(Romans 8:12-14) Who Am I - A Child of God.
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INTRODUCTION:
Have you ever done something… And thought your parents were going to figuratively kill you?
Maybe it was an accident…
Or maybe it was outright sin and disobedience.
Maybe you didn’t think you were going to get caught … and then you were.
But nevertheless, you were afraid of what your parents were going to say.
We all have had those kinds of moments.
ILLUSTRATION:
I knew one person, who put bunch of boxes next to a burn barrel.
(They probably were around 12)
What they did not realize is that the barrel was hot enough they would catch on fire.
To make things worse… The fire spread to the wood for their dad's new barn.
That person knew they were toast.
And this happened around noon.
And so they went up and hid underneath their bid ... All afternoon hiding from mom and dad.
And their father tried to coax their child out … but they wouldn’t budge.
That child stayed right there underneath their bed in fear of what their father would do.
But did that child have a reason to be afraid?
Their father loved them, unconditionally, even if they burn’t the barn down.
That child's father still loves them today, unconditionally.
So often we try to hide our faces from God when we have sinned against our heavenly father.
We approach God with fear and guilt,
....rather than realizing he's a father who loves us anyway.
Have you been there?
We so often run from God -
Because we think our sin is too great.
Because we are afraid of what our father might do.
But this passage challenges us not to approach God in fear ... But as children of a loving father.
So I ask - How do you approach God?
And observe how this passage teaches us to approach God as adopted children of God.
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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
PROP: We ought ought to live as the Children of God.
PROP: We ought ought to live as the Children of God.
TRANS: and this text teaches 2 realities of how we should approach God.
TRANS: and this text teaches 2 realities of how we should approach God.
CAVEAT:
But let me clarify today,
if you have not put your faith in Jesus saving you on the cross. You need to understand that the penalty for your sin is everlasting punishment in hell.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And everything I am saying today is only true if you have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
So from this point on, everything I'm saying I'm assuming today that you already believe in Christ.
And so for you who might not know the Lord,
realize everything I'm saying to you is what you could have if you were to trust in Christ today.
>>>>> But understand - what I am saying is only true of the Christian.
We as Christians ought ought to live as the Children of God.
and the first reality of that - is understanding
1) Our Identity - We are children of God.
1) Our Identity - We are children of God.
Perhaps the greatest question of the new millennium has been – who am I?
As we have observed the collapse of traditional society… Increasingly we find people who are in search of – who am I?
In a world without God – which America is increasingly becoming… The greatest philosophical question we struggle with is who am I?
Jerry Bridges introduces this way -
The man sitting to my left at dinner referred to himself as a carpenter. Carpentry is his vocation, but it is not who he is.
A lady with a broken marriage said to a friend, "I'm just a failure." Although she failed in her marriage, that is not who she is.
I grew up in a moderate poverty. To this day my default answer to the question," whom am I?" Is "I am the little boy growing up on the dirt street alongside the railroad tracks." But that is not who I am.
Bridges, Jerry. Who Am I? Identity In Christ . Cruciform Press. Kindle Edition.
We almost always answer this in terms of a .... subjective human experience.
But my subjective human experience simply is not who I am.
>>>Whether a good thing or a bad thing.
As Christians our identity is to be found in our relationship with Christ
and not in our subjective and often negative life experiences. (Who Am I? Identity in Christ by Jerry Bridges)
And what this passage teaches us is that we are not our subjective human experience …
A carpenter,
a failure,
a poor kid,…
But the children of God.
Our identity because of Jesus Christ is as a child of God.
What does that mean?
What does it mean that your identity is that you are a child of God?
Based on our text this morning, that means we are –
a) Not slaves to sin. (Romans 8:12-13b)
a) Not slaves to sin. (Romans 8:12-13b)
The heartbeat of this section and Romans has been… That our union with Christ death has set us free from our slavery to sin.
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Paul reminds us of that in v. 12. Let's read verse 12.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
What does is it mean we are not slaves to sin?
We are no longer debtors to the flesh.
Background:
In the day of Paul most slaves were there because they had fallen into debt
... And so were literally under the obligation to obey their masters.
In our past life, before Jesus Christ, we were obligated and compelled to obey our master – sin and flesh.
If our flesh desired
anger,
or immorality,
or gluttony…
Then our bodies obeyed our master.
ILLUSTRATION:
Fourth of July is one of those holidays I love.
I love the red white and blue.
I love the fireworks.
I love families using their freedom spend time with their loved ones.
It’s just a great holiday to celebrate the great freedom we have in this country.
However,
is the freedom we have in this country greater then the freedom we have in Christ?
… Easter ought to be far more a day for fireworks and celebration than Fourth of July.
Paul makes the point, we are no longer obligated to the flesh.
We as children of God are no longer slaves to sin.
We have freedom!
Not only does this mean were not obligated to the flesh… But Paul is teaching us that we are not to fear God’s anger.
Observe what Paul says in verse 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.
Paul reminds us of what happens to a person who lives according to the flesh.
Spiritual death.
We as children of God are:
b) Not under God’s anger or punishment. (Romans 8:13)
b) Not under God’s anger or punishment. (Romans 8:13)
CAVEAT:
He is not saying, - that we as Christians will lose our salvation if we sin.
But that the natural result of living for the flesh is death.
Who lives for the flesh in the fullest of sense – someone who is not trusted in the death of Christ.
Just like Romans 6:23 is talking about a spiritual death… This passage teaches us that those who follow the flesh will face a spiritual death.
Jesus taught,
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
If you live for the flesh, then you will face everlasting punishment.
But remember Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So if you are a child of God - you are not under God’s anger or wrath.
Jesus satisfied God’s anger and wrath with his blood on the cross.
I hope you still rejoice at that.
Christ has freed you from the anger and wrath of God.
ILLUSTRATION:
I think of the song -
Calvary Covers It All (Hymn #246)
Calvary covers it all. Calvary covers it all, my past with it sin and stain,
my guilt and despair, Jesus took on him there, and Calvary covers it all.
You are no longer the enemy of God, but the child of God.
But being a child of God also means – we are:
c) We are promised eternal life. (Romans 8:13)
c) We are promised eternal life. (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.
Again, just like death was not referring to dying in this life.
>>>> Life is referring to more than just not dying in this life.
There are many reasons to believe in Christ.
Perhaps, because he really was the son of God.
Perhaps because you know you have done wrong and are guilty and he died on the cross to pay for your sins.
Perhaps because you're tired of living life trapped in sin.
Perhaps because you don’t want to be in everlasting punishment.
But for many of us, >>>>>>>>>>it's because of the hope of eternal life.
Jesus Christ represents hope for the child of God.
Consider,
No one with any logic doubts there is something wrong with the world.
Death
Agonizing diseases.
Starvation
The potential for destruction in Tsunamis and Earthquakes. Hurricanes and Tornadoes.
And yet just as awful is ourselves.
ILLUSTRATION:
WWII cost the world 50 million lives.
The Holocaust is a horifying reality.
ILLUSTRATION:
It's funny - Even in the wealthiest country on earth - America ... we have huge problems with suicide, depression, and anxiety.
Why?
Because we know something is wrong.
And that is why it is wonderful to be a Christian - because the Child of God is promised eternal life.
On one hand eternal has the idea of everlasting…
ILLUSTRATION:
As a kid I remember going to the Mojave desert … and we would go down these roads where there was nothing but a strait line for miles.
- Nothing to the left and nothing to the right.
- Just strait line as far as you can see.
Our Eternal life is like that - it is everlasting … it is like a road that never ends.
I don't have to worry about dying in this life because I know God has promised me to live forever in Jesus Christ.
But eternal life is more than just living forever.
Consider this description of Eternal Life -
15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Eternal life is about living forever with God as your shepherd.
He literally will take care of you,
like a shepherd who takes care of his sheep.
The one who is the most merciful and powerful being in the universe - promises through Jesus Christ to shepherd you.
Because he is the Shepherd
- every disease, disaster, and even tears are gone.
ILLUSTRATION:
I have meet more then one person who has rejected Christ - because that sounds like a fantasy.
One Lady I worked with I told her about Christ.
She asked what it meant to have eternal life.
And she rejected Christ because in her mind - no world could exist without death.
Because of how fallen this world is … we can’t imagine a world like that.
Let’s be honest - it is a matter of faith.
And we might think it is a fantasy … if it wasn’t for the resurrection of Christ.
Remember … all of these promises are contingent on the death and resurrection of Christ.
If you can believe what the Gospels testify about Jesus - that he died for our sins and on the third day was raised from the dead.
Then >>>> you can believe that you as a child of God are promised - Eternal life.
That means a reality in our life
is this not my forever,
my legacy,
or even my home
… because I am just a passing through.
I am a child of God.
Finally, Being a child of God means -
d) We are controlled by the Spirit. (Romans 8:13b-14)
d) We are controlled by the Spirit. (Romans 8:13b-14)
ILLUSTRATION:
Isn't amazing how alike fathers and sons can be at times.
In fact it is almost creepy.
People I never knew and never met… But they recognized me.
Or should I say they recognized my dad in me.
As children, we so often reflect the manners of our parents.
If we are children of God shouldn’t we likewise reflect the manners of our heavenly father.
People ought to be able to recognize us as children of God because the traits of the Heavenly father are inside us.
Our passage teaches us that Part of being a child of God … is being someone who is lead by the Holy Spirit.
You might say it this way - Our Father is reflected in us because the Holy Spirit leadus us.
A question you should ask yourself is -
Who leads your life?
The Holy Spirit leading your life means the Holy Spirit is controlling your life.
It is guiding you.
Convicting you.
Burdening you.
Understanding the Holy Spirit is often difficult because it is an unseen reality in our hearts.
>>>>>>>>>>I can’t see it, but it bears witness to my conscience.
So how do you know the Holy Spirit is leading you?
a) And I think it begins with what you confess.
This is why Paul says (v. 9)
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.
If you do not confess that you know Christ as your savior … you can’t say you are lead by the Holy Spirit.
b) But further, in v. 5 Paul emphasizes that you are lead by the Spirit >>>> if you mind is set to the things of the Spirit.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Which means - we know that you have the Spirit if you have >>>>>>>the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-22 is probably the best known passage that teaches this.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
What is controlling your life -
The things of the flesh
Or the things of God.
As Children of God - the Father ought to be reflected in who we are and how we live.
CONCLUSION:
So consider your identity found in Christ this morning - we are the children of God.
Which means - as Children of God we are:
a) Not slaves to sin. (Romans 8:12-13b)
b) Not under God’s anger or punishment. (Romans 8:13)
c) We are promised eternal life. (Romans 8:13)
d) We are controlled by the Spirit. (Romans 8:13b-14)
But consider the Second Reality of this passage.
Paul doesn’t tell us we are adopted as food for thought.
It is not meaningless and pointless theology.
Paul expects the reality of our identity - to cause a second reality.
2) The Implication - We ought to live as Children of God.
2) The Implication - We ought to live as Children of God.
Since we are children of God, I have to ask if that makes a difference in your life.
I want to ask three questions that I believe flow out of this passage.
Three questions that I think help us think about the implications of being a child of God.
First one,
a) Do you fear your father who loves you?
a) Do you fear your father who loves you?
ILLUSTRATION:
I began this morning but talking about a young child who hid from her father's face in fear.
While her father was putting his hand out and calling her to him ...
The child was cringing and fear of what her father might do.
Too often that pictures us.
Because we have the sin nature we are so often live with a conscience that is stained with fear and guilt.
But we have to remember, we are not under the judgment of God.
Instead we are under the hand of a loving father
>>>>>>>>>>who through Jesus Christ is already forgiveness us and given us eternal life.
2nd question -
b) Do you honor your father which is in Heaven?
b) Do you honor your father which is in Heaven?
As I thought about this passage - the implications of being a son of God.
I couldn’t help but think of a passage I have given my kids hundreds of times.
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),
If I think that it is right according to God's word that my children obey their human father.
However,
I can't help but think that it is right that we as children of God honor our heavenly father as well.
If any Father deserves honor … certainly God the Father deserves to be honored.
a) Honor certainly carries the idea of obedience (Ephesians 6:1).
Do you honor your father by obeying your father?
b) But I also don't believe that the passage simply means we obey.
Honor means we put our fathers in places of importance.
Honors not simply obeying, but having a certain reverence for our fathers.
Talking about the heavenly father, honoring your father means worshiping your father in the most literal way.
Do worship your Heavenly Father?
Does God have a place of reverence in your hearts?
So many issues in life can be traced back to worship- A failure to have reverence for God.
c) Do you listen to your father’s gift - the Holy Spirit?
c) Do you listen to your father’s gift - the Holy Spirit?
One of the implications of Rom 8:1-17 is that we have a Holy Spirit.
The child of God should be led by the Holy Spirit
- it should be a controlling influence over our lives.
Which can be summed up in this -
Does your life show the fruit of the Holy Spirit?
____________________________________________________________
So I challenge us to remember who we are – the children of God.
I challenge you to finish this sermon by thinking through how that should change your life.