God's Tug Of Love

Introduction

Good Morning Church Family. A time back I was watching this video experiment where the person was giving out free hugs. It was interesting to watch. The person who was giving free hugs was blindfolded. There was no was they could tell who they were hugging. I don’t know how you all feel. But! There’s something about a hug. It’s been said that there are many benefits to giving and receiving a hug.

One of the great benefits of knowing God is knowing His love! God’s love comes in many forms. It can come through blessings. It can come through people. It can come through His Word. God can express His love in a number of different ways. We both can know that we’re loved. The love of God speaks to each of us would be similar in the sense “that we’re loved,” but tailored to us for a particular time and for a particular need.

At times, we can experience God speaking loudly, where we “hear” His love clearly. Other times, His love comes to us as a whisper. His love is still there. He’s still talking. At times when all things seem quiet, that’s when God can give us that “tug of love” to know that He’s still right there. That brings us to the title of our sermon this morning, God’s Tug of Love. I’d like to invite you to open your Bibles with me to the 8th Chapter of Romans. Let’s begin reading together starting in verse number 12.

Romans 8:12 ESV

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

Romans 8:13 ESV

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.

Romans 8:14 ESV

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Romans 8:15 ESV

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!”

Pastoral Prayer

Background: Chapter 8 is a powerful Chapter. Much of Chapter 8 is about the Holy Spirit. And, where we’ve arrived this morning, it’s all about the work of the Holy Spirit. But here’s the one of great blessings — WE’RE THE RECIPIENTS!

[Display Verse 12]

When we arrive at verse 12, we come to the point that the Spirit is at work in the lives of believers. This a great series of points given to the believers. I’d like you to notice something here, notice how Paul begins to address the Romans. He’s addresses them affectionately. The word “Brothers” helps to give us a window into Paul’s heart about his feelings for them. He’s talking to them in a loving manner. He’s seeing them as “siblings in the faith.” It’s a warm welcome. Paul’s treating them like family. As the believers in Rome share a common thread, as we do, this aids in a conversation that can be a bit more open, with a loving opening.

Part of the conversation is a call to approach God with obedience. Now, why would we do that? Part of the answer is that “we are debtors.” When we hear the word “debtors,” it can start to sound negative.

Before we start painting in drab colors , let’s put the rest of the sentence together. “We are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” One characteristic we can pick up from this phrase is the Christian owes nothing to the flesh. If you notice in the last half of verse 12, we can see the reason of what it means to be indebted to the flesh. When we’re indebted to the flesh, we begin “to live according to the flesh.” As believers in Jesus Christ, there ought to be a stead strive not “to live according to the flesh,” since there is a newness of life in Jesus Christ!

Notice how Paul guides to the next point. Paul guides to consider the view point “of the spirit”. If you’re reading out of the NIV or Holman, you’ll see the word obligation. There’s a moral obligation to live according to the Spirit, not the flesh. Living by the Spirit is a lifestyle. Because of Jesus, and his work, this can point to a series of life choices where the carnal side (which is alway present) is restrained, and seek ways in how we can bring glory and honor to His name. It doesn't mean we’re perfect, there will be mistakes along the way. And, part of God’s love, through Jesus, is grace. Isn’t that wonderful?

This can be tough. We can see the effects when we feed our carnal person. A person could say, I live for this or I live for that (you get the point when the blank is filled in). We can see this in every corner of our society. We can see how this has affected the country we love. Following the ways of the flesh can mean death. In fact, the Bible says, “for the wages of sin is death.” This is an echo to verse 13, where Paul say’s:

[Display Verse 13]

“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die.” If this is the first time you’ve heard this can make it sound like you’re hosed. If you were here last October, we talked about how a believer in Jesus Christ cannot loose his/her salvation in! If you’d like to go back and give it a second listen, the sermon title was “I know that I know that I know.” This is a wonderful and great assurance, especially in a time when many are seeking assurance. The road in life is not an easy road. If today, you’re facing a situation were assurance is being tested, true assurance is found in Jesus. If you’re following along in your Bible, scroll up to the first verse of Chapter 8 you’ll see where Paul says:

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

This helps to give assurance to the believer. Perhaps you’ve heard the famous phrase “God is love” (that’s found in 1 John 4:8). Yes, one of the characteristics of God is love. It’s also important to note, God is a just God. Sin requires a settlement. That settlement is only found through Jesus Christ. Jesus settles what’s required of God. He did that for us. And because of His work, we have access to love and life (of course the list can go on).

[Display Verse 13]

Turn your attention to the second half of verse 13, where Paul writes, “but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Part of verse 13 is that it’s a self-examination verse. We’re to count our selves “dead to sin,” dead to our past life. In verse 11 of Romans Chapter 6, this is where Paul talks about how we are to consider ourselves “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” You might hear a person say, “I died to myself today,” or something like “Today, I put to death such-and-such.” Dying to self can mean to put to death our carnal nature. Our carnal nature can include anything from evil desires/thoughts, drinking, drugs, pornography, gambling, self-glorification. These are desires that draw us away from God, they rob our relationship.

That’s the thing about sin. Sin drives a wedge between us and God. That’s not the only wedge that gets driven. Our other relationships can be robbed. Sin can rob our families, our friendship, our working relationship. Sin can even rob from our relationship within our church family. Sin can separate you from the Word of God. Sin consumes. It can seem like it never is full or satisfied. Sin always wants more. Things don’t have to be that way.

The Holy Spirit of God gives the believer power and fuel we need when we see that curling finder in the corner of your eye — saying come here, it’s ok to do this, say that, or hey come on over and take a look at this — no one’s around. Have you been there? Perhaps you’re there right now. It can be tough. I know. But! There can also be victory! You can have victory over the things that rob your relationship with God. The answer is Jesus!

When we need guidance, God’s Spirit is there speaking to us, leading us, encouraging us, loving us.

[Display Verse 14]

We begin framing in God’s activity. The words, “lead by the Spirit of God,” refers to a type of activity. Think about being lead by the spirit. It points to a kind of dependence on Jesus. As we grow up, we’re guided toward self independence. Our parents and their parents passed this teaching along. As young person grows and matures, we can see the effects of this. The young person begins making independent decisions, where eventually they leave the nest of mom and dad. For the believer, it’s the opposite. As the believer grows and matures, instead of moving toward self independence, the believer moves to increased dependence on God; where eventually everything is brought before God.

In our Lord’s earthly life, we can read where Jesus depended on God. In fact, over in Luke 4:1, Luke records how Jesus was “lead by the spirit in the wilderness.”

Verse 14 is also about our identity. The believer has the assurance to be counted as “sons of God.” This is a tremendous display of love. Being a child of God is open to everyone. The way a person becomes a child of God is through belief in Jesus Christ. The Bible says in:

John 1:12–13 ESV

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.

This ushers us right into verse 15.

[Display Verse 15]

Paul says in the first half, “for you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.” We spoke of sin earlier. Sin also enslaves. But! Notice what Paul says that’s received (in the middle of verse 15). “You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons.” Now folks, this is HUGE! This means family. It means you’re part of a forever family! Adoption is made available by the finished work by the cross of Calvary! God’s justice required sin to be dealt with before we could be placed into the family of God. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection on the 3rd day allowed for adoption to be available. When we profess faith in the gospel message, a family connection is established with the Father. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful this is! Because of our adoption we have several benefits that includes (from Doctrine of Salvation #3 Study):

You have a Father who loves you (1 John 4:7-10)!

You have a Father that cares for you (1 Peter 5:7, Luke 12:27-33)!

You have a Father that protects you (Romans 8:31)!

You have a Father that corrects you (Hebrews 12:5-11)!

You have a Father that promises to never leave you (Hebrews 13:5-6)! No Matter What!

Knowing that we have a Father who loves us, cares for us, protect us, corrects us and promises never to leave us — this can prompts us (as Paul writes) to “cry” out with loud rejoicing voices — Abba Father! In Aramaic, the word Abba is a word used to describe a Father. But on an intimate level. It shows a type of tenderness toward God the Father. Because of Jesus Christ, we can see the tug of God’s great love, that as “sons of God,” believers have a type of peace and love, that surpasses all understanding, where we can approach the throne of God with no fear of rejection or anxiety. We approach in boldness because of Jesus!

When our Lord was in Gethsemane, there’s a picture of Him where he was “greatly distressed and troubled.” When He was praying to the Father, Jesus even said that His “soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” Part of our Lord’s tender prayer (in Mark 14:36) to the Father is that He addressed the Father as “Abba Father.” Jesus knew who He could turn to in a great time of need.

Application

When we come to belief in Jesus Christ, we’re adopted into the family of God permanently! You don’t loose your sonship or daughtership. You are eternally secure. There’s no waiting period to see if you’re going to work out, especially if you think you could never be welcomed. You are immediately brought into the family. And, when you become part of the forever family of God, everything of the old life or past life is cancelled, abolished as if they never existed. This is all because of Jesus that we can have this closeness. Isn’t that a beautiful picture? We see part of the beautiful picture of the Passion of God?

In many of Paul’s letters, I believe its easy to see his joy. Paul was delivered from a life of sin and emptiness to a life that overflowed, realizing who made it possible for him.

We’re just starting off the New Year. Perhaps today, you’re seeking to be part of a forever family through Jesus Christ, and sensing God’s Tug Of Love on your heart? I want you to know, you have a place in the family of God.

Perhaps this morning, you’ve recognized some un-confessed sin. And, you’re feeling God’s Tug Of Love to confess that sin. Today, you can have a restored relationship

How do you feel God’s Tug Of Love this morning? Jesus Christ gives us that hope!

Closing Prayer