Romans 8
June 2, 2022
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (v14-16)
Adoption into God’s family is not something that is ours by default. Adoption is a gift, the result of a legal, loving, and lavishly costly action on the part of God - that we receive by faith in Christ. And with this great gift comes some incredible privileges:
1) Freedom from the fear of punishment (v15a). Unlike being an employee of a harsh boss, or the slave of an unfeeling taskmaster, as beloved children, there is no more fear of God’s punishment, because, at the cross, Jesus took all of our punishment.
2) Intimacy with God (v15b-16). I don’t have to make a reservation to get on God’s calendar. I don’t have to hope that what I want to talk with Him about is important enough to be worthy of His time. I am Abba’s child! ‘Abba’ is an Aramaic term of familiarity, like our English word, ‘Daddy.’ Therefore, I can enter His presence 24/7.
Abba Father, I thank You for adopting me into Your family through Christ. And I thank You for assuring me, through the Holy Spirit, that I am now (and forever) Your child. What a gift it is to belong to You - so that I can enjoy access to Your wisdom and help in the here and now, and look forward to a judgment-free future!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
