Romans 8:12-17

Intro

Well I was grabbing lunch with a pastor friend of mine last week…I was sharing my story of coming to know Jesus and sort of how God has brought me to the places that I’m at today…pretty typical Christian lunch conversation…

But after I got done sharing, one of the first things he said in response was something about narcissism. And y’all, narcissism is not the word you wanna hear after talking about yourself for about 20 minutes…

So, this week, I studied narcissism. I actually found out that the word narcissist comes from a greek myth about a young hunter named Narcissus known for breaking hearts over his good looks. In this story, Nemesis, the greek god of vengeance, for reasons I don’t have time to get into…led Narcissus toward a clear, glassy pool of water. It goes on like this…”As he bent down to drink, he caught sight of a hauntingly beautiful young man. Never before had Narcissus seen himself with such clarity. He spent the day acquainting himself with every glinting angle, and passed the evening gazing at his reflection by moonlight. Days wore on, and Narcissus never parted from his one true love. Eating and drinking nothing, Narcissus too wasted away. Until all that was left of him was a white and yellow flower, bending towards its reflection.”

Isn’t that is how we envision narcissism? Homie literally admired himself to death.

BUT, as my friend so oddly brought up that word at our lunch meeting, he told me there is something called primary narcissism, and it’s actually part of our development as children…a Psychology website called PsychCentral states that, “During this time, the child is highly egocentric and believes that he is the center of the world probably because of the fact that almost all of his needs and desires are being fulfilled by his [parents].”

And he brings this up because one commonality we share…is that we’ve both been deeply hurt and rejected by our fathers. The primary narcissism that was built into us as infants, it wasn’t satisfied. The thing in us that makes us say, “Hey Dad, watch this!” “Hey Dad, check out this throw!” “Dad, did you see me?!” “Dad, are you proud of me?” That itch was never scratched, if you will…

And whether you’re in this room and you’ve missed out on that like I have, or you get that every single day…what I see to be true in all of this is that were created to belong to a good Father. We were created to be kids who both want and win over our Dad’s love and approval.

It’s in our psychological makeup.

Here’s what I’m getting at, and why YOU NEED this message tonight, is...

Content

You need to know what it’s like to be God’s kid. (Say it again!!)

To experience His goodness as your loving Father, and not just simply know the right things to say about his goodness.

As you lean in and listen tonight, the big idea I want you to hear is that GOD DID more than saving us, he adopted us.

It’s been a minute, but 3 weeks ago we kicked off this series called “GOD DID” in Romans chapter 8…you can actually head there now if you have your bibles.

And in our first message on the first 11 verses ,we talked a lot about the freedom that comes in a life with Jesus. If you remember - there were 4 ways in which we are free:

Free from punishment.

Free from having to be perfect.

Free from our old way of life.

Free from death.

And tonight, I want us to shift into this next section of Romans 8…being reminded that, because of our FREEDOM in Christ - we don’t belong to ourselves anymore, this broken world doesn’t own us…but we actually belong to God.

The first verse of our text tonight gives us that reminder: Verse 12 of Romans chapter 8 says, “So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh.”

In other translations, it says we are not debtors to the flesh. Which means we don’t owe our sinful flesh anything anymore! The power it once had is gone! It’s not our master!

God paid for our freedom, so we belong to Him now…

We’ll see that here as we checkout the rest of this section…Romans chapter 8 verses 12 through 17…

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba,[i] Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

I see 3 things that God’s kids do in response to the freedom He’s given us…3 ways that you can begin to experience what it’s like to belong to Him…

God’s kids…

Follow their Father.

Fall into the arms of their Father.

Find hope in their Father.

And quick disclaimer…this message is for everyone in this room…and if you’re in here, and you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus…I’m so glad you’re here. But I want to make it known, that when I say God’s Kids…i’m specifically talking to those of you who have already trusted in Jesus. We’re all created in God’s image, we’re all God’s creation, and he certainly is interested in and loves each person he created…but we’re not all God’s children. Being adopted into God’s family comes through faith in Jesus…but the cool thing is…all of us have that invitation. To be God’s Kid.

And so, first…God’s kids FOLLOW THEIR FATHER.

13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.

I’ve been pretty spoiled throughout my childhood - my mom LOVES planning epic vacations. if you’re keeping track, yes, I’ve already indicted myself as spoiled and subtly narcissistic…pray for me.

And, because I’m spoiled, I’ve grown to expect that kind of generosity! Especially around early March…cuz ya know, it’s spring break. So, when I hear, “hey Jacob, what are you doing the week of March 7th”…or whatever it is. My immediate reaction is “LET’S GO! WHERE WE GOING? I’M PUTTING IN MY PTO RIGHT NOW. THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT!” Right? I don’t sit there and start getting anxious…I don’t get caught up in the process…I know following her on this trip means I’ll have to get a ride to the airport, I know it means I’ll have to go through security, get on a plane, spend a couple hours 30,000 feet in the air…but I follow her because following is a means to an end. An end that looks like me on a a beach. Amen?

And this is important: Going on these trips with her doesn’t make me her son. I go on these trips, I follow her to these places, BECAUSE I’M HER KID. I know that my mom is taking me some place incredible. Some place that is better than where I’m at right now. And if I decided…hey I’m not gonna follow you there. I’m not gonna follow you because I don’t want to get on a plane. Maybe I’m afraid we won’t ever come down, that flight won’t ever end. If I did that…I’d be choosing to reject the benefits of being in this family.

If you know my story, you know I have a pretty broken relationship with my mom, too. And even still, she is far more generous towards me than I deserve. So HOW MUCH MORE, IS OUR PERFECT FATHER generous and intentional in where he takes us…

In this text tonight, Paul makes it extremely clear - God’s kids, they follow their Father. God’s kids learn that when He is ready to take us somewhere - it’s gonna be GOOD. And in the process of getting there - you see that following is a means to a much greater end. The mundane mornings when we’re spending time with God reading His Word - that is taking you somewhere. When we spend time in prayer, that’s taking you somewhere. When we kill our sin…and obey God…THAT is bringing you somewhere. It’s bringing you closer to Him. And it’s said that at His right hand are eternal pleasures. Being with Him is somewhere far better than you are today. And of course, we have to make the choice to take part in that! If you choose, tomorrow, not to follow God, not to follow where He’s leading…you are still his son. But, don’t miss the opportunity to reap the benefits of being God’s kid…knowing that you’re not God’s kid because you follow Him. You follow Him, BECAUSE YOU’RE HIS KID.

I love the language in the next few verses…

15 & 16 say, 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba,[I] Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

You did NOT receive a spirit of SLAVERY to FALL back INTO FEAR. In other words, you’re no longer a slave to yourself, to your sin, to this world!! You’re not a slave, you’re a son! You don’t have to recoil in fear for your master, you can love and trust your Father.

So, rather than FALLING BACK into fear…

My next point is…God’s kids FALL INTO THE ARMS OF THEIR FATHER.

The passage that we are in, this letter called Romans written by the Apostle Paul…it was originally written in Greek. But there’s one word here in verse 15 that Paul actually wrote in a different language.

The word, Abba. Abba, is an aramaic word - the language that Jesus spoke. And if we translate the word Abba into English…we would essentially end up with the word, “Dada.”

Now, NXT High School - who came up with the word “Dada?” Toddlers did!

Toddlers geniusely came up with this two-syllable word that demonstrates intimacy, innocence, and dependence on their Dad’s. And this isn’t just an english thing, or an aramaic thing. There are these kinds of two-syllable “Dada” words across every nation and language.

In spanish, It’s PAPA. In Indonesian, it’s BAPA. In Turkish, it’s BABA. In Aramaic, it’s ABBA. And for you and I, it’s DADA. It’s the same across the board because the one things thats constant is whose mouth it comes from - toddlers.

Friends, Paul’s use of the word Abba tells us that God has saved us and freed us from our old masters…so that we might be restored to a relationshp with Him that is less like a slave to his owner…but more like a child to His Dada.

But Toddlers don’t just say “Dada,” do they…That word certainly gets their Father’s attention. It’s the precursor to “Hey Dad, check this out!!” But what else do Toddler’s do? They reach out for their father. When they get hurt, when they make a mess, when they get scared, or even when they’re just being cute…they reach out for Dada.

And friends in the same way that the Spirit of God leads us to cry out ABBA to get our Father’s attention…we have assurance that when we reach out to Him in our helplessness, He will bend down, scoop us up, and embrace us in his arms.

God’s kids…they fall into the arms of their Father.

For those of you in this room who have INCREDIBLE Dads…I don’t want you to miss how special this kind of relationship is. Don’t take advantage of it… Even the best dads are just a shadow of who God is…

And if you’re here and you’re about to tune out because this ISN’T your story…you didn’t have a dad like this…I want to encourage you too…

Abba is written here for you. Abba is written in Aramaic because that’s the language that Jesus spoke. In the most desperate moment of his life - just hours before his death on a cross, Jesus calls out for His Abba.

“Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved[g] to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” 35 He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba,[h] Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”

The immense grief and pain that Jesus was dreading in this moment - it wasn’t JUST the physical pain of the cross. It’s because taking on our sin meant that for the first time in ALL OF ETERNITY - The Son of God would be separated from His Father. That’s what brought Jesus the most unbearable grief. The fact that for the first time EVER, he would cry out Abba, Father!! And be denied. Be forsaken. All so that we never have to.

We can be accepted, because in that moment, Jesus was denied.

No matter who you are or the family you come from. You can call out “Abba,” lift up your arms, and fall into the arms of a perfect Father.

With that, our last point for tonight is…God’s kids FIND HOPE IN THEIR FATHER.

“The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”

The absurd truth here tonight is that we’re more than just saved…

We are ADOPTED. This is what my bible says about adoption: “Adopted children could not be cast aside once adopted. Typically, adoption was initiated by a father who chose to embrace a helpless child, with nothing to offer the parent, and make the child an heir. Adopted children typically bring nothing with them into their new family and yet are freely given access to the resouces of their new home. Adoption represents the amazing grace of God to embrace former rebels and make them his children and heirs.”

Y’all, God did more than saving us, he adopted us. He made a legally binding choice that no matter what happens, His kids are His kids, and it cost Him His own Son. Our name is changed, we’re part of his family. Our home address has changed, we’re citizens of heaven! Even our future has changed because in the end, we will inherit everything that belongs to His Son Jesus. 1 Peter 1 describes it like this…an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…

That is ABSURD…We don’t deserve it…And that kind of inheritance is ours…

But you’ll notice…there’s a caveat. And that’s Suffering. In two weeks, after thanksgiving…we’ll talk a lot more about hope in the midst of suffering…but tonights passage teases that out for us. It says, IF indeed we suffer with Him. Suffering is part of the deal. Suffering is part of the road to our inheritance. And this whole sermon just became real uncomfortable for some of you.

The thing about being God’s Kid…is sometimes our Father leads us differently than the world leads itself. Like Jesus, sometimes following our Father leads us to a cross.

But we know, as God’s Sons and daughters, that there’s hope, even at the cross.

We know that because we’re God’s kids…and we’re filled with the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead…

In summary, GOD’S KIDS:

FOLLOW THEIR FATHER - Be with Him, trust the process, listen to His voice!

FALL INTO THE ARMS OF THEIR FATHER - Relearn dependence, don’t fall back into slavery, fall into the loving embrace of your new master.

FIND HOPE IN THEIR FATHER. - Know that this place is not your home, and you can patiently await the future hope that God promises his children.

Lastly, remember that GOD DID more than saving you, he adopted you

worship - hands raised, cry out to your Father.