Greek verbs translated ‘sent forth’ (verse 4) and ‘has sent’ (verse 6) are the same word and in the same tense (exapesteilen). There was, therefore, a double sending forth from God the Father. Observe the Trinitarian reference. First, God sent His Son into the world; secondly, He sent His Spirit into our hearts. And, entering our hearts, the Spirit immediately began to cry ‘Abba! Father!’, or, as the parallel passage in Romans 8:15, 16 puts it: ‘When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is the Spirit himself
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