TEACHING NOTES Introduction Last week we began a verse-by-verse study of the Good News found in Romans 8. The first piece of Good News is this: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:1-2). We have been set free because Jesus condemned sin and gave us the Holy Spirit. Today, the Good News continues by telling us that we have been adopted into God’s family. ‌ Romans 8:12–13 ESV 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ‌ Debtors = Grk. opheiletai - under obligation. In the previous verses (1-11), Paul described all that God has done for us. He sent His Son to rescue us from sin by condemning sin is His own flesh. Paul is saying that this obligates us to stop living in the flesh. God’s grace is a gift and in the biblical mind, receiving a gift means that you are obligated to return a gift. Those who have received God’s grace are debtors or obligated to give our lives back to God in return. We see this again in Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” ‌ Not to the flesh = Before Christ came, we were enslaved by sin and death. Jesus has made a way to be “set free from the law of sin and death.” Therefore, we are no longer enslaved or indebted to the flesh (sin/sinful desires). We are now slaves or servants of Christ. ‌ If you live by the flesh you will die = This is the law of sin and death. The flesh refers to sinful desires. If we live according to our sinful desires, we are headed into death and destruction. Paul says in Romans 6:12 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” Living by flesh is simply acting out your sinful desires. It is obeying sin’s passions and allowing yourself to be ruled by destructive desires. ‌ By the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body = Without God’s Spirit, we have no way out of our sinful desires. Paul already said in Romans 8:10 “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Paul says in Romans 6:11 “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” ‌ Romans 8:14–15 ESV 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ‌ Led by the Spirit of God = In contrast to being led by the flesh, we are called to be led by the Spirit of God. This is a daily practice of putting our sinful desires to death and living out the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). ‌ Sons of God = Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the family of God. The entire story of the Bible is about God creating a human family so He can share His love and goodness with them. Even though the Bible is filled with stories of humans rebelling against Him, God refuses to give up on humanity. God wants His family to know Him and experience a loving relationship with Him. This is the main point of the entire Bible. ‌ In the Old Testament, the “sons of God” are spiritual beings who were created by God before humans were created (Job 38:4-7). These sons of God rebelled in Gen. 6:1-5 by corrupting humanity before the flood and again at the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11). God allowed the nations who had rejected Him to be ruled by these rebellious spirits (Deut. 32:8). These spirits led people to worship them as gods. In Psalm 82, God declares that these spirits (sons of God) will be judged, they will die like men, and God will take back the nations for Himself. Romans 8:14 is the fulfillment of Psalm 82, because Jesus has made the way for God to save the nations. ‌ The spirit of slavery and fear = Before we placed our faith in Christ, we were enslaved to another spirit, which is sin/satan. Being enslaved to sin leads to a life of fear, because we know we’re wrong and will be judged. Hebrews 10:26–27 says, “26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.” ‌ The Spirit of adoption = Adoption is a legal action where a person who is not a biological offspring is declared a member of the family. In sin we were not part of God’s family. But God adopted us into His family by declaring that we are no longer sinners (satan’s family), but are now declared righteous. ‌ Roman Adoption: In the Greco-Roman culture of the first century, it was common for parents with irresponsible children to legally adopt a responsible adult who would receive the inheritance. This ensured that their irresponsible children did not receive and squander the inheritance. Paul alludes to this practice by using the terms “adoption” (Rom. 8:15) and “heirs” (Rom. 8:17). ‌ As sons = Paul is certainly including females, but he uses “sons” on purpose to illustrate his point. In the ancient world, only sons would receive the inheritance. In fact, only the firstborn son would receive all of the inheritance and the firstborn would decide how it would be distributed to the other sons. Jesus is the “firstborn of all creation” (Col. 1:15), and He gives God’s inheritance to all who trust in Him. ‌ Abba! Father! = Abba is the Hebrew/Aramaic term for father. “Cry” is krazo in Greek and refers to calling out loudly or emotionally. Once we realize that God loves us and wants to be our Father, we cry out to Him for forgiveness and grace. No matter what happens in this life, we can cry out to our Father who is always listening to His children. ‌ Romans 8:16–17 ESV 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. ‌ The Spirit bears witness = The Spirit in us is the evidence that we have been adopted and are the children of God. How do we know that we have the Spirit in us? 1 John 3:24 says, “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” Our faithfulness and obedience is the evidence that we have the Spirit. ‌ If children, then heirs = Since Jesus is the Son of God, He received the inheritance of God. All that God has Jesus also has. Jesus is our older brother who distributes what God has to all of God’s children. ‌ Hebrews 2:11–13 “11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” ‌ Provided we suffer with him = How do we suffer with Christ? The suffering of Christ refers to His crucifixion where He put sin to death (Rom. 8:3-4). To suffer with Christ is to put our sin to death and live by the Spirit. ‌ Glorified with him = Literally, “honored with him.” Because Jesus was completely faithful and brought us into God’s family, “God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). If we are faithful to Jesus, we will be honored with Jesus before the Father. ‌ Conclusion Have you placed your allegiance in Christ? Are you part of God’s family? Do you have the Spirit living in you and changing you? If not, today is the day of repentance and adoption. The Father is drawing us closer to Himself today. We respond with repentance, worship, and celebration (Communion). ‌