Thursday November 30
The Spirit of Adoption
How does Paul describe the new relationship in Christ? Rom. 8:15.
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
What hope is found in this promise for us? How do we make it real in our lives?
We learn of Him who gave all for us. We behold Him daily, we talk with Him unceasingly. We die daily. We yield the who heart to Christ and allow the Spirit to take possession of it. In other words we become converted and die to self.
The new relationship is described as freedom from fear. A slave is in bondage. He lives in a state of constant fear of his master. He stands to gain nothing from his long years of service.
Not so with the one who accepts Jesus Christ. First, he or she renders voluntary service. Second, he or she serves without fear, for “perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18). Third, adopted as a child, he or she becomes heir to an inheritance of infinite worth.
“The spirit of bondage is engendered by seeking to live in accordance with legal religion, through striving to fulfill the claims of the law in our own strength. There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus.” - Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1077.
Amen! And when we allow Christ to take possession of the heart, we then are partakers of His divine nature and escape the corruption that remains in our flesh. We then through Christ keep the commandments of God from the cleansed heart.
What gives us the assurance that God has indeed accepted us as children? Rom. 8:16.
The inward witness of the Spirit confirms our acceptance. While it is not safe to go by feeling merely, those who have followed the light of the Word to the best of their understanding will hear an inward authenticating voice assuring them that they have been accepted as children of God.
Indeed, Romans 8:17 tells us that we are heirs; that is, we are part of the family of God, and as heirs, as children, we receive a wonderful inheritance from our Father. We don’t earn it; it is given to us by virtue of our new status in God, a status granted to us through His grace, which has been made available to us because of the death of Jesus in our behalf.
Yes, it was made available, but who is it that has this wonderful inheritance? It is those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in the Spirit and manifest all of the fruits of the Spirit.
How close are you to the Lord? Do you really know Him, or just about Him? What changes must you make in your life in order to have a closer walk with your Creator and Redeemer? What holds you back, and why?
What, no commentary in Romans verses 13 and 14? Why not? For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Who are the sons of God? This week we are studying condemnation. It would be better to have titled the study "Conversion." Romans seven is the unconverted man when convicted of sin. Romans 8:1-14 tells us who it is that is converted. Verse one starts out saying who is not condemned, leaving a knowledge of who is condemned. Again, who according to the first 14 verses are the Sons of God?