Romans 8:14-27
Preached Father’s Day June 21, 2009
Introduction:
It is appropriate on this Father’s Day to think about our Heavenly Father. Did you know that all human beings cannot call God their father? Yes, God is their Creator, but we do not start out as children of God. This transformation takes place once we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone as our personal Savior. Once we receive the gift of eternal life, we have a brand new relationship with God. He is no longer our judge, he is our Father. This morning as we think about the change in one’s relationship to God, let us consider just what happens when one receives the Spirit of Adoption.
I. The Spirit that sets men free – vs 14-17
A. Free from wandering – Spirit leading is evidence of sonship
Romans 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
B. Free from fear
Romans 8:15 – 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.
1. Our old natural father, the devil
John 8:44 – Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
2. Fear – of physical results of sin
Romans 1:26-27 – 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
James 1:15 – Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
3. Adopted into a new family
John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Galatians 4:5 – To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Ephesians 1:5 – Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
4. Intimacy with the One who was once our judge – Abba = “Daddy”
C. Free from doubt
Romans 8:16 – The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1. His Spirit talks with our spirit, or inner man
2. The Spirit can be grieved or quenched
1 Thessalonians 5:19 – Quench not the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30 – And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
3. God is greater than our hearts
1 John 3:20 – For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
D. Free from death
Romans 8:17 – 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.
II. The Spirit that brings hope
A. The hope (calm assurance) of the future dwarfs the anguish of this present world
Romans 8:18 – For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
B. All of creation has the earnest expectation of deliverance
Romans 8:19-22 – 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
1. Fall of man = curse of creation
2. All of creation yearns for the second advent – 1000 years where Eden is restored
3. We wait for the redemption from our corrupt bodies
Romans 8:23-25 – 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
III. The Spirit that intercedes for us
Romans 8:26-27 – 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
A. Helps our infirmities – infirmities = want of strength
B. Prays for us – vs 26-27
1. Groanings not uttered
2. From the heart
3. According to God’s will