Romans 8:16-17 (KJV)

16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together.

I love before and after pictures. Whether it is a home, person, or place, the before pictures show a need, the after pictures show a result. Before God saved us, our hearts were filled with hatred for Him (Romans 1), we were condemned in our sins (Romans 2-3), and we had no hope of ever escaping our predicament (Romans 4-6). Through the Spirit's work we were changed. Now the Spirit actively testifies to us three things:

1. We have a special relationship . . ."we are the children of God . . ." (v.16).
   There is a doctrine afoot in the world today called the Universal Fatherhood of God, which states that every human being is actually a child of God. This is not correct. God is only a Father to His people. Only His people have the right to cry, "Abba."
   "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14).
   "To as many as received him, to them gave he power to be sons of God" (John 1:12).
   "For ye are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26).
   "The children of the flesh, these are not the children of God" (Romans 9:8).
   God's children are those whom He has "predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of the Father" (Ephesians 1:5).
   There is a two-fold witness to this special relationship: "The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit . . ." (v.16).
   1. The Holy Spirit -- His movement is undetected, but His work is undeniable.
   2. My spirit -- just as a son longs for his father, we long for God's presence.
2. We have a special reward . . . "if children, then heirs of God" (v.17).
   In our world, only one can be considered the heir of the fortune, but not so in heaven. Notice, it is "heirs of God" not "heirs of God's riches." Who is God? He is good, all-wise, omnipotent, gracious and loving to His people. You inherit Him for all eternity. But you are also called "a co-heir of Christ." As a spouse shares possessions with his wife, so Christ shares His possessions, called "unsearchable riches" with His bride. As a believer we share not only in God's grace and glory, but in worldly grief as well. "In the world, ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer . . ." (John 16:33).
3. We have a special responsibility . . . "that we also may be glorified together" (v.17)
   In the golden age of Rome, when a Roman citizen was tempted to be dishonest, or tempted to taint his character with immoral conduct, he would stand tall and shout: "I am a Roman!" How much more should believer's shout, "I am God's child!"
   1. When faced with difficult temptation . . . "I am God's child!"
   2. When faced with persecution . . . "I am God's child!"
   3. When faced with imminent danger . . . "I am God's child!"
   4. When faced with discouragement in well doing . . . "I am God's child!"
   "May you be holy, harmless, sons of God, without rebuke,
   in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation."
   Charles Haddon Spurgeon