Those who are being led by the Holy Spirit (2) (Romans 8:14-17)

Those who are being led by the Holy Spirit (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Romans 8:14-17]

 

 

 

                Second, let us think about the cry of “Abba! Father!”

 

Look at Romans 8:15 – “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba!  Father!’”  There are several theories about what or who “a spirit of slavery” and “a spirit of adoption” are mentioned here, but they can be summarized into three: (1) The theory that the spirit of slavery or the spirit of adoption refers to our human spirit; (2) The theory that the spirit of slavery is an evil spirit and the spirit of adoption is the Holy Spirit; and (3) The theory that both the spirit of slavery or the spirit of adoption refers to the Holy Spirit.  I support the third theory, 'Both the spirit of slavery or the spirit of adoption refers to the Holy Spirit'.  The reason is because there are many Bible verses that support this third theory.

 

                In the Bible, “the spirit of slavery” (v. 15) also refers to the Holy Spirit.  In Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit came down, the disciples of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Among them, when the Apostle Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and preached the gospel (Acts 2:14-36), the audience responded, “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37)  This is the work of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of the slavery leading to fear (Rom. 8:15).  When the Holy Spirit filled the Apostle Peter to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, 3,000 people (Acts 2:41) who heard the gospel realized the sin of nailing Jesus Christ to the cross and were pierced in their hearts for fear.  They responded, “Brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37)  Peter who heard this said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself” (vv. 38-39).  As a result, those 3,000 people repented and believed in Jesus and were baptized into believers (v. 41).  In this way, the Holy Spirit, who is the spirit of slavery, first worked as the spirit of slavery who feared, convincing them of their sins and making them repent, so that they believed in Jesus and accepted Jesus.  In Acts 7:54, we see the reaction of the audience who heard Stephen's sermon.  They heard the word through Stephen and were also pierced in their hearts.  But they did not say, “Brethren, what shall we do” like the 3,000 believers did (2:37).  Instead, they gnashed their teeth at Stephen (7:54).  Because the Holy Spirit did not work on them with the spirit of slavery leading to fear (Rom. 8:15), on the contrary, they attacked Stephen all at once, dragged him out of the city, and stoned him to death (Acts 7:57-58).  At that time, Saul (Paul, who later believed in Jesus), who had not believed in Jesus, also joined them in killing Stephen (v. 58).  Saul (Paul) also committed many sins before he received the Holy Spirit, the spirit of slavery leading to fear.  Look at Acts 8:1, 3 and 9:1-2: “Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.  …  But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.  …  Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”  How about you?  Are you really realizing our past sins, repenting, accepting the Lord and living in faith through the Holy Spirit, the spirit of slavery leading to fear?  If you haven't done so yet, I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will come to you, convict you of your sins, and bring you to repentance so that you may receive the Lord.

 

                In the Bible, “a spirit of adoption” (Rom. 8:15) also refers to the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit works as the spirit of adoption.  How can we become children of a holy God, as sinners who are enemies of God?  Heavenly Father makes it possible.  Look at Romans 8:3-4: “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  God the Father not only made us adopted, but also sent the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of adoption to regenerate us and make us cry out to God the Father, “Abba!  Father!” (v. 15), and heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (v. 17).  Look at Galatians 4:6-7: “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”  Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, we become children of God who cry out to our Heavenly Father, “Abba! Father!”  Therefore, in obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we must cry out to God the Father, “Abba!  Father!” like the Son Jesus.  Look at Mark 14:36 – “And He was saying, ‘Abba! Father!  All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.’”  Therefore, like Jesus, we too must live a life of obedience that fulfills the Father's will.  Such a life is the life of a happy Christian, full of gratitude, joy, peace, and power.