Adopted by God

Romans 8:12–14 ESV

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Children of God are debtors.

Before I dive into what it means for Christians to be debtors, I want to make something clear.

Our identity in this passage is not one of a debtor who must work until they can pay back their debt.

For if we did have to pay back the debts of our sin, we would never be able to pay it back.

We could work for an eternity and we would get no closer to paying God back for the sacrifice of His Son on the cross.

But thanks be to God, Paul says at the end of verse 14 that we are sons of God.

If you have repented of your sins and placed your faith in God, then the weight of sin no longer burdens you.

We have the joy of being children of God.

So what does Paul mean when he says we are debtors.

As youth you have probably never been in any serious debt.

The worst you may have experienced is going out to dinner and realizing you don’t have the money to pay your bill.

As a result, you may have experienced a small amount of relief from somebody paying your bill for you.

You may have experienced a even slightly greater relief when the person so graciously says that you don’t have to ever pay them back.

This should lead most people to want to do good for them or others, because of the joy of in their heart.

Even though you don’t owe anything, a passion in your heart has grown to do good to others as good has been done to you.

Imagine if the debt was much more than a 20 dollar meal at Patio Grill.

What if that debt was the penalty of sin?

The penalty that cannot no be paid.

The penalty that leads to death experienced in an eternity in Hell.

The penalty that was paid by Jesus.

paid by being mocked, ridiculed, and beaten.

paid by nails being driven through His hands.

paid by the blood pouring from His body.

paid by suffering the very wrath of God that we deserve.

Yet Jesus paid that debt, and has told us that we don’t owe anything.

We are free.

But should we not be moved?

Should we not be moved to serve Jesus with our words and actions?

Should we not be moved “to put to death the deeds of this body” as these verses say.

When sin tempts us to speak in a way that brings harm to others, we should remember what Jesus has done for us.

When sin tempts us to use sexual language to get laughs from our peers, we should remember what Jesus has done for us.

When sin tempts us to cheat, give half efforts in school, or disrespect our teachers, we should remember what Jesus has done for us.

We should have a passion to live according to the Spirit.

But lets keep going on because this passage keeps getting better.

Romans 8:15 ESV

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!”

Children of God do not have the Spirit of slavery, but the Spirit of adoption.

There is a reason why in your notes I have been referring to those who placed their faith in Christ as children of God.

Those who have placed their faith in God are described by many titles in Scripture and throughout history

We have been called:

Christians

Followers

Disciples

Witnesses

Brothers and sisters

The elect

Saints

And the list could go on...

Each of these names have meaning that is important to our identity.

Yet in this passage we see the precious meaning of being adopted by God, to be children of God.

I think our prayer life can be so cold, because we don’t see the significance of this verse.

Yes, God is

all-powerful

holy

righteous

is and even shown to pour out His wrath on sin.

But He is also our Father.

And not just our Father, but something with even more meaning.

He is “Abba! Father!”

Now often at your age the English word for “Abba” is used in a childish or joking way.

But here the word Abba means “daddy” as a small child might call their Father who they know has a compassionate love for them.

Every time I come to this verse I think of the second Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

The main protagonist, Peter Quill, had a father figure that might not be his biological father, but was the person who cared and loved for him since he was a child.

There is a scene that I think shows us the essence of the word “Abba” or “daddy” that might help us connect a little better this use of “Abba! Father”.

Show movie scene

Now that we maybe see the significance of this phrase “Abba! Father” how might that transform our cold prayer life?

See, God truly cares and loves us.

He doesn’t just see us as followers, but as His children.

We should be constantly communicating our needs to Him.

Because not only does He have the compassion to care for our needs, but He also has the power to actually fulfill them.

Now lets see what else our position, as children of God, brings us.

Romans 8:16 ESV

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Children of God have assurance.

As we have discussed before, those who have truly repented of their sins and placed their faith in Christ have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them.

We have seen that the Holy Spirit is what empowers us to fight sin and be obedient to God.

The Holy Spirit also gives us another gift, the gift of assurance.

Meaning that the Holy Spirit helps us know that we truly are Christians.

The Christian life is full of battling sin and pursuing obedience to God.

Sometimes when we are battling sin, we lose some battles, causing us to doubt of our salvation.

But if you are truly saved, then you have the Holy Spirit inside of you that confirms that you truly are a child of God.

Our security comes from God.

As I have said before, God wants us to know, that we know God.

Yet the Christian life isn’t without its costs. And we must count the cost.

Romans 8:17 ESV

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.

Children of God are heirs of God if we are willing to suffer with Christ.

In order to inherit eternal life and all the blessings that it brings, we must be willing to suffer as Christ suffered on the cross.

For the early Christians, that meant they were willing to suffer in such a way that they might lose their life.

Lord willing, we might not suffer in that way, but we will be called to suffer.

It might mean that we lose friends.

It might mean that when we go to college we are viewed as ignorant.

It might mean that we might be ridiculed by even our parents.

It might meant that we have to give up some personal pursuits that interfere spending time with God and His people.

There is so much that you might have to suffer.

But I want to share with you a Hymn and a story that portrays the Christian’s willingness to suffer

I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.

Tho' none go with me, I still will follow, Tho' none go with me I still will follow, Tho' none go with me, I still will follow; No turning back, no turning back.

My cross I'll carry, till I see Jesus; My cross I'll carry till I see Jesus, My cross I'll carry till I see Jesus; No turning back, No turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me; The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.

More than 150 years ago in a pagan village known for headhunting in northeast India, a family became followers of the Lord Jesus Christ under the ministry of a Welsh missionary. When the village chief had heard about this family’s conversion to Christianity, he asked the father of the home to recant his faith in Christ. With boldness, however, the Christian father responded, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” To force him to forsake Christ, a decree was made to kill his wife and two children. But, by God’s grace, the man proclaimed, “Though no one joins me, still I will follow.” The persecutors murdered his wife, but he remained faithful to his Lord and Savior. Finally, they killed him, but even his death did not shake his faith. In fact, during his execution, the persecutors found him saying, “The cross before me, the world behind me.” Deeply touched by this man’s life, the chief announced, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!” Eventually, the whole pagan village was converted to Christianity.

Have you decided to follow Jesus?