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I. A WONDERFUL AND AN INEXPLICABLE PRIVILEGE. What an honour (Proverbs 17:6)! What an advantage (Romans 8:17)! In this name we have —

1. A spiritual right to all the creatures of God (1 Corinthians 3:21-23).

2. An interest in God Himself (Isaiah 49:15, 16; 1 John 4:16).

3. The service and guardianship of angels (Psalm 91:11; Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 1:14).

4. A certain and infallible claim to eternal glory (Colossians 1:12; Matthew 25:34).

II. THE MEANS OF THE ENJOYMENT OF THIS PRIVILEGE.

1. This privilege is not natural to man. By nature we are

(1)  children of this world (Luke 16:8); or worse,

(2)  a seed of falsehood (Isaiah 57:4); or yet worse,

(3)  children of unrighteousness and darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5); or yet worse,

(4)  sons of wilful disobedience (Ephesians 2:3); or worst of all,

(5)  children of wrath (Ephesians 2:2).

2. This enjoyment may be obtained by

(1)  Adoption (Ephesians 1:5);

(2)  Regeneration; not of water only, so we are all sacramentally regenerated; but of the Holy Ghost (1 John 1:12, 13; John 3:5).

3. Union with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 4:15; James 1:18).

4. By means of faith as saith the text.

III. HOW SHALL WE KNOW THAT WE ENJOY THIS PRIVILEGE. Every child of God is —

1. Like his Father (1 Peter 1:15, 16);

(1)  He is merciful; are we cruel?

(2)  He is righteous; are we unjust?

(3)  He is slow to anger; are we furious?

(4)  He is abhorrent of evil; do we take pleasure in wickedness?

2. Bears a filial answering to a paternal love.

3. Reverences his Father (Malachi 1:6).

4. Is obedient to his Father.

5. But beyond this there is the witness and guidance of the Holy Spirit of our Father.

(Bishop Hall.)

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KJV: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

WEB: But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.