罗马书8:9
如果神的灵住在你们心里，你们就不属肉体，乃属圣灵了。
人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。
此经文说，惟有领受圣灵者是属基督的。那么那些已接受水洗，但是还未领受圣灵的，他们是属于谁的？
当一个人接受水洗后，明显的，他是属基督的。但要有资格成为真神的儿子，他必定要领受圣灵。就好像以色列子民离开埃及地，经过红海，在云里海里受洗归了摩西一样，当时法老王和军兵在后边追赶。今日虽然我们受洗归入基督，就是在主耶稣基督的保护之下，但是撒但会继续追赶我们。正如以色列民在旷野受试炼，要看他们是否顺从真神的诫命。但是他们最终是否能进入应许之地是另一回事。
一个人没有圣灵还不是儿子，但是他是属真神的。主耶稣对尼哥底母说：人若不重生就不能见神的国。要进神的国，人必须从水和圣灵生。所以单接受水洗和领受圣灵的印证为儿子是有分别的。拥有真神圣灵的，是真神的儿子。正如主耶稣基督接受水洗后，从水里上来，圣灵降在祂的身上，祂是神的儿子。最重要的是能进入真神的国度，得着长子的基业。受洗者要继续追求得着儿子的名分，领受圣灵者要继续保守长子的名分。接受水洗后，我们不再属撒但，乃是归入了主耶稣的名下了。
约13：8 彼得说："你永不可洗我的脚！"耶稣说："我若不洗你，你就与我无分了。"
接受水洗后，我们接受洗脚礼，正如主耶稣所说的：“我若不洗你，你就与我无分了。”
一个人受洗和接受洗脚礼后，就是属真神的。换句话说，接受真神合法大水洗后，我们就脱离罪，不再属于魔鬼。而是属于真神，成为真神的子民。
彼前2：9-10 惟有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属神的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗、入奇妙光明者的美德。10你们从前算不得子民，现在却作了神的子民；从前未曾蒙怜恤，现在却蒙了怜恤。
那些领受水洗还未得着圣灵的，是披戴了主耶稣基督救恩，成了真神的子民。
罗8：16-17 圣灵与我们的心同证我们是神的儿女；17既是儿女，便是后嗣，就是神的后嗣，和基督同作后嗣。如果我们和他一同受苦，也必和他一同得荣耀。
要成为真神的儿子，就必须要有真神的灵同在。唯有领受了神的灵，有真神的灵与我们同证，我们才是真神的儿女。
加4：6-7 你们既为儿子，神就差他儿子的灵进入你们（注：原文作"我们"）的心，呼叫："阿爸，父！"7可见，从此以后，你不是奴仆，乃是儿子了。既是儿子，就靠着神为后嗣。
唯有儿子才能成为后嗣，承受产业。受洗归入基督，就是披戴了主耶稣基督的救恩，成了真神所拣选、蒙恩的子民。然而还必须要进一步从真神的子民，领受神的恩典，成为真神的儿子、后嗣。从前算不得子民，现在却蒙拣选作了神的子民。从真神的子民进一步，成为真神的儿子。
接受了水洗后，我们成为真神的子民。在真神的恩典中，我们进一步成为真神的儿子。
一切荣耀归给主耶稣，哈利路亚，阿们！
ROMANS 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
This verse tells us that only those who have received the Holy Spirit belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. For those who have been baptised but have yet to receive the Holy Spirit, who do they belong to?
It is obvious that one belongs to God after undergoing water baptism. However, he must receive the Holy Spirit in order to receive the status as a son of God.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were pursued by Pharaoh and his soldiers after they left Egypt. Nevertheless, they were able to cross the Red Sea to safety through God’s grace. The Israelites were baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Similarly today, we have to face the pursuit of our enemy, Satan although we have been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and have come under His protection. We have to face trials and tribulations just like the Israelites whose obedience to God’s commandments was tested in the wilderness.
The Lord Jesus Christ told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.
A man must be born of water AND of the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God. The Bible tells us that after the Lord Jesus Christ was baptised, the Holy Spirit descended on Him when He came out of the water. A voice came out from heaven acknowledging Him as the Son of God. This shows us that we cannot become the sons of God if we have merely undergone water baptism without having received the seal of the Holy Spirit.
John 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
After receiving water baptism, we need to undergo feet washing as the Lord Jesus said, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”
A person will belong to God after he has received water baptism and has undergone feet washing. In other words, he has departed from sin and no longer belongs to the devil after receiving God’s correct mode of water baptism.
1Pet. 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Those who have received water baptism but have yet to receive the Holy Spirit have put on the salvation grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and have become the people of God. However, they are not the sons of God.
Rom. 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And 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.
We need to have the presence of the Holy Spirit in us for us to become the sons of God. God’s Spirit will bear witness with our spirit that we are His children.
Gal. 4:6-7 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Only a son can become an heir to an inheritance. Being baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ means putting on His salvation grace and becoming God’s chosen people whom He views favourably. However, we need to go a step further if we want to enter into the heavenly kingdom. From being God’s chosen people, we must pray for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in order to become His sons and heirs.
May all glory be to the Lord Jesus Christ, Hallelujah! Amen.