Last updated on August 29, 2025
When the Apostle Paul tells us that God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, he reveals a truth that is both profound and practical. But what exactly is the Spirit of the Son of God? Can a believer truly discern this Spirit within?
Galatians 4:6 says:
“And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’”
This is more than a theological statement—it is an invitation to experience God’s love and power through Christ living in us. To understand what this means, we must look at who the Son of God is, and what His Spirit imparts into the hearts of believers.
The Son: Image of the Invisible God
Paul describes the Son in Colossians 1:15–16:
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
When God places the Spirit of His Son within us, He conforms us to this divine image (Romans 8:28–29). Let us now explore the key characteristics of the Son, each of which manifests in the life of a believer.
Characteristics of the Spirit of the Son
1. The Son Is the Living Word of God
Jesus is not merely a teacher of words—He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). His Spirit in us quickens the written Word, making Scripture alive and active in our hearts. When we embrace His Spirit, God’s Word is no longer ink on paper; it becomes life-transforming truth within us.
2. The Son Is the King
Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). When His Spirit dwells in us, He teaches us to walk in authority, not as slaves to fear, but as royal heirs in the Kingdom of God.
3. The Son Is the Light
Jesus declared, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12). His Spirit illuminates our path, exposes sin, and empowers us to shine in a dark world.
4. The Son Is the Lamb Of God
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) dwells in us through His Spirit. This transforms us into living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), willing to lay down our lives in love and obedience.
5. The Son Is the Lion of Judah
Bold and victorious, the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5) roars through His Spirit within us, giving us courage to face trials and strength to overcome spiritual battles.
6. The Son Is the Eternal High Priest
As High Priest, Jesus intercedes for us before the Father (Hebrews 7:25). His Spirit reminds us that we have constant access to God’s presence and mercy.
7. The Son Is the Truth
Jesus said, “I am the truth” (John 14:6). When His Spirit fills us, we can discern deception, walk in integrity, and live anchored in God’s eternal reality.
8. The Son Is the Way
The Spirit of Christ directs us along the narrow path that leads to life. In a world filled with endless options, He alone guides us to the Father.
9. The Son Is the Life
Christ is not only the giver of life—He is life itself (John 11:25). His Spirit breathes resurrection power into our mortal bodies and revives our weary souls.
10. The Son Is the Heir of the Kingdom
Through Christ, we share in the inheritance of the saints (Romans 8:17). The Spirit of the Son testifies in our hearts that we, too, are heirs of God’s Kingdom.
11. The Son Is the Conqueror
The Lord Jesus overcame sin, death, and the grave. His Spirit makes us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), able to triumph over the enemy.
12. The Son Is the Redeemer
By His blood, we are redeemed from sin (Ephesians 1:7). His Spirit constantly reminds us of the price He paid and the freedom we now walk in.
13. The Son Is the Shepherd
The Good Shepherd (John 10:11) tenderly leads His flock. His Spirit in us guides, protects, and restores our souls.
14. The Son Is the Door
Christ is the door to salvation (John 10:9). Through His Spirit, we have access to abundant life and eternal fellowship with God.
15. The Son Is Anointed
Jesus is the Anointed One—the Christ. His Spirit empowers us with the same anointing that breaks yokes and sets captives free.
16. The Son Is the Morning Star
The Spirit of Christ shines as the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16), giving us hope that dawn is near and that darkness cannot prevail forever.
17. The Son Is the Living Stone
Rejected by men but chosen by God (1 Peter 2:4), the Son is the cornerstone of our faith. His Spirit builds us into a spiritual house for God’s glory.
18. The Son Is the Gate
The Spirit of Christ opens the gate to eternal life. Those who enter through Him will find safety, nourishment, and rest.
Christ in You: The Hope of Glory
All these characteristics are not abstract titles—they are living realities imparted to every believer. Paul writes in Colossians 1:27:
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
When the Spirit of the Son is fully developed in us, we no longer live for ourselves. Instead, Christ lives through us (Galatians 2:20). It is His Spirit that enables us to overcome the world (1 John 4:4, 5:5).
Experiencing the Father’s Love
To behold the Son is to experience the Father’s love. Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6), leads us to the Father. Through Him, we receive not only eternal life but also the unfathomable depth of God’s love (Ephesians 3:16–19).
Because of this love, God has exalted His Son above all, granting Him dominion over the universe (Revelation 3:21). And by faith, we are invited to share in His victory.
Conclusion
The Spirit of the Son of God is not a distant theological idea—it is Christ Himself dwelling in us, shaping us, and empowering us to reflect His glory. Every characteristic of the Son—the living Word, King, Light, Lamb, Lion, Priest, Truth, Way, Life, Heir, Conqueror, Redeemer, Shepherd, Door, Anointed, Christ, Morning Star, Living Stone, and Gate—becomes alive in the believer.
As Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:16–19, I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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