By Martin Morrison
I will keep this one shorter. The reason being that someone asked me whether I was paid per word for my devotions!!
Our passage is Romans 8:14 – 17. In Romans 8, Paul tells his readers that if they are in Christ, then there is no condemnation from God. None! Not a millimetre! Not a nanosecond! The reason being that Christ was condemned in our place. On our behalf.
The Bible uses different words and phrases to describe a Christian. Here Paul describes a Christian as someone who is led by the Spirit. He is not describing a particular kind of Christian. No, he is describing every Christian without exception, because every Christian has the Holy Spirit within them. In fact, it is a contradiction in terms to be a Christian and not have the Holy Spirit. Absolutely impossible!
Let’s look at the three marks of a Spirit-led Christian that Paul gives us in this passage.
NO FEAR
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear”. There is a proper fear of God. When we stand in awe and worship of the great “I AM”. It is similar to that awe you feel when you stand on the edge of Table Mountain and suddenly see the vast expanse of the Cape Peninsula. Takes your breath away. It’s so much bigger and greater than you are!!
But there is also a negative fear of God. This is where we all were before we were in Christ. You know that there is a God, but you wish there wasn’t! There’s a certain aversion or fear, or even hatred of God. You know that there is a God, but you hate the idea that God has authority over you, that God will judge you, that God will hold you accountable. You wish you could eradicate any thought of God from your mind, but you can’t. At the most unexpected moments it haunts you. You can only get rid of all thoughts of God through drink, drugs or endless diversions. But still he will sneak upon you when least expected.
Woody Allen gives words to these fears, “Death is absolutely stupefying in it’s terror, and it renders anyone’s accomplishments meaningless”. Woody again, “My depression is why I am drawn to philosophy. I have an obsession with death, an obsession with God or the lack of God, the question of why I am here”. I think Woody Allen is just more honest than most people. He faces up to his fear of death, his fear of God, his fear of annihilation.
Paul in total contrast says, ‘In Christ…you no longer have the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear”. No more fear of God or fear of death. Christ has conquered death and sin and reconciled you to God. You are no longer a stranger to God, alienated from God, an enemy of God. No, you have been adopted into his family. You received the Spirit of adoption.
It was Winter Fayre at school. Hundreds of people milling around. Loud music. Shrieks of fun and laughter. I saw a small girl, perhaps three years old, somehow separated from her parents. She stands forlorn, nervously clutching her skirt whilst looking around, her eyes filled with tears, and suddenly she sees her father, runs to him, he catches her, cuddles her in his arms. Her head pushed against his chest, eyes tightly closed, finally safe, finally secure, no fear, no lostness. That’s precisely what Jesus did to dispel our existential angst.
NO FATHERLESSNESS
Not only does the Holy Spirit bring about your new birth or regeneration, but the Holy Spirit brings about your adoption as sons and daughters of God. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God …. You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry “Abba, Father”. Romans 8:14 – 15. A number of adults in our church have adopted orphan children. What a wonderful thing! South African law states that when you formally adopt a child, the adopted child is legally regarded as if he or she is a biological child of the parents.
That’s what Paul is referring to here in this passage. How extraordinary, that though we were born in sin; though we were strangers to God; though we were enemies of God rejecting his authority over our lives, because of Christ and the Cross, we have now become adopted children of God. God is no longer a distant, unknowable entity; no longer to be feared in terror and superstition; no longer regarded as a tyrant or unfair judge. No, he is now your heavenly Father. The Greek word “Abba” means dad, that’s how close your relationship is with the Creator of the universe!
Some readers, may not have positive connotations when the word dad is used. Perhaps you never knew your father, perhaps he abandoned you, perhaps your father was abusive or dysfunctional. Perhaps you still long for your father to tell you that he loves you, that he is proud of you, that you are special to him. Of course there are no perfect human fathers anywhere! However, let me tell you categorically, there is one perfect father for you. The perfect dad. The dad who gives you all the love and attention and significance that you will ever need, in this life and the next. In fact, he loves you so much, that he came to die for you! In Christ, you are a son or daughter of the King!
NO DOUBT
Not only does the Holy Spirit regenerate you; not only does he adopt you into God’s eternal family; but he takes away all doubt concerning your relationship with God. “The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”, Romans 8:16. The technical word is assurance. The same spirit that gave you new birth, that adopted you into the family of God, now makes you conscious that you are indeed a permanent child of God.
It is quite hard to explain. It is not necessarily a feeling or an emotion. It is more a settled peace of heart that I am sure that I am a child of God. It is an assurance of heart and mind that I am a Christian, bound for heaven. We need to be very careful here. It is certainly not an assurance that I am perfect or righteous or that I am any better than anybody else. That is called pride or conceit or arrogance.
No, we can have full assurance of our salvation, not because we are perfect or we are any better than others, or we are religious. No, assurance is not based on what we have done, but what Christ has done for us on the cross. And the work of Christ on the cross was perfect. And it is precisely because of his perfect work that I am a child of God. And now God in his infinite wisdom, not only adopts me, but gives me the full assurance that I am adopted!
The teaching of assurance is a wonderful Biblical doctrine. Even though from time to time I still experience that wretched struggle with sin; even though from time to time I still fall and fail; even though with Paul I struggle with this unending civil war within me, nonetheless, the Holy Spirit testifies with my spirit, that I am a true child of God. What assurance! What security!
Once again apologies! So much for a shorter devotion!