TheSpirit
Text: Romans 8:14-17, 22-27
Theme: The Spirit Testifies with Our spirit
Goal: That the hearers grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work in them
The Spirit of God Removes fear (v. 15a). “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear.” Let me tell you a secret about walking in God’s Spirit that many Christian people just do not get. When someone bases their relationship to God upon what they do, or do not do, that relationship is a relationship of law. The law being, righteous, and holy, and good, serves the purpose of exposing and then condemning sin in the sinner. It is the law that makes the apostle aware of his covetousness and his inability to do what is the right thing to do even though that is what he desires to do. This we find in Romans chapter 7. Paul also says, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” … Clearly, no one is justified before God by the law. … The law is not based on faith.”
This, friends, is how fear works in us. The law declares us guilty of sin and declares the wages of sin to be death. So it is under the threat of punishment that we fear God. But look what happens when love touches us and faith comes. “Perfect love drives out fear.”
That happens when The Spirit of God Confesses sonship (v. 15 b). Thus, the apostle writes, “but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” To be a son of God implies so much more than a physical or psychological relationship. Sonship is a relationship of oneness, of connectivity, of communion and assurance, of promise and love that never fails. In fact, this relationship with God is what being led by the Spirit of God is all about. Listen to what Paul says about this: “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” My friends, if we are children of God and not under law, we have freedom, not for the sinful nature, but freedom to live by the Spirit. Earlier in this chapter Paul clearly states: “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” Remember this, “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” You are under grace and the promise of God.
See then, how The Spirit of God Produces hope (vv. 23-24a). “We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” This hope has to do with faith that trusts God to do just what he promises. That is the work of the Holy Spirit in us, not the other way around. We know His Spirit works in us when we desire to be with Him, and like Him. But even here we don’t know what to ask for.
However, the Spirit of God prays for—in behalf of—the sons of the Father (vv. 26-27). Paul writes, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts (that is God) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” Do you suppose God does not know what you are really like in the flesh? Of course he does. He knows everything, and he knows it better than we can even imagine. But consider this.
The Spirit of God Testifies to our sonship (vv. 16-17). It is the Spirit who assures the Father that we have been covered with the blood of Jesus Christ. It is the Spirit who is God’s mark of redemption on us. And that mark carries this guarantee: “our inheritance.” “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,” thus, all that is his shall be ours as well, his righteousness, his holiness, his perfectness under the law, and the crown of life he himself has won. That is what we inherit. Nevertheless, there are those who would squander this most salutary gift of God by trying to get it under law. To suffer with Christ is the acceptance of his suffering for us. Then, “we may also share in his glory.” Amen.
