THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION

Romans 8:15–17 (ESV) —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!” 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.

I. THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION

Romans 8:9 (ESV) — 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Romans 8:9 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Romans 8:14 ESV

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Galatians 5:1 (ESV) — 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1 ESV

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

(See also, Ephesians 2:1-3; Hebrews 2:14-15, for further understanding of your liberation.)

Galatians 4:6 (ESV) — 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Galatians 4:6 ESV

6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

“When we speak of salvation as justification, we are thinking of God as Judge. `That is a remote and somewhat grim relationship. When we think of regeneration, we are thinking of God as Creator. That, too, is remote. But when we think of adoption, we are thinking of God as our Father, which denotes a far closer relationship.” James M. Boice, Romans vol. 2, p. 840.

Mark 14:36 (ESV) — 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Mark 14:36 ESV

36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

We become children of God by the Spirit’s enabling, and the certainty of that adoption is given as the Spirit prompts us to call upon God as Father. [1]

That is, abba was not a childish term of the nursery comparable to “daddy.” It was a polite and serious term, yet also colloquial and familiar, regularly used by adult sons and daughters when addressing their father. Ideas of simplicity, intimacy, security, and affection attach to this household word of childlike trust and obedience. So to bring out the sense of warm and trusting intimacy that belongs to the word, we could appropriately paraphrase it as “dear father.” [2]

[1] Peterson, D. G. (2021). Romans (T. D. Alexander, T. R. Schreiner, & A. J. Köstenberger, Eds.; p. 319). Lexham Press. [2] Harris, M. J. (2020). Navigating Tough Texts: A Guide to Problem Passages in the New Testament (p. 157). Lexham Press.