---

I. THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE. Much of the bondage of our fallen nature is not the work of the Spirit of God at all. Bondage under sin, the flesh, worldly customs, the fear of man — this is the work of the devil.

1. But there is a sense of bondage which is of the Spirit of God. The bondage of —

(1)  Conviction of sin.

(2)  Assurance of punishment for sin from which there is no escape.

(3)  The feeling of the inutility of the works of the law. "By the deeds of the law there shaft no flesh be justified in His sight."

2. The result of this spirit of bondage in the soul is fear. There are five sorts of fears, and it is well to distinguish between them.

(1) The natural fear which the creature has of its Creator, because of its own insignificance and its Maker's greatness. From that we shall never be altogether delivered.

(2) Carnal fear: i.e., the fear of man. From this God's Spirit delivers believers.

(3) Servile fear — the fear of a slave towards his master, lest he should be beaten when he has offended. That is a fear which should rightly dwell in every unregenerate heart.

(4) If servile fear be not cast out it leads to a fourth fear, namely, a diabolical fear; that of devils who "believe and tremble."(5) Filial fear which is never cast out of the mind. This is "the fear of the Lord" which is "the beginning of wisdom." When the spirit of bondage is at work there is much of servile fear. The Spirit of truth brings this to us, because we are in a condition which demands it. Would you have the bondsman rejoice in a liberty which he does not possess? Is he not the more likely to be free if he loathes his slavery?

3. This bondage, which causes fear, breaks us off from self-righteousness, and puts an end to certain sins. Many a man, because he is afraid of the consequences, leaves off this and that which would have ruined him; and, so far, the fear is useful to him; and, in after life, will keep him nearer to his Lord.

4. In due time we outgrow this bondage, and never receive it again. Because we are made to be the children of God; and God forbid that God's children should tremble like slaves.

II. THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION.

1. The apostle said, "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage." If he had kept strictly to language he would have added, "But ye have received the Spirit of liberty." That is the opposite of bondage. But our apostle is not to be hampered by the rigid rules of composition. He has inserted a far greater word — "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption." If the Son make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

2. The apostle said, "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear." Should he not have added "but ye have received the Spirit of liberty by which ye have confidence"? He says a great deal more, "Whereby we cry, Abba, Father." This is the highest form of confidence.

3. The Spirit of adoption is a spirit of gratitude. Oh, that ever the Lord should put me among the children!

4. A spirit of child-likeness. It is pretty, though sometimes sad, to see how children imitate their parents.

III. THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER. Whenever the Spirit of adoption enters into a man it sets him praying. And this praying is —

1. Earnest, for it takes the form of "crying."

2. Natural. For a child to say, "Father," is according to the fitness of things.

3. Appealing. True prayer pleads the fatherhood of God.

4. Familiar. Slaves were never allowed to call their masters "abba." That was a word for freeborn children only: no man can speak with God as God's children may. Distance is the slave's place; only the child may draw near.

5. Delightful. "Abba, Father" — it is as much as to say — "My heart knows that thou art my Father."

IV. THE SPIRIT OF WITNESS. In the mouth of two witnesses this shall be established.

1. The man's own spirit. God's own Word declares,"To as many as received Christ to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name"; now, I have received Christ, and I do believe on His name: therefore I have the right to be one of the sons of God. That is the witness of my spirit: I believe, and therefore I am a child.

2. The witness of the Holy Spirit, which works —

(1) Through the Word of which He is the Author.

(2) By His work in us. He works in us that which proves us to be the children of God; and what is that?

(a)  Great love to God. None love God but those that are born of Him.

(b)  Veneration for God. We fear before Him with a childlike reverence.

(c)  A holy confidence. By His grace we feel in days of trouble that we can rest in God.

(d)  Sanctification.

(e)  Besides which, there is a voice unheard of the outward ear, which drops in silence on the spirit of man, and lets him know that he has, indeed, passed from death unto life.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

---

---

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.

WEB: For you didn't receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"