The Spirit of Adoption
No Condemnation • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewWe have been chosen to be a part of God's royal family by adoption into the Family of God.
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Transcript
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 8:14–17
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
"Toy Story": Belonging to God
In Disney's animated movie Toy Story, Woody (a plush toy cowboy) confronts Buzz Light year (a toy astronaut) with the fact that he is only an action figure and not really a space hero. Early in the movie Woody shouts, "You're not a space ranger! You're an action figure—a child's plaything."
Only after failing to fly, Buzz realizes the truth of Woody's statement. Grief-stricken and disillusioned, Buzz hangs his head in resignation, declaring, "I'm just a stupid, little, insignificant toy."
Woody later seeks to comfort his friend by underscoring the love of the boy who owns them both. "You must not be thinking clearly. Look, over in that house, there's a kid who thinks you're the greatest, and it's not because you're a space ranger; it's because you're his."
As Buzz lifts his foot, he sees writing on the bottom of his little shoe. There in black permanent ink is the name of the little boy to whom he belongs.
This is the similar to those who are called into God’s family.
1. Do you have the Spirit Leading you into Holiness?
1. Do you have the Spirit Leading you into Holiness?
What Does it mean to be Led by the Spirit?
Most think of being led as someone or something that guides us or gives us good direction. That is not what this means. This is indicating to being led into Sanctification or Holiness, to being led to mortify the flesh, mortify your sins. The spirit is convicting you of sin in your life or a sin that needs to be dealt with in your life.
vs. 15 in the ESV uses the lower case “s” for spirit instead of upper case “S” for spirit. It would appear that the writer is differentiating the difference from the spirit of this world that leads you into slavery, and the Spirit of God that leads you into adoption as Children of God.
Note: There are times that we may go against the Spirits leading, however He is ever so gracious and mercifully working to lead us back to the Father.
Leading into Holiness can be Deceptive
The parable of the Prodigal Son and the older brother who followed the rules and did all that His Father had asked him to do. The brother said, “all these years I have been slaving for you,” The Father said, “you have always been my son.”
When the Spirit leads into Holiness it is the act of falling back into the arms of our Heavenly Father who has adopted us. Who had called us out of the world into His family. The Father did not discount the older son’s faithfulness, however, I would question whether the older son truly understood the leading of the Holy Spirit. His spirit perhaps was being led by the external things that the world looks at and missed the amazing homecoming of His brother.
Perhaps you may feel as though God loves other Christians more than you, or there is a sense of insecurity about you Salvation. He brought you into adoption as a Child of God.
He is the spirit of Grace not Slavery. The older son perhaps was enslaved by his religious duty. When you come to church on Sunday, is it out of a sense of duty or obligation, or is it with great anticipation of the Spirits leading, in hopes that someone today will become a part of your eternal Heavenly family.
*The Spirit does not leave us where He finds us.
*The Spirit does not leave us where He finds us.
In the Bible there is a whole section of the Lost parables. You have the Lost Sheep, you have the Lost coin, you have the Prodigal son who was lost but has been found.
Here is the deeper explanation of all three of these parables. The spirit is seeking out those who are lost and showing them the way back to the Father. These stories are in Luke 15 reminds us that God seeks us individually.
When He finds the lost sheep he brings them back to the fold, when the fathers son returns from His wondering the father brings out his best robe, puts the signet ring and puts it on his finger signifying the privilege of sonship.
The lost coin shows how there is no earthly depths to which the Spirit will not go to seek out those who are lost and the rejoicing over the one who is found is beyond anything we can imagine this side of Heaven.
*The Spirit is not Sporadic but constant.
*The Spirit is not Sporadic but constant.
I do not know where we got this idea in our Christian culture that the spirit some how leaves us and then returns sporadically to our lives. People will continually come to God and ask Him to fill them again with His spirit.
The Holy Spirit will always be with you forever and because of this we can have the confidence that God will never leave us or let us down as we choose to follow Him all our days. Go back to Romans 8:9
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
The Holy Spirit has sealed you and confirmed you as His own.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
*The Spirit is not primarily protective but corrective.
*The Spirit is not primarily protective but corrective.
Now, prior to the death and resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit had a “come and go” relationship with people. The Holy Spirit indwelt King Saul, and then departed from him. (1 Samuel 16:14)
The Holy Spirit came on David. After his adultery with Bathsheba, David feared that the Holy Spirit would be taken from him. The Spirit filled Bezalel to enable him to produce the items needed for the tabernacle. (1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 51:11; Exodus 31:2-5).
The Holy Spirit began to permanently indwell believer in Acts 2. This was the fulfillment of God’s promise to always be with God’s people, to send a permanent comforter to His people.
Big Idea: It is not being injected into God’s people now and then, in moments of great need or danger.
On the contrary, it is steady, as even the text here in Romans 8:14 implies that you are being led by the Spirit of God.
Warning: Be careful about reading into this text that God’s people will not be harmed or face suffering. On the other hand, make no mistake that we are called to put to death the deeds of the body, and the means we do this is through the Spirit.
John 15 “Apart from me you can do nothing.” We are powerless to do this in our own power.
*The Spirit does not merely direct but controls.
*The Spirit does not merely direct but controls.
Misconception about being led by the Spirit
To be lead by the Spirit is more than simply guiding us. Sure the spirit does guide or influence our life, however, it is more than just merely being pointed in the right direction. It reminds us not so much of the Indian guide who pointed out to the white explorers the pass through the Rockies, as the people who led the blind man (of Jericho) to Jesus. Merely pointing out the way to him would not have helped him.
When the Holy Spirit leads believers he becomes the controlling force and influence of their lives. Brings them at last to glory. It is not the quiet gentle rain it is the down pour and flood of God’s power in your life.
Look what the writer say’s in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.
The blind man of Jericho was not just carried to Jesus, he did his own walking. It is exactly as theologian Warfield pointed out:
“Through it is indeed the Holy Spirit who keeps us in the path and bring us at last to the goal, it is we who tread every step of the way; our limbs that grow weary with the labor; our hearts that faint…our faith that revives our sinking strength, our hope that instills new courage into our souls, as we toil over the steep ascent...”
2. Do you have the Spirit of Adoption?
2. Do you have the Spirit of Adoption?
Note: in every part of each verse it identifies those who are the children of God.
“Son’s of God”
“Adoption as sons...”
“Children of God...”
“Children”
You may have heard someone somewhere say, “well we are all children of God.” This is a universal view of the brotherhood of man!
Does Christianity teach of a Universal brotherhood? No, it does not. I do not know of any text in the Bible which teaches that all men are my brothers. The brotherhood in biblical categories has to do with those who share the intimacy of fellowship with God, and with His son Jesus Christ. The world does not cry out Abba Father.
The confusion people have is in the great commandment, we are told to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the general love we are called to have for all God’s creations. However, the term brother is reserved for the special group of his adopted children, those who are in the brotherhood or sisterhood of God’s family.
*The Spirit replaces Fear with Freedom.
*The Spirit replaces Fear with Freedom.
Why is this significant, to be a child indicates those who have a privileged status that is related to the inward dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
What is the fear that Paul is talking about?
Note: This is the aorist form of the verb, alluding to our conversion......
For you did not receive the spirit of fear, the spirit of slavery to fall back into your sins.
What is the fear that we are falling back into? (the fear of not truly being his children? The fear of not truly having the spirit? The fear of failing and falling flat on our faces?
You are no longer oppressed by the fear of the future, the fear of dying. We read about in scripture those that Paul is writing to are still held captive to paganism or in Judaism, with their emphasis on all the rules one has to keep in order to measure up or be good enough for God’s salvation.
The Spirit does not think this way, He would never consider filling you again with dread. No, that Spirit fills us with a sense of freedom and confidence so that in approaching God, we utter the cry of joyful recognition, overwhelming gratitude, and unfathomable trust that we can call Him Abba! Father!
Look what happens when the veil is removed from our eyes in 2 Corinthians 3:16-17
16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
The Greek word here to call or cry to God is different then we may think. The original language means from our bowels, our guts we cry with a deep guttural cry to God. (Seeing those in desperate need around the world)
Abba (Father)
The unmistakable cry of a child for their Father is evident. Think back dads when your child has cried out for you in need. This is a gut wrenching cry to the Father when we are in the depths of our desperation of need or ongoing sin that needs to be dealt with in our lives.
Son’s and daughters makes no sense in the first century, because it was the son’s who received the inheritance which his Roman audience would have understand. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray he told them to pray like this, “Our Father who art in Heaven.”
There are those who have had really bad earthly fathers, however, this picture should even be more significant because you were perhaps fatherless in this world and now you have an intimate relationship with the Father of all creation. You are now children in the family of God.
There are times that I go into the Church building and lock the doors and do not answer calls when I need to study. However, if my wife calls or my son or daughter comes to the door or calls, I drop everything to answer my family. This is a different relationship we have with our heavenly Father.
Yaweh in the old testament was the name for God that was so Holy that you would not even utter it out loud. But now we call Him Abba, Father, he desires to hear us cry out to Him as our Father.
The cry is as the cry of Jesus in Gethsemane, the cry when you are desperate, when you are hurting.
Which Idea of Adoption?
What idea of adoption did the writer have in mind here the Greek-Roman or Jewish adoption practices. Adoption as a legal institution did not even exist among the Hebrews, and the fact that in the entire Old Testament the word is never used.
In the Roman world however:
F.F. Bruce:
The term “adoption” may have a somewhat artificial sound in our ears; but in the Roman world of the first century AD an adopted son was a son deliberately chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his name and inherit his estate; he was in no way [in the smallest degree] inferior in status to a son born in the ordinary course of nature, and might well enjoy the father’s affection more fully and reproduce the father’s character more worthily
Paul is using the reference to slavery brings the readers mind back to the Old Testament eras of slavery, this should bring our minds back to the pre-converted person. The fear of the Old Self is one of retribution and shame.
“It’s like the person that say’s, oh the roof will fall in on the Church if I show up.” The Slavery of the old lead to fear, especially of God as our judge; the freedom of the new age gives us boldness to approach God as our Father, so everything has now changed.
*Freedom not Fear Rules our Lives
*Freedom not Fear Rules our Lives
True, we are still slaves of God through Christ: Romans 6:22
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Original Language in It’s context
This is where having a text closer to the original intent of the language is helpful.
Notice in verse 15 the word “spirit” has a small “s” and the Spirit of adoption has a capital “S” indicating the true Spirit that comes from God. The first one that lead to fear is a false spirit, the spirit of the world. This may appear in several ways in someones life.
Fear that leads to a legalistic view of adoption.(write “Have I done enough”) It all becomes about what you do to earn God’s favored status. You always fear being good enough or somehow measuring up to God’s standard.
Fear that leads to questioning whether you are truly Saved. (Write “am I truly Saved”) our mind and heart continue to go back to the fear of truly being saved from sin and death. This spirit is not from God. There is no fear of condemnation Romans 8:1 you have been freed from the wrath of God.
Fear of some sin that God cannot forgive. (write “Unforgivable Offense”) We approach the throne of God with fear of retribution for some sin that God cannot forgive, or that we have blown it so back that he will no longer call us His child.
Fear paralyzes you, fear keeps you trapped in this world, fear leaves you feeling hopeless and helpless.
Let me make it abundantly Clear, none of these fears are from God. These are from the pits of Hell, and are the main instrument of Satan to keep you from your Adoption.
When someone adopts a child, they are not thinking I wonder if this child will measure up; they are not thinking I wonder if this child will truly be my child; they are not thinking I wonder if there is something this child has done that will lead me not to love or accept them as my own.
No, you go to the adoption choosing to take this child as your own, to give this child a home where they are loved and nourished, to accept this child with all of their flaws and shortcomings because you have chosen this child as your own. Oh dear child look at what Paul writes in Ephesians 1:4-10
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
“Even as He chose us in Him” ...... “Before the foundation of the world” .... “To make us Holy and blameless” ..... “To predestine us for adoption in His family through Jesus Christ” .... “We are accepted and redeemed through the blood of Jesus” … “The riches of God have now been Lavished on us” … “According to His purpose and will for you” … “As His plan in the fullness of time, to take you from this earthly existence into His heavenly kingdom.”
Paul Gives us three markers of our adoption being finalized. (or those who are truly His)
How do you know if you have the Spirit of Adoption?
1). Are you being led into Holiness.
2). Has the Spirit of Fear been replaced with the Spirit of Freedom.
3). Are you being Prompted to to Cry out to God.
How is the Spirit Bearing Witness that you are His?
3. Do you have the Spirit of Witness?
3. Do you have the Spirit of Witness?
The Spirit that Bears Witness that you are His unhinges you from Fear of Failure and not being Good enough!
God placed Adam and Eve in this beautiful Garden and provided abundantly all that they needed to be Satisfied and Happy.
In Garden of Eden, Satan now appears to Eve and said, has God said you shall not touch of any tree in the garden, and she responds yes, I think he has.
God had said no such thing, the prohibition was that they were not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they could climb the tree, they could put a hammock in the tree. However, they began to buy into the lie that God does not love them that much.....
During that time, the spirit comes to bear witness with ours that we are a Child of the King. You are a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people for His own possession, you once were without a family, now you are a part of the Family of God.
*The Proof is in our Testimony
*The Proof is in our Testimony
Counterfeit Proof
You know how they train experts in counterfeiting task forces to spot fake currency. You would think they spend all of their time looking at fake currency. However, in reality they spend all of their time examining the real currency. Why? Because if you can instinctively spot the real thing when you see it, then it should be no problem to identify the fake.
If you go to a store today and give them a crisp $100 bill to pay for your items they are most likely going to grab a pen and run it across the bill. You might ask what the purpose of pen is, well the marker is designed to spot counterfeit bills. Why should the cashier be concerned about this? The answer is obvious, right? Counterfeit money has no value. Maybe it can pose as authentic for a period of time, but eventually someone is going to buy one of those markers and expose the lie. And whether you intentionally use a counterfeit bill is irrelevant. If the marker reveals that you tried to pay with fake money, you will lose a $100, at best, and lose a day of freedom in jail, at worst.
This is what the spirit does when it testifies with your spirit. It points out the genuine follower of Christ and separates you from all the imitation of fake believers.
I see people all of the time who give counterfeit proof for their adoption.
Jesus exposed counterfeit Christians all the time, whether it was the Pharisees, who posed as righteous men of God or large crowds, who posed as committed followers, Jesus constantly exposed them as counterfeits.
How do you spot someone who is a Counterfeit?
First, we know that the authentic Christian is someone who has received the saving benefits in Christ alone, through faith alone for the forgiveness of their sins. His Spirit identifies with our Spirit by the fruit we bear for the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:22-23) So, the speech and action of an authentic follower of Christ overflows in the fruit we bear. Jesus said in Matthew 7:20 that a “Good tree does not bear bad fruit, and a bad tree does not bear good fruit. We read in James 1:27 that those who are truly His care for the things that the Father cares about.
Counterfeit Christians show little concern for the Lost. ( I read about this Church that met in a bar after happy hour.)
Counterfeit Christians are more concerned about the Ritual practice of religion than the hurting people.
Counterfeit Christians try and flirt with sin without crossing the line. (They ask Pastor Mark is ________ a sin)
The point that Paul is making in this text is that the Spirit of Christ has been sent into the hearts of Christians, so they may address God in prayer like a child crying out to his father, and so that they would know as well that they are no longer slaves but sons and daughters with the privileges as sons and daughters.
You have the eyewitness Account
The witness that it bears is an eye witness account that is irrefutable. (The spirit was there at creation, the spirit was there at the birth, the spirit was there at the crucifixion, and the spirit was there at the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This same Spirit now lives inside of you.)
The witness that is born is with our spirit, Rom. 2:15
15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
indicates that it is possible to show that the works of the law are written on our hearts, while being betrayed by our conscience that bears witness with conflicting thoughts that even accuse or excuse sinful behavior. Do not forget that Satan is the ultimate deceiver and liar in this world.
*The Proof is in the Suffering
*The Proof is in the Suffering
Note: Finally, the reason for this adoption is stated in the last two clauses of v. 17. Believers have a share in participation in the suffering of Christ.
The identification as a authentic follower of Christ is two fold, in
in our suffering
in our glorification.
Notice the clarifying word “if” you are children and heirs of God.
Remember how the Apostles rejoiced for being counted worthy to suffer for Christ. (Acts 5:41) We also read in James 1 to consider it all joy my brothers when you face persecution and suffering.
Suffering is the path to glory. It was for the Messiah and it is also for the Christian community. When we are called to take up cross for Christ we are called to literally identify with His suffering and death.
I believe that Christians face suffering and sacrifice in different degrees. Not all believers may suffer torture, imprisonment, and beheading for professing Jesus Christ. However, as sonship sets the believer on the path to glory I do believe this path is ever set before the shadow of the cross, into the waters of baptism we have gone and through many trials and despair we track towards the final destination.
The word suffering is in the present tense, indicating that the element of suffering which is inseparable from faithfulness to Christ in a world which does not yet know Him.
We have a present picture of suffering with Christ and a future picture of being glorified or perfected when He returns and gives us our new body.
The good work He begun with us is now perfected.
2 Timothy 2:11-12a indicates that those who endure suffering will reign with Him, but those who deny Christ before the world will be denied or rejected by God at His second coming.
11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
The greater questions for us this morning is,
What Marks do you have that you have been adopted?
SACRIFICE LEADING TO GLORIFICATION
Do you Sacrifice your time to serve others, or is it a burden or an inconvenience when you are called to do so? (family is not an excuse)
Do you Sacrifice your comfort to go out of your way to bear witness to the resurrected Christ? (or do you make excuses, you do not know how busy I am, I am an introvert and cannot speak or talk to those outside of my comfort zone.)
Do you Sacrifice your pride to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us, or do we purposefully hold grudges because we feel justified.
CONCLUSION
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but PRAISE GOD! I belong!