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Knowing as Assurance in Faith Secures Our Hearts in Christ


Romans 8:1-17 starts with the words, "there is now no condemnation." That sounds like good news.
This passage tells me that it is not God's plan to condemn me.
If I feel condemned, it is not because of God.
Instead, God made a way for me to be out from under the law of sin and death that brings fear (of the unknown). 
It is God's plan for me to know He does not condemn me, and that He has set me free from sin/death/fear/the unknown.
How? He has a plan.
God's plan is to help me to fulfill another law He has in mind: the law of righteousness.
God will enable me (through the Spirit) to walk in this new way--a way by the Spirit--a way of life and peace, the way of righteousness.
It is the only way to please Him and He actively guides me on this way to do so.
God's plan is that He wants:
-me to know that the Spirit of God dwells in me and I belong to Him!
-to reanimate my body by the Holy Spirit to live before others to show them what living according to His law looks like.
-me to experience life by transformation--as I walk by His Spirit I am morphed into His real life, real-time child.
-me to know I am adopted, I belong to Him!
-me to cry out to Him as my new daddy, “Abba! Father!” There is nothing between us; no law to keep us apart.
-to bear witness with my spirit that I am His child, His heir, and a fellow heir with Christ.
-me to suffer like His Son did, which is yet another way for me to know I am His legitimate child.
God does not want me to go through life not knowing I belong. He wants me to have assurance.
He has done everything needed for me to know this. 

So how do move from sin, death, and fear of the unknown? 
I come to KNOW it. God helps me to know.
How do I KNOW? His Spirit is within me, I am being transformed, I look different, I act different, I feel different, I desire different, I please God and I know it, I belong to HIm and I know it, His Spirit speaks to me telling me I am His, and when I suffer, it reminds me of Jesus and I have joy because I know...I know more and more every day, I am not alone. I belong. I am not afraid. 
The things I am doing please Somebody. 
And I have an inheritance with Christ.
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