Bible Studies

Romans 815

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
04/07/22
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“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15)

All have been broken, have been trapped in disobedience, sinful worldly ways, and by amazing grace, and been convicted by God’s righteousness. Conviction happened to the disciple Peter when he realized that he was in the presence of the Messiah. “But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8) When the Holy Spirit’s power calls our name and convicts us of what we are in His light of truth, we cannot help but become filled with sorrow and shame and see the need for our repentance.

The truth of God’s Word opens our eyes to see the bondage that our spirits have been living in. We know that we have lived our lives in the love of money, spend our time searching for the pleasures of this world, and feel the weight and guilt of our sinful living. Through all the rationalizing that our mind offers, we know in the light of His truth that all that we sought of this world is just self-pride filling the emptiness of a purposeless life; as the wise King Solomon said, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

There have been times when we have tried to break away from this failing lifestyle. We have gone to church, listened to the teaching, and perhaps read a chapter of the Bible, but while trying to do right, we wish for a normal life to exist. But we feel it is our duty and know this is what must be done because we fear that neglect will land us in the pit of Hell. Hell is the bondage of sin that we know. The unsatisfying hunger for more of this lifestyle regardless of its cost. Its path leads to the eternal bondage of the pit from which there is no eternal escape. It creates a never-ending cycle reaching for short moments of happiness that never leads to joy.

When the Spirit awakens our hearts to the truth of God’s Word, we come to fully face the spirit of bandage we have been living in. We see the sin in our lives and begin to hate it just as the Almighty God in Heaven hates sin. In the newfound conviction of the sinful behavior that we have displayed before God and man, we labor to correct our behaviors to become acceptable before God in trembling fear. It is not a man we have sinned against; it is God, as our disobedience is towards His Word. “Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.” (Psalm 51:4)

We find ourselves spending more time in prayer, seeking God’s counsel to help us mortify our sin. We quickly learn that breaking the sin bondage in our lives is an undertaking that is beyond our ability to accomplish. We may question why the Lord has commanded us to repent from our sin to find that it is a task beyond our reach because our once life filled with self-pride needs to learn to humble itself before the Lord God Almighty. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mathew 5:3) God hates the prideful, as the boastful heart knows not the need for God to govern their life. No man can save and sanctify himself. It is the work of God through His Holy Spirit. “But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:23-24)

To understand the Spirit of Adoption, we must first look at the word adoption. The word adopt is the act of a father taking on another child’s responsibility and raising them as his own. The father becomes the child’s father, and the child enters a father-child relationship. We see several adoptions in the Bible. Moses was the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Ester was the adopted daughter of Mordecai. These examples of adoptions were in the physical sense. Adoption in the spiritual sense is an act of grace that God would choose a believer of His Son Jesus as one of His Children. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)

The word adoption implies that we were not His children when He chose to adopt us by nature. But because we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have committed our lives to pick up our cross and follow Him, as we are now Children of God. Not in a physical sense but in a spiritual relationship to God as our Heavenly Father and we as His spiritual children. We were not His children by our nature, and we were strangers and enemies towards Him. Yet, He chose to take us in as His children through adoption as we were. Our faith in His Word is that we are chosen into this relationship. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26)

I cannot personally identify with a parentless child. If I were a parentless child, I would think that I was one without hope in a society where I had no privilege of care. None to protect me, provide for me, or teach me to prosper and guide my future. Not having a brand and therefore viewed as not belonging. My heredity would be uncertain, and my inheritance would be none. I would most likely have no role model and would be easy prey for the wolves of society. I would become an easy target for worldly ways and fall into the bondage of sinful behaviors. It is not an absolute but a great probability. If I were a fortunate child, I would be adopted by parents as their own. As a result, I could receive a child’s portion, but I would never know the feelings of being a child of my actual parents. There would always be a lacking of belonging.

When one feels aloof from a relationship with God, their Creator, they cannot experience the feeling of belonging in the universe they live in. It is God’s creation, and if we are not in a personal relationship with God the Creator, we are out of step with the rest of His creation. God is a Spirit, as we are spiritual beings, and outside of knowing God, we are out of step with His creation. When we have placed our faith in His Son Jesus by our faith, we become His children by His choice to adopt us spiritually. When we receive His Holy Spirit indwelling within us, we know that we are children of God through adoption. We have the Spirit of God, our Father testifying to our spirit that we are His children. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16)

We will look more into that truth next week. Until then, my brothers and sisters in the family of God, His peace be with you.

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, October 11, 2018