feeling or sense of bond- age, as " spirit of meekness," 1 Cor. 4 : 21, may mean meekness itself; and " spirit of fear," 2 Tim. 1 : 7, fear itself. This use of the word spirit is not uncommon. Or it may mean the Holy Spirit as the author of bondage. ' Believers have not received a spirit which produces slavish feelings, but the reverse.' The context is decidedly in favour of this view : because Paul has been speaking of the Holy Spirit as dwelling in Christians. This Spirit is that which- they have received, and is the author of their characteristic feelings. In the words again to fear there is an evident allusion to the state of believers prior to the reception of the Spirit. It was a state of bondage in which they feared, i. e. were go- verned by a slavish and anxious apprehension of punishment. In this state are all unconverted men, whether Jews or Gentiles, because they are all under the law, or the bondage of a legal system.
Spirit of adoption; the spirit which produces the feelings which chil- dren have. Adoption is for sonship. By which we cry, Abba, Father, i. e. which enables us to address God as our Father. Jihba is the Syriac and Chaldee form of the Hebrew word for father, and, therefore, was to the apostle the most familiar term. As such, it would doubtless, more natu- rally and fully, express his filial feeling towards God, than the foreign Greek word.
(16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. ' Not only do our own filial feelings towards God prove that we are his children, but the Holy Spirit itself conveys to our souls the assurance of this delightful fact.'
The Spirit itself is, of course, the Holy Spirit, 1. Because of the obvious distinction between it and our spirit. 2. Because of this use of the word throughout the passage ; and 3.' Because of the analogy to other texts which cannot be otherwise explained. Gal. 4:6," God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father ;" Rom,