Thursday, July 23

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

2 Chronicles 8:11–10:19

Romans 8:9–25

Psalm 18:16–36

Proverbs 19:26

 

 

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:15–17)

 

 

In today’s passage from Romans, Paul details how the Spirit’s presence in every Christ-follower serves as 1) a guarantee of our deliverance from sin and death and 2) announces our sonship and inheritance in the “unsearchable riches of Christ.”  Paul explains that even “the creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”  The Spirit will bring life and freedom for those who have received Christ as Lord and Savior.  What great promises!

 

In ancient times, the Greeks and Romans commonly adopted children, granting the adopted children all the privileges of a natural son, including inheritance rights.  For Christians, we become adopted into God’s family and receive full rights of inheritance.  John 1:12 explains that, “to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  Our sonship flows directly and solely through faith, and we each participate fully as sons and daughters.  There are no second-class Christians.

 

The presence of the Holy Spirit serves as the mark of our adoption as God’s children.  In Ephesians 1:13,4, we read:  “And you were also included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.”  In ancient times, those sending a letter used an impressed seal on wax to denote the authenticity and ownership of a message.  God similarly marks His children with a seal of ownership, the promised Holy Spirit.

 

Broadly speaking, Romans 8 teaches us that the Spirit gives life and gives voice to our inward, spiritual thoughts and longings.  Galatians 5 illustrates that the Spirit’s presence brings freedom for the believer and bears fruit in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (5:22,23)  The Lord Jesus Christ declared that the Spirit would bring power for making disciples and guide us into all truth. (Acts 1:8; John 16:13)

 

The Christian life includes an initial welcome into God’s family by adoption, receiving the full inheritance as sons.  We rightly celebrate at the time of a believer’s coming to repentance and faith, as does heaven itself. (Luke 15:7)  Thereafter, our walk with Christ allows us to “grow up” into this relationship and to become more fully alive and mature in Him.  We should equally celebrate our and others’ maturation into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:28,29)  We may also rejoice in the hope that, in His time, we will see God “making all things new!” (Revelation 21:5)

 

 

Father God, thank You for adopting into Your family through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thank You for bringing us freedom in our sonship.  Help us to understand what it means to live out this sonship through increasing maturity.  Strengthen our faith, vision, and understanding of Your truth through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Use us for spiritual multiplication and for Your glory.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

 

“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9FG12eTSbI

 

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