For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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!”
Sometimes I wonder if along with the forever chemicals that they are finding in our drinking water they might find a heavy dose of fear. Every day we have the opportunity to drink in fear. Sure, we don’t drink it in through our kitchen faucet, but the faucets of our phones and tv’s rarely turn off and rarely stop offering fear. Fear of tomorrow, fear of war, fear of disease, fear of political unrest, fear of the fall of our heroes… these are just a few that we experience.
These fears produce insecurities inside of us that make the world feel that it might fall from underneath our feet at any moment.
Despite this reality, no greater insecurity may exist inside of a human heart than the insecurity that comes when one discovers the power and strength of God and His justice. The fear of the punishment of God leaves many frozen in insecurity, afraid to move forward in life. Even when we accept Christ, we must understand what this means for us or we can stumble back into slavery to the law. The Spirit does not lead us back here.*
When we receive Christ, we become lead by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not lead us to become slaves to sin or slaves to the law any longer. Having lead us away, He does not lead us back to it. In fact, if you find yourself being afraid of the punishment of God, it’s not because the Spirit has lead you there. He leads us to a place of security that no one can fabricate: adopted children.* The fear that Paul refers to is the fear of a harsh master.* Christ opens the door for the healthy fear of God to exist alongside the intimate love of the Father.*
Within the context of the Romans (who Paul is writing to), adoption allowed a child from the outside of the family to step into the family and enjoy the full benefits of one born into the family.* This is true for you and I. Because of the work of Jesus, we come from outside of the family of God and are brought in with full benefits of sonship. The place of adoption that we enjoy is so intimate that we now call God Abba.*
This use of Abba puts us in the same place of intimacy that Jesus enjoys with the Father.* Imagine… if you believe in Jesus, you are as close to God as Jesus.
That is a place of security that cannot be shaken.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to release your insecurities for the security of your place of adoption. Perhaps God wants you to reject the opportunity to step back into slavery to the law. Maybe God wants you to consider who you have been allowing to lead you. Perhaps God wants you to follow the Spirit today.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 337–338). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 205-206). InterVarsity Press;
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 312–316). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 260–261). Zondervan Publishing House.