Romans 8:12-17 | No Longer Slaves

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Scripture reading (Romans 8:1-17)

[slide] Experiencing the Resurrection Life [Sermon graphic]

The title of this message is, “No Longer Slaves.”

It is foundational, that we clearly understand what Christ has accomplished for us through is death and resurrection.

[Slide] “In Christ, we are no longer slaves to fear, but children of a loving Father.”

If we fail to grasp the message of the gospel, we run the risk of ending up in one of two ditches:

“License to sin” ditch. “It doesn’t matter how I live my life.”

Paul addresses this distortion of the gospel in chapters 5 & 6.

“Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Ro 5:21) “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” By no means! (Ro 6:1-2)

If we fail to grasp the message of the gospel we end up abusing the grace of God.

“Performance” ditch. “I work for God’s approval. I fear God will stop loving me when I fail.”

1 John 4:17–18 “17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

We’ll look closer at this in a few minutes.

In Christ, we are no longer slaves to fear, but children of a loving Father.

Our passage today encourages us to remember three things:

Remember what Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished for us

[Sin/death “trying” slide]. “14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.” (Ro. 7:14)

[Sin/death “fail” slide]. “18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Ro. 7:18)

[Sin/death “freedom” slide]. “3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,” (Ro. 8:3)

Remember what Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished for us

No more condemnation

No longer slaves to the power of sin and death.

Romans 8 addresses the “two ditches” I mentioned earlier.

Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:2 “2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

Remember what Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished for us.

In Christ, we are no longer slaves to fear, but children of a loving Father.

Here’s the second reminder:

Remember that our responsibility is to put the flesh to death

Romans 8:12–13 “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.”

The opening phrase, “so then, brothers,” summarizes the previous eleven verses: You were in chains to sin and death. In Christ you are now free.

So then brothers, we are debtors, not the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Romans 8:8–9 “8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit…”

We are debtors to the grace of Jesus Christ to live according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:13 “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.”

KJV - For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

To mortify, to put to death is not only violent but total.

A Spirit mindset declares and makes war against the flesh with its attitude and behavior.

You and I will be fighting this war until the day we die every single day of our lives. The flesh and the Spirit will never have a cease-fire agreement.

Because we are called to put to death the flesh, we must very careful that we don’t play games with the flesh:

Romans 13:12–14 “12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

To make provision: to think about something ahead of time, with the implication that one can then respond appropriately—‘to give attention beforehand, to have in mind to do, foresight.’ (Louw-Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament)

My family and I are planning a trip to Alaska this summer. We bought a travel trailer. We are currently making provisions for the trip. We are thinking ahead and how we might respond appropriately

Make war against the flesh!

How do you make war against the flesh in order to put it to death? Killing the flesh takes discipline. Discipline takes time and consistency which is exactly what the flesh hates.

Humble Scripture reading

A submissive prayer life

Psalm 139:23–24 “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

God longs to work in our hearts.

Jeremiah 29:13 “13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Active participation in a Christian community

Hebrews 10:24–25 “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Remember that our responsibility is to put to death the flesh.

The third reminder from our passage:

Remember that in Christ, we become children of God.

Romans 8:14–17 “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!” 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.”

What a beautiful reality!

“[In Roman society], The moment adoption occurred, several things were immediately true of the new son. First, his old debts and legal obligations were paid; second, he got a new name and was instantly heir of all the father had; third, his new father became instantly liable for all his actions (his debts, crimes, etc); but fourth, the new son also had new obligations to honor and please his father.” Tim Keller

Remember that in Christ, we become children of God

These verses point out some of the most beautiful realities of what it means be a child of God.

I’m a secure child of God. “15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,” We are not slaves to the power of sin and death, we have been granted power and authority over sin. Sin is no longer our master.

I can delight in the presence of Abba Father. “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!””

Abba is not Greek, but Aramaic which could be translated as “dad” or “daddy” - a term of which denotes a close, secure, intimate relationship.

“The only person who dares to wake up a king at 2 am for a glass of water is his three-year old child.”

I can have assurance that I’m truly a child of God. Romans 8:16 “16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” I’m not sure how this all works, but because the Holy Spirit is not a concept, but a person who comes alongside of us and bears witness or testifies with our spirit that we are indeed children of God.

I’m an heir of all the promises of God in Christ. We have an incredible future in store for us because of our status as children of God. We have a place at the Father’s table. How do I find out what my rights and responsibilities are as a child of God? Read God’s Word: Treasure his promises and his warnings.

I can humbly receive the Father’s discipline when needed. Hebrews 12:10 “10 For [our human fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but [God] disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”

[Slide] Are you living the Christian life as a slave or as a child of God?

[Slide] The difference between a spirit of slavery and the spirit of sonship: (Tim Keller, Romans For You.)

A slave: Obeys under compulsion, because they have to

A son: Obeys out of love for and joy in “Abba,” our heavenly “Dad”

A slave: Works under threat of pain or loss; punishment “pays back”

A son: Discipline is not retribution, but loving instruction

A slave: Lives in Insecurity: If I slip, my master might beat me

A son: Lives in Security: If I slip, my father will forgive me (avoids the two ditches: License to sin & performance.

A slave: Concentration on external behavior and compliance with rules

A son: Concentration on relationships and attitudes

A slave: Has to work, but is given no honor

A son: Is honored, and invited to join the work

Invitation: We are all God’s creatures, but we are not born a child of God. The Bible speaks of humans in terms of spiritual orphans: lost and without hope.

John 1:11–13 “11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

[Slide] “In Christ, we are no longer slaves to fear, but children of a loving Father.”