Romans 8:15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba… I. THE GIFT WHICH GOD CONFERS ON HIS CHILDREN. "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption." 1. The Spirit of God seals the children of adoption. This serves to mark the particular property God has in believers; to distinguish them from others of the human family; and to preserve them for the end of their election and faith, even the salvation of their souls. 2. The Holy Spirit is to believers the witness of their adoption (vers. 16). It is reasonable that professors of religion should be anxious to ascertain their own state in God's sight. 3. The Holy Spirit communicates to believers the comfort arising from their adoption into God's family, i.e. He discovers to believers the path of light; qualifies them for their present rank; and supports them during their pilgrimage. II. THE CHRISTIAN ENJOYS TRUE LIBERTY. Christian liberty is equally opposed to slavery and licentiousness. It is opposed to restraint and violence, but not to subordination and cheerful obedience. 1. They who are adopted into God's family are delivered from the dominion of sin. They now walk at liberty. They feel that they are free to serve God without the fear of wrath. They delight in the law of the Lord after the inward man. 2. Christians are delivered from the power of Satan. 3. Christian liberty implies deliverance from undue human influence (Psalm 119:45; Proverbs 29:25). Independence of mind, and courage in Christian behaviour, are desirable objects. He who attains to them, puts his trust in God, and does not fear what man can do unto him. In matters of right and wrong, the Christian claims to himself, and allows to others, the right of private judgment; but he neither claims to himself, nor guarantees to another, the liberty of contravening in a single instance, the commandment of his God. III. CONSIDER THE EXPRESSIONS WHICH WE ABE ENABLED BY THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION TO UTTER — "Whereby we cry, Abba, Father." The repetition, Father, Father, also evidences the earnestness with which a Christian, feeling his deliverance from bondage, recognises his present delightful relation to God as an adopted son. 1. The believer approves of his relation to God in Jesus Christ. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." 2. The religious man is soothed in all his afflictions when he contemplates the compassion of his Father who is in heaven. 3. God's children consider Him as their instructor (Psalm 71:17; Isaiah 54:13). 4. God's children submit to such chastisement as He thinks proper to administer (Proverbs 3:11). 5. The children of adoption place themselves under the protection of their heavenly Father (Psalm 31:5, 15). 6. By the Spirit of adoption, we are enabled to approach with boldness the throne of grace, in prayer to God (Ephesians 2:18). (A. McLeod, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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