From Bondage to Adoption: Embracing Our Identity in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Our Need for Christ

The journey from the "spirit of bondage" to the "spirit of adoption" begins with a deep conviction of our sinfulness and God's holiness. This conviction is not about the quantity of sin but the realization of our inherent need for Christ. It is a necessary step for all believers, as it brings us to a place of humility and dependence on God's grace. This awareness is not merely a fear of punishment but a profound understanding of our separation from God and the need for reconciliation through Jesus Christ. [03:16]

Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV): "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."

Reflection: Think about a time when you felt distant from God. What specific steps can you take today to draw closer to Him and acknowledge your need for His grace?

Day 2: Testing the Assurance of Sonship

The assurance of our sonship in God's family comes from the "spirit of adoption," but it is crucial to test this assurance against counterfeit assurances. The devil often tries to deceive us with false security, leading us away from the true work of the Holy Spirit. True assurance is rooted in the Holy Spirit's work, and it is essential to discern and test the spirits to ensure our faith is genuine. This involves a continual examination of our beliefs and experiences against the truth of God's Word. [05:21]

1 John 4:1-2 (ESV): "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God."

Reflection: Reflect on your current sense of assurance in your faith. How can you actively test and confirm that this assurance is rooted in the true work of the Holy Spirit?

Day 3: Embracing the Variability of Conviction

The intensity of the "spirit of bondage" varies among individuals, but its presence is a sign of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. Some may experience deep agony, while others may have a quieter conviction. Regardless of the intensity, this conviction calls us to examine our faith and ensure its genuineness. It is a personal journey that requires introspection and a willingness to confront our own sinfulness and need for Christ. [09:20]

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

Reflection: Consider the ways in which you have experienced conviction in your spiritual journey. How can you use these experiences to deepen your understanding of your faith and relationship with God?

Day 4: Genuine Conviction in Christian Upbringings

Even those raised in Christian homes must experience the "spirit of bondage" to truly understand the love and sacrifice of Christ. It is not about dramatic conversions but genuine conviction. This realization is essential for a true understanding of the gospel and the transformative power of Christ's love. It challenges individuals to move beyond cultural Christianity and embrace a personal and authentic faith. [12:25]

Philippians 3:7-8 (ESV): "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."

Reflection: If you were raised in a Christian environment, reflect on your personal journey of faith. How can you ensure that your faith is genuine and not merely a product of your upbringing?

Day 5: The Holy Spirit's Role in Conviction

The Holy Spirit reveals God's holiness and our sinfulness, leading us to a deeper understanding of our need for Christ. This revelation is essential for true conversion and assurance of salvation. It is through the Holy Spirit's work that we come to know the depth of God's love and the sacrifice of Christ. This understanding transforms our lives and strengthens our faith, providing a solid foundation for our spiritual journey. [23:26]

John 16:8-11 (ESV): "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

Reflection: How has the Holy Spirit revealed God's holiness and your sinfulness to you? In what ways can you invite the Holy Spirit to continue this work in your life today?

Sermon Summary

In Romans 8:15, Paul presents a profound truth about our spiritual journey, emphasizing the transition from the "spirit of bondage" to the "spirit of adoption." This transformation is crucial for understanding our identity as children of God. The "spirit of bondage" refers to the Holy Spirit's work in convicting us of sin, revealing the holiness of God, and our own sinfulness. This conviction is not merely a fear of hell but a deep awareness of our sinful nature and the holiness of God. It is a necessary precursor to receiving the "spirit of adoption," which allows us to cry out, "Abba, Father."

The Apostle Paul suggests that experiencing the "spirit of bondage" is a common condition for all Christians. It is a vital step in the journey to salvation, as it brings us to a place of recognizing our need for Christ. This conviction of sin is not dependent on the amount of sin committed but on the realization of our sinfulness. Even those raised in Christian homes must experience this conviction to truly understand the love and sacrifice of Christ.

The "spirit of adoption" is the assurance of our sonship, a profound sense of belonging to God's family. However, the devil often tries to counterfeit this assurance, leading people to a false sense of security. Therefore, it is essential to test the spirits and ensure that our assurance is rooted in the true work of the Holy Spirit.

The journey from bondage to adoption is marked by varying degrees of intensity. Some may experience deep agony, while others may have a quieter conviction. Regardless of the intensity, the presence of this conviction is a sign of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. It is a call to examine ourselves, to ensure that our faith is genuine and rooted in the truth of God's Word.

Key Takeaways

1. The "spirit of bondage" is a necessary precursor to the "spirit of adoption," revealing our sinfulness and God's holiness. This conviction is not about the amount of sin but the realization of our need for Christ. [03:16]
2. Assurance of sonship comes from the "spirit of adoption," but it must be tested against the counterfeit assurances offered by the devil. True assurance is rooted in the Holy Spirit's work. [05:21]
3. The intensity of the "spirit of bondage" varies among individuals, but its presence is a sign of the Holy Spirit's work. It calls us to examine our faith and ensure its genuineness. [09:20]
4. Even those raised in Christian homes must experience the "spirit of bondage" to truly understand the love and sacrifice of Christ. It is not about dramatic conversions but genuine conviction. [12:25]
5. The Holy Spirit reveals God's holiness and our sinfulness, leading us to a deeper understanding of our need for Christ. This revelation is essential for true conversion and assurance of salvation. [23:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Romans 8:15
[00:32] - Proofs of Sonship
[01:08] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[02:22] - Spirit of Bondage vs. Spirit of Adoption
[03:16] - Conviction as a Precursor to Adoption
[05:21] - Testing the Spirits
[09:20] - Variations in Intensity of Conviction
[12:25] - Conviction in Christian Upbringings
[18:06] - The Danger of Easy Believism
[23:26] - The Holy Spirit's Work in Conviction
[27:25] - Revival and Deepened Conviction
[30:47] - Assurance and the Spirit of Adoption
[36:10] - Examining Ourselves
[40:59] - The Importance of Conviction
[45:23] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Sermon Clips

The spirit of bondage always precedes the spirit of adoption. Now the way the Apostle puts it suggests that at once you have not received again, he says, the spirit of bondage to fear. You did receive it once, but you no longer got that. You have received another spirit, this Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Father. [00:02:38]

I would argue that nobody ever receives the spirit of bondage and of fear save those who are chosen unto salvation. It is the first and the preliminary work of the spirit in bringing us to salvation. But you may say, what of people who have often been frightened under the preaching of the Gospel? [00:03:24]

The devil sometimes persuades people that they're saved people, that they're Christians, that they're sons of God, and therefore it's very important to be able to differentiate between the Holy Spirit giving the true Spirit of adoption and the counterfeit of the devil. Now what I'm saying is this, that this Spirit of bondage and of fear is a very valuable test in that respect. [00:06:01]

The degree to which this Spirit of bondage is experienced may vary considerably in intensity. I'm not saying that everybody must have experienced this Spirit of bondage and of fear with the same intensity. What I'm saying is that they must have experienced it in some measure. Certainly, the record of the Saints makes it quite clear that there has been considerable variation in the intensity of the feeling. [00:09:16]

What matters is not the amount of sin that we have committed. What matters is our realization of our sinfulness. What he says is this: it is the one who realizes the extent of sin and therefore the extent of forgiveness is the one who loves much. He cannot mean anything else because if you put any other interpretation, it is, as I say, to put a premium on sin. [00:16:16]

The Holy Spirit reveals God to us. He reveals the character of God, the Holiness of God. He reveals at the same time, of course, the law in all its spirituality, and thereby he reveals us to ourselves. So you see, when the Holy Spirit does his work, it is inevitable that it should come to this in some degree or other. [00:23:50]

The more the Holy Spirit works in them, the greater is their understanding of the being of God and their own sinfulness and their own unworthiness. All the Saints have testified to this, that as they have grown in Grace and in the knowledge of the Lord, they have seen the depths of sin within themselves in a manner that they never imagined before. [00:25:40]

The thing that gives us conviction of sin is not the number of sins we've committed. It is the sight of the Holiness of God. It is light that reveals Darkness. You don't do it by counting the darkness, as it were. It's the contrast of the light. It is the Purity that reveals the impurity. [00:30:00]

I have generally discovered that the people who say that they have never known this Spirit of bondage and of fear are also people who have to say honestly that they have also not known rarely the spirit of adoption whereby we cry out Abba, Father. It's very interesting. They say I've never known that spirit of bondage and of fear. [00:30:32]

If you really have got a concern about your lack of assurance or your lack of love for God of the Lord Jesus Christ, I would suggest to you that it is a part of the spirit of God bondage. It is a part of this spirit of fear, and again, that also can vary in degree and in intensity. [00:35:47]

If you have not known it in some degree, well then it is my duty to tell you that you better examine yourself, that you better prove your own selves to see whether ye be in the faith or not, as the Apostle puts it in the last chapter of his Second Epistle to the Corinthians. [00:38:21]

The spirit produces the spirit of bondage under of fear. It is his work. He does it. He always does it. He must do it. How then can we be happy about ourselves if we've got to say quite honestly that we have never known anything at all about this Spirit? [00:40:59]

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