Bible Passage: Romans 8:14-17

I. Verse 14: As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these very ones (emphasis) are sons of God

1. Rom 8 Action/Attributes Personhood

a. 8:11 He dwells within us He is a personal companion, not a distant force
b. 8:14 He leads believers Leadership and direction
c. 8:16 He bears witness to our adoption Communicates and gives relational assurance
d. 8:26 He helps in our prayers and intercedes on behalf of us He shows empathy for our weaknesses
e. 8:27 He has a mind and specific will He possesses intellect and purpose

2. How do we discern if a person is led by the Spirit of God? (five diagnostic pointers!)

a. They exhibit a growing hatred for their own sin, and they actively work to crush destructive habits, thoughts, and actions

i. Verse 13… if you live by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live
ii. Verse 13 it does not talk about a sinless perfection, but one’s constant dislike for sin
iii. The presence of the spiritual warfare itself is an indication one’s spiritual walk

b. A person led by the Spirit displays a genuine desire and an increasing ability to obey the Word of God (8:7-8)

i. 6:17-18 thanks be to God that you were slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness
ii. 8:7 because the mindset of the flesh is enmity toward God, for it is not subjected to the law of God, for it is not able to do so

c. A person led by the Spirit of God is not driven by performance-based fear; instead, he exhibits the spirit of adoption, running to God the Father rather than running away from the Father (8:15)
d. A person led by the Spirit of God develops an attraction towards the things of God like Scripture, church, personal worship & prayer, and others—there is always a shift from self to God

i. Rom 8:5-6 those who are living according to the Spirit are intent on the things of the Spirit … the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace
ii. Rom 8:15 leverage “Abba” relationship

e. A person led by the Spirit of God demonstrates through “submission” (Rom 6:13 present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness)

II. Rom 8:14b these are “sons of God” (these very ones or these, these alone)

1. The Jews claimed that they were the “sons of God” through circumcision and the Mosaic law
2. The Roman citizens claimed that they were the “sons of God” through their imperial heritage
3. By place the word “these very ones” at the beginning of the clause (8:14b), Paul refutes their claim of imperial heritage
4. According to Paul, the Holy Spirit is the only legitimate identity marker for the imperial heritage
5. With the importance placed on “these, these very ones” are “the sons of God” not anyone else
6. God points out that God has adopted Roman Christians as His sons and daughters
7. This is a self-image/identity moment—glorification moment!

III. Adoption in Roman world

1. Adoption in Roman world was an important legal action in order to preserve a family name, estate, and wealth
2. In Roman adoption system before a person is adopted, debts were cancelled, new identity was given, and equal inheritance was assured
3. Some important figures who were adopted: Agustus (Octavious), Tiberius, Nero, …
4. Before being adopted as “God’s children,” Roman Christians were part of Adam’s family

a. They were slaves to sin (Rom 7:17, 20)
b. They were hostile to God, and their wages were death (Rom 6:23)

5. Adoption happened

a. Redemption (Rom 5:8-9)
b. Justification, a judicial transfer of the slave to the New Master (Rom 6:2-3)
c. The Holy Spirit marked the adopted one with the seal of ownership (Rom 8:9)

6. After the adoption

a. No condemnation (Rom 8:1)
b. A new guiding Principle, the Holy Spirit (8:6-7)
c. Rom 8:33 Who will bring charges against God’s elect? … Who is the one who condemns? … Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
d. Intimacy with the New Parent(s) (Rom 8:15 you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!”)
e. Legal and familial rights (Rom 8:17 if children, also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ)

7. Duty as the adopted child

a. Now, as a child, he works towards preserving the family reputation, work to maintain Dad’s interest, etc.

IV. Rom 8:13-15 changing from the old lifestyle to new lifestyle

1. Verse 15: For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
2. In this verse, Paul uses the word “spirit” with the sense of disposition or attitude: “spirit of slavery” to an attitude and “spirit of adoption”
3. The “spirit of slavery” is characterized by:

a. Lack of freedom with the Father
b. An unending desire for performance to get approval, and
c. Fear of punishment due to lack of understanding of God the Father (viewing God as a task master)
d. Avoiding praying to the Father, stay away from community of believers, and isolate themselves

4. The “spirit of adoption” is characterized by freedom, serving with love, and confidence

a. Calling “Abba,” an affectionate longing
b. When failure happens, instead of hiding from the Father, the believer runs to the Father with confession and will rely on the “no condemnation” promise
c. At the face of difficulty, the person stands confidently
d. There is a zeal for Father’s interest
e. Trusts the Father and rests in the identity the Father has given

V. Verse 16: The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are “children of God”

1. Deut 19:15: “A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”
2. Rom 8:16 is a legal language in which the legal adoption is further confirmed by the testimony of the Holy Spirit to our spirit that we are children of God
3. How do we understand the witnessing act of the Holy Spirit to our Spirit?

a. The Holy Spirit generates faith in us in which we believe that the cross of Christ is personally sufficient to pay our debt
b. The Holy Spirit replaces our rational mind by helping us to believe in the Scripture
c. The Holy Spirit creates in us a grief over our sin, helps fight destructive habits, and creates a genuine hunger for Jesus
d. The Holy Spirit gives us a sense of safety and confidence

4. Rom 8:16b: that we are children of God—the affirmation as we see in Deut 19:15

VI. Verse 17: and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together with him so that we may also be glorified together with him

1. Heirs of God
2. Fellow heirs with Christ
3. An adopted child has access to the Father’s estate
4. Jesus accomplished the Lordship over everything after gaining over suffering
5. The suffering people go through in this world is not God’s abandonment, but sure path to glorification

Takeaway:

Live as God’s children by renouncing spirit of slavery and by developing the spirit of adoption, which is your glorification.