Section 14
have not received a spirit of slavery to fear again, but you have received a spirit of sonship in which we cry, Abba, Father." As sons of God, we cry, "Abba, Father." Through the dispensing of the Triune God, we have truly become God's sons in life; we are not sons-in-law. If we were merely sons-in-law, we could not call, "Abba, Father," so sweetly. This is illustrated by a man's relation ship to his father and to his father-in-law. When he calls his father "Dad," it comes naturally and feels very sweet. But if he uses this term with respect to his father-in-law, it does not come nat urally or feel sweet. The fact that we are God's sons in life is proved by the sense of sweetness we enjoy whenever we call, "Abba, Father." As sons of God, we have within us the life of God, the nature of God, and the Spirit of the Son of God.
THE FIRSTFRUIT
According to verse 23 we also have the first fruit of the Spirit. The firstfruit of the Spirit is the first taste, the foretaste, of the Spirit. Today we have the indwelling Spirit as the foretaste of our enjoyment of God. This foretaste gives us the assurance that the full taste is coming.