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4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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THE BELIEVER’S
SONSHIP THROUGH THE SPIRIT (Rom 8:12-17) 2/24/08 Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor I.
THE BELIEVER IS
NOT OBLIGATED TO THE FLESH (12-13) A.
Believers Do Not
Live to the Flesh (12) 1. Paul begins in vs. 12 with a conclusion (“so then” - ára
- inferential particle - logical conclusion), The
conclusion comes at the end of Paul’s teaching on the believer’s position in
Christ (8:5-9). The believer is “in the Spirit” (8:9b), is “according to the
Spirit” (8:5a), has his “mind set on the things of the Spirit” (8:5b), and is
“not in the flesh” (8:9a). Therefore, the believer is no longer obligated to
the flesh. The flesh does not rule the believer any longer. Rather, the
Spirit controls the believer. 2. The word “obligation” (opheilétês) means someone who is indebted or owes something to
another. The believer does not owe anything to the flesh. He does not have to
give in to the flesh. This is the believer’s continuous position (eimi - present tense) in the Spirit. 3. The believer is not “according to the flesh,”
therefore, he is not to live as if he is according to the flesh. In other
words, the believer is not to live fleshly. B.
Believers Put to
Death the Flesh (13) 1. In fact, if the believer does live according to the
flesh he will not grow spiritually. Paul says that such a believer will die.
Literally it is “you are about to die.” This does not mean that a believer
will lose his salvation. What it does imply is that the believer, who lives
according to the flesh, will undergo the consequences of sin. In a sense, he
will continue to “die spiritually.” He will not enjoy the fullness of his
spiritual life and his growth will be stunted. 2. In order to live a full spiritual life, the believer
must keep putting the deeds of the flesh to death. The believer must “put to
death” (thanatóō - kill, stop completely) the flesh by completely putting a stop to living
fleshly. He is to deprive the “deeds of the body” (the place where the flesh
manifests itself) while yielding to the Spirit. This is something the believer
is to continue (present tense - thanatóō) to do. In fact, the Christian will have to
continue to do this until he goes home to be with the Lord. 3. The principle of putting the deeds of the body to
death is reiterated in Scripture. In Col 3:5, the believer is commanded to
put to death the deeds of the body. Here the word comes from nekróō, which also means to kill, put to
death, or cease completely. So once again, the believer is to put to death
the fleshly deeds and cease completely from fleshly living. The believer is
commanded to do this and to do it at once and decisively (aorist imperative).
He is able to do this by reckoning himself dead to sin but alive to God (Rom
6:6). Then the believer is to live out what has been accomplished within (Rom
6:12). II.
THE BELIEVER IS
LED BY THE SPIRIT (14) A.
Believers Live
Under the Control of the Spirit (14a) 1. Paul describes the believer by stating that those
who are led by the Spirit are indeed the sons of God. 2. What does it mean to be led by the Spirit? The word
“led” (ágō - guide, even take custody) means
that the Holy Spirit takes custody and control of the believer in every
thought, word, and deed. B.
Believers Live
Under the Conformity to the Word (14a) 1. Even though “led” is a passive verb (being done to
the believer by the Holy Spirit) it implies that the believer must be willing
to be led. The believer must yield to the Holy Spirit’s control. 2. The Holy Spirit leads the believer by conforming him
to God’s Word (Rom 12:2). This is not teaching some sort of mysterious and
mystical experience. III.
THE BELIEVER
RECEIVED SONSHIP (14-17) A.
The Spirit
Imparts Sonship to the Believer (14b) 1. Verse 14 made the assertion that that those who are
being controlled by the Holy Spirit are the ones who are “sons of God.” 2. Sonship is a great and important doctrine throughout
Scripture. a) Being made a son of God is one of the great
positional truths of the Christian life (1Jo 3:1 cp. 1Th 5:5). b) All men are born part of the sonship
of humanity (“sons of men” - Eph
3:5). c) All men are born part of the sonship
of sinful humanity (“sons of disobedience”
- Eph 2:2; 5:6). d) A sinner becomes a son of God at the moment of faith
(Joh 1:12). e) The believer was predestined to sonship
before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:5). B.
The Spirit Gives
the Believer a Heart of Sonship (15) 1. The believer has not received the spirit of slavery,
that is, slavery to the flesh. The believer has been delivered from sin’s
bondage (Rom 6:6, 17, 18, 19). In addition, the believer has also been
delivered from the fear of bondage and death. 2. On the other hand, the believer has received the spirit
of adoption. Here the word spirit (pneúma) refers to the believer’s spirit, not the Holy
Spirit. However, it was the Holy Spirit who imparted sonship
to the believer. 3. “Adoption” (huiothesía) literally means to place as (títhêmi) a son (huiós). It was originally a legal technical term for adoption as a
son with full rights of inheritance. Judicially, at the moment of faith, the
believer becomes a legal son on the grounds of Christ work on the cross (Gal
4:5). It is the Holy Spirit who applies this to the believing sinner. 4. Sonship is demonstrated by the
believer’s heart which continually seeks and depends upon (present active - krázō
- loud outcry) God. The believer’s spirit refers to God as his heavenly
Father ("abba
- Aramaic, patếr - Greek” - literally “Daddy, Daddy” cp. Gal 4:6). C.
The Spirit
Testifies to the Believer (16) 1. When the believer cries out within his spirit, “Abba! Father!,” it is evidence that he is a true believer. The
Spirit “bears witness with” (summarturéō) the believer’s spirit, revealing that he is a
“child of God.” 2. Paul uses two words that refer to being a son of
God. They are téknon (child)
and huiós (son). Quite clearly,
these words are used as synonyms. But here there appears to be a difference.
“Child” (téknon) is associated with
birth and would refer to being born of God (Joh 3:3; 1Jo 5:1). Whereas, “Son”
(huiós), is associated with inheritance
and would refer to the believer’s spiritual inheritance. D.
The Spirit Made
the Believer Fellow-Heirs with Christ (17) 1. Rom 8:17 is a tremendous verse referring to the
believer’s spiritual inheritance. This verse begins with a condition “if” (first class condition - ei & indicative) one is a child of God, then,
they are heirs. Heirs (klêronómos - to parcel out lots) refers
to the believer’s spiritual inheritance. It is equivalent to being “heirs of
God.” 2. Believers are also described as “fellow-heirs with”
(sugkleronomos - heirs with, co-heirs) Christ. Christ has been made “heir of all things”
(Heb 1:2). Every son of God will share in Christ’s inheritance. The believer
will rule and reign with Christ over a vast spiritual inheritance in heaven
(2Ti 2:12; Rev 20:6). 3. Paul includes one final condition which is a segue into his next thought concerning suffering. The
idea is that we are children of God “if” we also suffer with Him. The purpose
of our suffering is to be glorified with Christ (Joh 17:22). 4. Believers are “co-heirs” with Christ, “co-sufferers”
with Christ, and will be “co-glorified” with Christ IV.
OBSERVATIONS
AND APPLICATIONS A.
Live No Longer
Obligated to the Flesh 1. The Scriptures tells us that we are no longer
obligated to the flesh. We must live in the reality of this truth by faith. 2. If God says it is true, we must not allow our
experience or struggle to cause us to doubt God. B.
Live Under the
Spirit’s Control in Every Area 1. Ask yourself what areas are you
refusing to let God take custody. Yield to the Holy Spirit as He conforms you to His Word in that area. 2. Ask God to reveal areas in your life that you have
not turned over to the Spirit’s control. C.
Live like a Son
of God 1. Your first response in any situation should be,
“Abba! Father!” Nurture your reliance upon God as your heavenly Father. 2. Live your life in dependence of God and your
position of sonship. |
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