Who is the Holy Spirit? - (W. 3 - Romans 8:14-17)
Notes
Transcript
“ Adopted by God”
“ Adopted by God”
We’ve been in a sermon series called “Who is the Holy Spirit?”
Tonight we will pick back up in Romans 8, so I hope you have your Bible here with you.
Find notes on the app.
Recap what we know about the Spirit:
God (john 14)
A Gift (John 14)
Our Comforter (John 14)
Our Life (Romans 8:1-4)
You have Freedom in the Spirit
You are positioned in Freedom - no condemnation
You should practice freedom - how we walk is how we behave.
I have: peace and life, I’m receptive to God, seek God’s Will, and I’m able to please God.
What we are going to preach about tonight is the significance of being adopted into God’s family!
Gerald Penix
My wife and I waited 15 years for a child that never came by the natural way. However we were approached one day with a lead of a newborn not yet born. I remember standing in front of the judge on our day of adoption. He pointed his finger and asked of me, “Is anyone coercing you to adopt this little boy?” After we had assured him that we were doing so out of love for our son, he made this statement.
“From today on, he is your son. He may disappoint you, even grieve you but he is your son. Everything you own one day will be his and he will bear your name.”
Then he looked to the clerk and gave this command. “So order a change in this child’s birth certificate and may it reflect that these are the parents of this child.”
It was then that I realized that my Heavenly Father loved me so much that, without coercion, He loved me and gave His all to me. On that day, He changed my name and I gladly bear His name and His image.
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in being adopted into God’s Family?
1. The Leading of the Holy Spirit
1. The Leading of the Holy Spirit
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Led by the Spirit of God.
Don’t think that we should be led before we become sons of God.
Being led by the Holy Spirit is not a prerequisite of being saved, it’s a product of being saved.
Being led by the Holy Spirit is not a prerequisite of being saved, it’s a product of being saved.
Being led by the Holy Spirit is an active choice that we have to make.
This is “willingly choosing to undergo an action or course of action based on a spiritual influence.”
I am going to be led by the Spirit because of all that God has done for me. This way is better. God is greater!
Also notice this:
Paul did not say, “ As many as go to church, these are the sons of God.” or “Patriotic” or “Read their Bibles”
No, Paul said, “As many as are led by the Spirit, these are the sons of God!”
a) How does the Spirit Lead?
a) How does the Spirit Lead?
By applying the Word that He inspired in us, that produces Godly actions through us.
What are the products?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Looking more like Jesus each and every day!
b) Where does the Holy Spirit lead us?
b) Where does the Holy Spirit lead us?
Repentance
Truth
Love
Holiness
usefulness
This just isn’t appealing to me… is He really trying to control my life? Is it about
2. The Adoption of the Spirit
2. The Adoption of the Spirit
This truth in Romans 8:15 is so so so so good for the believer!
When we get saved, Jesus immediately sends His Spirit to live in our lives. Immediately, we are born into the family of God.
So I want to mention something about the Spirit in our lives that we received, and then what that means for our relationship with God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
a) The Spirit of Adoption
a) The Spirit of Adoption
We didn’t receive a spirit of the world:
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
The Spirit of the World produces:
Fear
fear of hell judgment, death, even tomorrow.
They try to cover that fear up by filling their lives with experiences
We received a spirit of love, power, and sound judgment.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
This gives us a new perspective on life.
So it’s not a spirit of fear or of this world. It’s a Spirit of Adoption!
Now wait… i thought I was born into the family of God?
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
You are right! So we are born of God into eternal life
and we are adopted by God into His family!
b) The Significance of Adoption
b) The Significance of Adoption
huios means “son”
thesis means “placed”
So we’ve been placed into sonship!
The Greek word is a legal term that indicates that believers have been given all the legal privileges of being sons in God’s family
Being Spiritually Reborn into the family gives us life, being Spiritually adopted into the family gives us legal rights.
Being Spiritually Reborn into the family gives us life, being Spiritually adopted into the family gives us legal rights.
i. We have a closeness with God
i. We have a closeness with God
We can call Him “Abba, Father.” it’s like the closest form of title for father. Beckett calls me Dada. It’s like that!
It’s through Jesus’ work!
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
ii. We are heirs with His Son Jesus!
ii. We are heirs with His Son Jesus!
Jesus is the only begotten Son of God!
Jesus called God Father
John 12
We are not equal with Him… but we will share with His glory and inheritance in heaven one day!
“But the key point - legal standing as a child of God - is fully represented by Paul’s adoption metaphor: Jesus Christ is God’s (only) natural Son and believers are adopted into the family of God and made ‘heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ’ (Romans 8:17).” -
c) The Security of Adoption
c) The Security of Adoption
Like if I were to adopt a child today, I would have legal papers authenticating that we went through the process. God places His Spirit in us to testify that we have been made sons of God.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Though Christians are already adopted into God’s family (1 John 3:1), they won’t experience what it really means to be God’s sons until they are raised from the dead (Rom. 8:21–23). Only then will believers receive their full inheritance from their divine Father—only then will they enjoy living constantly in His presence.
d) The Satisfaction of Adoption
d) The Satisfaction of Adoption
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
We will be heirs with Christ!
But that doesn’t mean it’ll always be easy.
I was talking with a student yesterday about how difficult life has been
It’s not that the sufferings go away when the Holy Spirit lives in believers.
It’s that the sufferings don’t compare to where we will be one day!
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Closing:
Closing:
Have you ever been saved?
Tonight, during the invitation, worship Jesus because of the wonderful work of His adoption!
Are you going through something tough? I’d love to talk with you about the hope we have in Jesus, and the hope we have in heaven!