Posted on 12/05/2010 4:23:04 PM PST by pastorbillrandles
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.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.The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:14-16)
Romans 8 is all about the assurance of salvation. The apostle asserts in the first verse that “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”, and the rest of the chapter teaches why this is so.
There is no condemnation for us, because we have been set free once and for all from the “Law of sin and death”, (ie the Law of Moses that could only highlight our sin and condemn us to death), and now live by a new principle, “the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ”.
Secondly there is no condemnation because now in the truest sense of the word, we are spiritual. The Spirit of Christ lives in us, and the presence of the Spirit is the guarantee of our ultimate glorification.
Though our body is yet “dead because of sin”, simultaneously, “the Spirit is Life because of (the gift of) Righteousness”. This is the status of the Christian,until our salvation is complete, and this “corruptible will put on incorruption, and death is swallowed up in victory”.
We now come to the third reason for assurance,the adoption as Sons. I would like to unpack this passage for our understanding.
* As many as are led by the Spirit...this is to be understood in continuity of the previous thought. “Led by the Spirit” is not here a reference to personal guidance, rather it refers to vs 13 that says that “through the Spirit we mortify the deeds of the flesh”.
In other words it is those who have been spiritually awakened to so much as care about their souls, those who have been led to Christ by the Spirit, and who seek holiness, fellowship, growth as christians , they are the ones being led by the Spirit. They seek the Word of God, and seek to glorify God in their lives. Why is it that they constantly confess, renounce, and disavow their sins? Because of the leading of the Spirit.
*They are the Sons of God…The Spirit awakened ones mentioned above are the Sons of God. Not everyone is a Son of God, for Jesus warned the Pharisees in John 8:44 that they were of their Father, the Devil!
*For you have not received the Spirit of slavery, leading to fear again…Note the word ‘again’. When had they earlier received a “spirit of slavery” , that he should point out that it wasn’t that spirit again?
The spirit of slavery is not an evil spirit nor is it the unsaved condition. It is a special aspect of the Holy Spirit’s dealing with us, upon the conviction of sin.It is not even a personal spirit, it is a spiritual condition.
Paul described his own reception of the spirit of slavery which led to fear in some detail in Romans 7:7-25.Up to that time in his life, Saul the Pharisee believed that he was a good person, in good standing with God by works of righteousness.
When the Holy Spirit illuminated to Paul the true meaning of the Law, in his own words,”When the commandment came…” in full power and conviction, Saul died. In other words he was crushed morally and spiritually.
The spirit of slavery is what happens when one realises the spiritual demands of the Law and is forced to face his own depravity, inability, weakness and carnality. The more he tries to rectify the situation, the more the Law brings out and aggravates his own sinfulness.
It leads to fear because the spirit of slavery also involves some revelation of the awful Holiness, majesty and fear of the Holy God, against whom you have and continue to sin! The fear is of Hell and punishment.
The spirit of slavery leading to fear, is a gift of God’s Holy Spirit, and it is designed to lead you to saving faith in Jesus Christ! The very fact that one has gone through some degree of this is an assuring sign!
*But you have received the spirit of Adoption…This too is an operation of the Holy Spirit. When the wretched sinner, is made to feel the slavery and bondage and fear of the consequences of his sinfulness, and throws himself on the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, and him crucified, he is brought into the spirit(ie the disposition) of Adoption into God’s family as a Son.
Adoption is a deliberate act, God the Father has done this on purpose, and it is irreversible by man! It is a legal act, like justification. The man who believes in Jesus is adopted into the family as a Son of God.
The Holy Spirit makes this real to us.
* As Sons by which we cry out Abba Father! One of the blessed assurances that there can be no condemnation to those of us in Christ, is the constant cry in our heart, put there by the Holy Ghost, unto the Father.
No matter how far or near to God I have lived in the thirty year christian pilgrimage I have embarked upon, I have always had a deep heart cry which rises up in all circumstances, Abba Father! This has been the ongoing work of the Spirit of God.
“As many as have received Him to them he gave the power to become Sons of God, even to those who believed on his name”(John 1:12)
“God has sent his Son…God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father!” (Galatians 4:6-8)
Pray for me - got a law school Contracts Final tomorrow. Pray that I'll really let Jesus help me to relax and let Him help me think clearly and quickly.
Thanks and God Bless.
Count on it brother Isaiah 26:3
Thank you - I receive that.
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