lesson 32a
Romans 8:14-18 · Courtney Hemenway · May 12, 2019
Romans (2018-21), No. 64
Holly Hills Bible Church
https://www.hollyhillsbiblechurch.org/teaching/messages/49261914513641

Transcribed from the recording by SermonAudio, so expect the occasional misheard word.

We are in lesson 32. Does everybody have a 32? 32's? 32's? All right. This is, again, the Romans class for those on the tape. Romans lesson 32. And this is, we're going over chapter 8 and verses 14 through 18. And I would like to read the whole section of scripture just so we have context of what we're going to go through. So 8, Romans 8. verses 14 through 18.

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of slavery, leading to fear of him, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry out, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and as children, heirs also, heirs of God, and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified with him.

For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Again, I think of all the strife and the struggles that we deal with, and then you read this. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. That puts things in perspective pretty quick. When we go through a bunch of the trials, we go through the different things that we go through here. It's not even close to what the beauty of what we have before us in the future with the glory, what we have right now to our position, but even more when we step into eternity, what that means. Let's go to question one.

What kinds of sons are we? Newborn or adult sons versus 14 and 50 for context? For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading you into fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba, Father. So, the first question I have is, what does son imply? Relationship. Relationship. Family. Family. I think that's key. It's a relationship and what family are we a part of? God's family. So when he says we are sons, that is huge. That is we are part of the family of God. Do you think about that? Do you believe that? When the struggles of the day are going on or when you wake up in the morning, Do you realize you are a part of God's family?

He says it right here. You are a son. You are part of the family. That's incredible. You know, it's some of those things when we try and grasp some of these truths, how it changes your day. What if you woke up in the morning and the first thing you thought of is, I'm in God's family today. I'm part of God's family. How does that shade your day?

We have family. We have a great family. We enjoy our family. And when you wake up in the morning, you're part of the family. When we have a big family reunion or something, you wake up and, man, that's cool. We're part of the family. What if you woke up every day thinking that you're part of God's family?

How does your day go after that? It would change. It does. And that's why, you know, when you think, some of these things we talk about, and when we talk, which is a plus, when we go through the 33 things that are true about you immediately, through those Perry Chaffers things, when we go through that, I think if you can just pull out one or two of those things and the Holy Spirit can convict you and convince you of those truths, it changes you. It changes your day, it changes your relationship, it changes your attitude, it changes everything about your day. when you just grab a hold and be convinced by the Holy Spirit of these truths. And this is one of those. If you woke up every day thinking, I'm a son of God. I am part of his family. And you wake up and you go through your day. Changes you. Changes everything about that day if you do that.

So, the scriptures we're going through are incredibly important. I was thinking about that coming in here. You know, the section of scripture we've gone through, Romans 6, in particular 6, 7, and 8, they are some of the most critical things as a believer. These are the foundational things of our identification with Christ and just the beginnings, the foundation of who we are in Christ and our life in Christ. And this is another piece of that whole foundation, is that we're a son of God. We're part of His family.

Not tomorrow, not when we step into eternity. Today. And again, to me, that changes each and every day. If I woke up every day thinking that, my day would be completely different. So, I had this question. Do you believe that or are these verses to be brushed over or ignored until we step into eternity?

And what do these verses say about how we are to be received in the family? What's it say about how we're to be received? Is this just kind of grudgingly? Are we kind of the stepchild, the black sheep of the family? No, we were purchased with the best price that could be used. Yes. And so where does that put us? I mean, are we second class? In any way, shape, or form?

I second that black sheep of the family. My kids are both pointing at each other. Just to let you know that there is no black sheep of the family. There isn't a black sheep of the family of God. There is not. Our Christian sisters are sons too. Yeah, sons being familia or whatever. It's all part of a family. We are all blood-bought children of God. And there's no second-class part of this. It says in the verse, For you have not received the spirit of slavery, leading to fear again, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry out, Abba, Father."

So how did we get in? We were adopted. So, a lot of times, and Newell does a good explanation of this in his book, if you do, about Roman and adoption and what that meant. And adoption today, would that be the same as what we're talking about here? Would it be a similar type? No. No, it's not. And so when we read these verses and we see about adoption, I think our first mind is to go to what current day adoption means.

It means you're kind of an outsider, you're brought in, You're trying to meld into the family and become part of that family. And you know, sometimes there are struggles. You're the outsider. You're the new kid. There are some things that go on. You know, are you accepted the same way as like a natural child? There are all these different things that go on. Is that what goes on when he says we're adopted as sons? Why not?

They actually become ahead of the line in the family. Well, we are co-equal. Other than the deity, we are sons, like Christ, because we are Christ's life. That's our very life. So there isn't this melding of us into the family. We are the same as Christ, minus the deity, in the family.

We're referred to as joint heirs. Which we'll get to. The connotation that we have, we're brought in as adopted as sons, but that's a different connotation. It's the connotation that today if we bring that in, it's a false one. We are fully melded in as adult children, fully equal in the family. There isn't this, you know, we're going to try and fit in.

We have been placed into Christ, His very life, and that says about the intimacy that Christ has with the Father, we have that same intimacy. Look at John 17. John 17 is one of my favorites about how we have that same relationship and Christ is praying that we have that same relationship and telling us that we have that same relationship with God.

Again, when you wake up this morning, did you think You know, go into the kitchen and say, Abba Father, you know, Daddy, because you can. You can do that. You can speak to him the same way as in a relationship as Daddy. You know, I'll go back to some of the things when I was in the church, brethren, church. I've told this story before, but you know, I always, I always thought, we had a break in the bread each week, and all these eloquent men, when I was a young believer, all these eloquent men would stand up, and then these great tree steves would pray to God, in all these great eloquent terms, and all this kind of stuff. And I thought, man, I want to be like those guys. I want to be able to speak in kind of old English, and make it sound real cool. Because I thought that's what you did.

Do you, when you're growing up, your dad, did you ever go into your dad and say, oh, great father, that works, you know, the one who is going to provide to me today. Thank you, old father. Is that how you went in and addressed your dad? I should. That was on the tape in the room being looked at this morning. No, did you ever go in your dad like that? You know, you hear some of the prayers.

Did you ever talk to your dad like that? No. It took me years to figure out that I just talk to him like I talk to my dad. That's how I talk to him. With respect, obviously. But I talk to him just like I'm talking to somebody. Because I can go to him and say, And if I have that intimacy, I'm not going to be talking to him in flowery language. I'm not going to tell him, oh, great one, would you fix this? Would you do this? Oh, great one.

I'm going to talk to him as daddy, because we have that intimacy with him to be able to do that. And that blows the wheels off a lot of Christians, because they're They're into total reverence, which we should have. But he wants intimacy with us. We are part of his family. And I just think more Christians would have a better relationship if they went to God as daddy, father.

And when you realize that, by the fact that you're going to the God of the universe, the one who created everything, the one who holds every cell of my body together, and I can go to him and say, Daddy. So, as much as I say, you know, very casually, go to Daddy, I also realize, that's the God of the universe. He's the one who holds every heartbeat in his hand. Every breath in my lung is his. Every cell of my body is held together by him. And yet, I can go to him and say, Daddy. Changes your day when you think about that. Think about what that means. And what we're saying in these verses is we are part of that family. And you can do that.

So again, another about the adoption is brought out in Galatians 4, 4 through 7. When the fullness of time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that he might redeem those who are under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father, there it is again. Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son. And if a son, then an heir through God. We said it again, we're adopted, we're sons, we're not a slave, we're not a robot underneath him, we're a son of which we can go before him and say, Daddy, That's the intimacy that we have with him. That's the family relationship that he's calling out for us to have.

So again, think when you wake up in the morning, what that means if you really, really think about that, that you are a son of God. And you can say, Daddy, in the morning, Daddy, I love you. 4 through 7. It's incredible when you think about it. That changes your day if you woke up every day thinking that. You can go before him and say, Daddy. In the morning, wake up and say, Daddy, love you. What do you have for me today? That's the kind of relationship he wants with us.

And again, when you pray, it helped me out a lot just to realize that I'm not talking in great flowery language to my daddy. I don't do that. I talk to him as my dad. And that helps your relationship because you realize that. I think that helps you with that relationship. It's not a far-off relationship trying to be this, you know, old great magical, you know, father god. It's the intimacy of daddy. And I think it helps with your relationship with him if you realize that.

But it's not So again, I encourage you to, when you pray, pray as you're talking to your daddy. And that'll help that relationship, yeah. And we're not to be afraid of him. Oh, no. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but we're not to be afraid of him.

Well, you know, we'll get into some of that, too, when we get into, you know, the sin. You know, maybe that's... I was going to read from the Hungry Heart You know, I think it's because, you know, as we realize, we see some of these things, you realize who you are, you know, your sinful nature. We went through a bunch about your sin nature and how nasty and terrible it's in the flesh and all that. And a lot of times we'll dwell on that, not on this relationship that we have with Christ. We dwell more on the negatives than the positives, the things that are true about us. And one of the ones I think, I think it was really good.

The natural man cannot bear the thought of being searched by God. He cannot stand to think of being found out in his true condition and character, but to the truly hungry believer it is a positive comfort to be assured that God knows everything about us. He knows the very worst that can be discovered. He has searched out all that we are, and in spite of all, He has thoughts of blessings concerning us. There is, therefore, no fear of anything coming to light that might cause Him to change or reverse His thoughts of blessing and acceptance.

You're family, and He knows everything about you. Do you think you can hide anything from Him? Your thoughts? Any actions that you do, can you hide them? Guess what? What about tomorrow? Can you hide tomorrow, or three weeks from today, or a year from now? Can you hide anything from us?

Does he already know about that? Did he already pay for that, if it's a sin? It's already done. So, when we try and search, you know, I'm worried about God and he's going to find out something about us. Guess what? He made us. He's holding us together. He knows everything about us. You aren't hiding anything from God. He knows. As a child, He knows us. He knows everything about us. So why hinder this relationship? He knows about it.

First John 1.9. Confess. It's when your kids do something bad. Confess it and go on. Yeah, I'm not acting who I am in Christ. That's not who I am. Yes, I agree with you, God.

And we move on with the relationship. But it's an incredible relationship. He knows everything, all the worst things you've done and will do, or everything about you, he already knows about it. And can that ever change his love for you? Not one iota. So why are you worried about it? Why are you dwelling on it? That's why in this family relationship, he wants us to come before him and have this intimate relationship with him. Because he knows everything about you anyway.

So again, just some of these things are incredibly foundational in our relationship with Christ, these verses that we go through. It's important to know about that we are in the family of God. Yeah, I was just thinking about this. I think for, maybe for, hopefully for most of us, we have a good family relationship with our dad, right?

But, you know, coming across those that have had really poor relationships or horrible relationships with family, And trying to convince them of these truths can be very challenging because their relationships were not intimate or were just very horrible in certain ways. And so coming to terms with God being a father and a daddy can be, for some people, very very difficult. And one of the things that I realized as I witnessed some of this stuff with friends of family and such, is that God defines how the family works. Instead of looking at it from how my relationship with my father was, and then projecting that on God, it's rather, regardless of how my family was, his intimacy with me as a father is the definition of that, rather than those analogies can be very difficult for people. I haven't personally been through that myself, but having heard and seen very challenging circumstances, and almost folks that have been through that kind of thing prefer the more official language, right? Because it's too hurtful to think of it being intimate that way.

So it's just an interesting thought that it's God defines what a father is like, not me as a father, right? Or my relationship with my father. Even though I have a fond analogy in that way, not everyone does, but he's the definition of what a great father is. No, I'm glad you brought that up, because I had a thought about that myself, too. When you try and equate that and say you have a great father, and people immediately go to if they had a bad father that, you know, left, did horrible things, whatever. And I thought about that, and how you try and do that. the definition of it.

One of the things I think which, you know, at least in mine, to work through with some of those people I've dealt with, is that the other part of this which is in Romans 6, co-crucified, all that past is gone. That's the first thing, is to get rid of all that. And there's different things, not one size doesn't fit all. But that's the way I try to approach some of them. Because all that bad memory that you have associated with your dad is gone. Your old history, all of your history. This is for people in prison or anything. Anything that's gone on, all that history is gone. That's why I said that. I think these 6, 7, and 8 are so crucial. for foundational stuff in a relationship. So that's just one way I've tried to do it is gone back and said, look, it was horrible. Your childhood was terrible. Your dad was tough.

All these things. All that history is gone now. You have a new life in Christ and you have a new father who loves you. And I try to bring, because that history is horrible. history. And it's a completely different one. And it's hard for them to understand that, but if you walk them through the foundational part of Romans 6, there is a way, at least I have found, to try and get them away from dwelling in all the negative. It's gone.

You have a new history in Christ that is uncomparable. So, like I said, for people who have had incarcerations or been abused, any of those things, I try and point it to that's gone now. You have a new history in Christ, a new life, and you start brand new in Christ. God loved us first, so now we can love you. Exactly. So I think that's where you try and work it. Once I said fit all it, but I'm glad you brought that up, because I've had that happen.

My dad was terrible. He was horrible. My dad was great. I'm just saying what people have run into. But that's great for them. But like I said, I try and work it through a new history. So if we're adopted sons, does that mean we're newborn or adult sons? Adult. We're adults. We're not a new little baby brought into a family. We are fully vested, fully incorporated into the family as adult children. And Noah brings it out this way.

But God's children are begotten and born of God and are called Tecna. related to God, partakers of the divine nature, 2 Peter 1.4. All of God's children, whether in Old Testament days or today, are thus born.

But the word wios means a child come of age, no longer as a servant, Relations 4.7. Or wistesia, adoption, means God is recognizing them in that position. This will be consummated fully at the coming of Christ, when our bodies, redeemed and fashioned anew, shall be conformed to Christ's glorious body.

Meanwhile, because we are already adult sons, God has given us a spirit of adult sonship, and I think this was a key, and I think when he put it in perspective, at the time, no Jew called God Father or Abba, but they called him Jehovah. Can you imagine this message going out from Paul, telling the Jews, you can call God Daddy? say the word Jehovah. Yeah. And so this, can you imagine Paul handing this to a Jew and saying, you can call him daddy?

That's a complete change. You know, and when you see that, just think of something that you've had your whole life and somebody comes up and tells you, completely different, how you'd react. You got to be kidding me. Well, and that's such an important one too.

They think of Byron Brimstone and whatever if they don't show God enough worship and respect. I know. I mean, you had so much, you know, and he was a far off God and you, this reverence just like a father and a son. And the Jews are thinking about Simon, you know, the terrible noise and all the fire, you know, and the clouds and the smoke and all that stuff.

You can't cross this line or you'll die. Well, that's what I'm saying. So given perspective, when Paul is handing this message to people, do you think he was warmly received? That's why they wanted to kill him. That's why they wanted to kill him most of the time. Because he is a Pharisee.

But it's so important. It's so important. That's why I say this is the foundational part of this Christian life. Because he wants us to have a relationship. It's not a far off God. And that's the message it's bringing to the Jews and to us. It's the fact that we can have that relationship to call him Daddy. We've been reconciled through the death of Christ now. Do you have a relationship now? Yeah, I mean, my question is, do you feel comfortable calling God Father or even intimate as Daddy? Do you feel comfortable in doing that? Yo, D! You know, I mean, do you feel comfortable?

I mean, there's a reverence, but there's also a relationship. A personal one that He wants. That's the thing that just blows my mind. He wants it. We're the ones who are hands off and pushing back. He's the one who wants that relationship with us. He wants us every day to wake up and say, Daddy, come on. That's what he wants. We're the ones going, oh, stay at arm's length away from me. You're God.

They're still under law, people like that. It's the fear of you need to do something to have that relationship. And he's saying no. You have that relationship through Christ. It's the wrong type of fear. Yeah. I mean, and that's where I'm trying to get at. It's a family. We are part of his family. This is foundational. And it changes you when you realize you're part of an intimate family with Christ. It's incredible. Question two.

Does led by the Spirit refer here to service or to guidance in particular paths? So in 14, for all who are being led of the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. So does it refer to service or guidance on how we're supposed to act or do? We're to be led by the Spirit.

I think I'll walk the fence on that and say both. Or neither. Other thoughts? Does it refer to service or guidance? Come on, Jenkins. General control. General control. OK. Any other thoughts? Yeah, being led by the Spirit does not refer to service in order of guidance. It refers to general control by Blessed Spirit of those born of the Spirit, living by the Spirit, in the Spirit. Here is the sphere or mode of their being and is their seal unto the day of redemption. So, again, it's the general control. It's the general control of a believer is being led by the Spirit. Because we also looked at led by error, walked by the flesh. What is that? It's rebel. Why wouldn't it be guidance? Isn't the Holy Spirit guidance?

It convinces us. It doesn't say A, B, C, D, E. It convinces us of the truths of who we are. It guides us in the truths. But it's not like, I don't think it's three steps, take left, go right. of the truths of who we are in Christ, convincing us of all the principles that we're to live by, all those things. But it's not, you know, He will lead us down the path of, you know, we will go A, B, C, D, E, turn right, go left, you know.

It's more the general control, like I said. It's convincing us of these truths. What is, you know, there aren't many direct principles, or direct actions, I should say. It's more principles. So a principle doesn't say exactly left, right, center. It's a general principle of how things operate.

So would it be convincing us to believe? Well, it's convincing us, and if we're convinced, we believe. That's what the Holy Spirit is to convict us about these things and convince us. It's true, just what we talked about this morning, the first question. Convincing us that we are sons of God. We are family. We are equal adult sons in the family of God. That allows for freedom of choice on our part. Well, I mean, the only thing He gave us a will for is to believe.

And do we believe it or not? Do you believe you're a son of God? It's my logline, but it is true. Alright, so question 3. How does verse 14 give us absolute assurance? 14. For all are being led by the Spirit, these are the sons of God. How does it give us absolute assurance?

We are sons of God. We are sons of God. That our being thus is in the spirit sphere and controls proof of the reality of our sonship. It is evident from what has been said. So we are the sons of God. And God doesn't lie. No lying. This is, I guess, the plural essence of the verb. We are sons. We are sons. We are. No question. We are sons of God. From this verse, the assurance of our sonship is based on perfect obedience to the Spirit. No. Why?

It depends on our faith. Okay. It's not about what we do, but our faith. If anything is based on us, how's that going to work out for you? Pretty much is going to fail. So it's not based on our, anything we do. We can be led. We have the choice of responding to it. But again, it's the Spirit convincing us and convicting us of this. But our position doesn't change based on anything about being led by the Spirit. We are sons of God. So there isn't a law based, if we are led by the Spirit, we are children. We are children. And we can be led by the Spirit. position doesn't change.

Newell puts it this way, if one of God's true saints disobeys, it is the office of the same spirit to convict him of his sin, interceding in him according to God, Romans 8.27, while Christ intercedes from above, and if you look at Romans 8.27, For he who searches the hearts and knows the minds of the Spirit is, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." So it's according to the will of God. Then in 1 John 2 verse 1. My little children, I'm writing these things to you so that you may not sin.

And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. So again, getting back to it, is there anything based on us, on us being sons? No. And we have the Spirit to convict us of these things if we're sinning, or convince us of the truths.

And what do we also have in heaven? an advocate. And who's that advocate? Christ himself. So again, nothing's based on us. It's based on all the position and the truths that we have in Christ. Being our position in Christ. That's incredible. You have an advocate in heaven. And it's Christ.

Not a bad advocate. Not a bad one to be on your side. So again, what's he saying when we sin? What's the advocacy? Convincing? Christ in heaven. This is at least my personal. What's the advocate? What's he doing? They're sending him on our behalf. Yeah. So if I send... He could have been far more positive. And says what?

I'm paid for this. Paid. Done. Not anything associated with him. Paid. That's your son. Paid. Done. Paid in full. Done. He's the advocate. Nobody can challenge because we have an advocate who says it's paid for. It's done. What helps me the most is that when the father looks at us, he sees his son's perfection. Right. That's the thing. That's the advocacy as far as the father's concerned. Because it's all paid for through him. Right. He's just, you know, everything is paid for. Done. So, you know, that's kind of an incredible thing when you think about that.

That he's our advocate. He's in heaven, saying anything that we do is already paid. Done. Well, under Roman law, when a father adopted a son, not of his family, I don't think there was any way for that son to get out of the adoption. Right. It's fixed. It's a law of the land. In a Roman it's like property right? It's an absolute? Absolute. Right. The son can't un-adopt himself. Well, we'll get into that as we get into more of these questions. It's kind of fun when you think about being what a son is and how you think about it and what that means. And so we'll get into that as we get into a couple more of the questions.

So question four, what is the spirit of bondage? Verse 15, for you have not received the spirit of slavery or bondage, leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry out, Abba, Father. So what does the spirit of bondage or slavery imply? Law? Law. What is the spirit of slavery? What's that connotation? That's obligation. Obligation? Like being in a squirrel cage. Other thoughts? Spirit of slavery or bondage? It's kind of the contrast of being led by the spirit, right? So, led means you're free, you're walking. Spirit of bondage, you're carrying a ball and chain, right? Not moving. You're alone, too. Maybe you're alone, too, yeah. Is that Pandora's box? I don't know about that.

I think that, you know, I think it's the spirit of bondage or slavery. What is bondage or slavery? Is that a good thing? And when I think about it, it's like, no, it's restraint. It's harsh conditions. It's, you know, no freedom, no nothing. You're just under the control and bondage of somebody. So again, the connotation is restrained or forced compliance. So when we get to that, what does the spirit of bondage lead to? Fear. You know, get this. as what will contrast to daddy. Spirit of bondage is fear.

So you have not received a spirit of slavery. You have not received that. So this isn't anything you should be even thinking about. This is not who you are. This is not who we are in Christ. Should we have fear? Is that like a bond slave to Christ or a bond slave to Adam? This is not to Christ. This is an attitude of slavery or bondage. We don't have an attitude of bondage or slavery, which leads to fear. We don't have that.

What we're going to see, but you have received a spirit of adoption, as sons by which we cry out, Abba, Father. So this is the contrast between being a spirit of adoption, a spirit of fully incorporated into God's family, versus slavery or fear, slavery and fear. It's just bringing the contrast out to what we have. What we have is a spirit of adoption, fully incorporated into God's family, and not fear, but the ability to go before God and say, Daddy, night and day, light and dark, not even in the same ballpark, the two of them. Anyway, we need to close. Sorry. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for today. Thanks for this day you've given to us. We thank you again just for these truths that you have in your word for us and what that means to us.

And I just pray each and every day that I wake up understanding that I am your son. And that I can wake up each day and ask you, Daddy, whatever I want, I can come before you with any request, any praise, any problem, anything. And you want me to do that. And I thank you for that ability that I can come before you anytime, anyplace, anywhere, and just to talk to you as Daddy. Even though you're the God of the universe that holds every breath, that I have, every heartbeat that I have, and every cell that's maintained by you. And this very universe is maintained by you. But you have allowed me through the blood of Christ, the gift of salvation, you have allowed me to come before you and all of us who are your children to come before you and ask anything and talk to you at any time and with the intimacy of Daddy.

And we thank you for that. It's again nothing that we've done. It's all what Christ did on the cross and your gracious offer of salvation through Christ. So we just thank you for that. We thank you again for your truths that we're looking at in Romans. We thank you for what you have told us that's true about us. And we thank you for that. We do just pray for Roger in the next meeting. Just that he'll actively bring us the word and prepare our hearts to receive it. And we thank you for this day. Jesus and we pray. Amen.