From Fear to Faith: Embracing Our Adoption in Christ
Summary
In Romans 8:15, Paul speaks of the transformative journey from the spirit of bondage and fear to the spirit of adoption, where we cry, "Abba, Father." This passage is crucial for understanding the assurance of salvation and the nature of our relationship with God as His children. The spirit of bondage, characterized by fear and a sense of condemnation, is something that believers experience before truly understanding their adoption as God's children. This spirit of fear is not merely a temporary anxiety but a profound awareness of sin and separation from God, which is unique to those who are being drawn to Him.
The spirit of adoption, on the other hand, signifies a profound shift. It is the assurance that we are no longer slaves to fear but are embraced as sons and daughters of God. This transformation is not about the intensity of our initial fear but about the presence of a new identity in Christ. The journey from Mount Sinai, representing the law and fear, to Mount Zion, symbolizing grace and adoption, is a path every believer must walk. This transition is not always marked by a dramatic conversion experience, but it is a necessary journey of faith.
The Apostle Paul emphasizes that the spirit of adoption is not just a theological concept but a lived reality. It is evidenced by the absence of the spirit of fear and the presence of peace, hope, and joy in the believer's life. This assurance is not contradicted by moments of doubt or spiritual attack, as these are part of the Christian experience. Instead, the true test of our adoption is our response to God's Word and our ability to find comfort and assurance in His promises, even in times of trial.
Key Takeaways:
- The spirit of bondage and fear is a precursor to the spirit of adoption, marking the journey from law to grace. This fear is not a mere anxiety but a deep awareness of sin and separation from God, unique to those being drawn to Him. [01:09]
- The spirit of adoption signifies a profound shift in identity, where believers are no longer slaves to fear but are embraced as God's children. This transformation is not about the intensity of initial fear but the presence of a new identity in Christ. [05:15]
- Assurance of salvation is evidenced by the absence of fear and the presence of peace, hope, and joy. This assurance is not contradicted by moments of doubt or spiritual attack, as these are part of the Christian experience. [09:17]
- The journey from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion is a necessary path for every believer, symbolizing the transition from law to grace. This journey is not always marked by a dramatic conversion experience but is a necessary journey of faith. [12:48]
- True adoption is tested by our response to God's Word and our ability to find comfort and assurance in His promises, even in times of trial. The believer's response to Scripture is a sign of life and assurance of their identity in Christ. [27:57]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Romans 8:15
- [00:32] - Assurance of Salvation
- [01:09] - Spirit of Bondage and Fear
- [02:02] - Spirit of Adoption
- [03:14] - The Role of the Law
- [04:38] - Delivered from Fear
- [06:42] - Peace with God
- [09:35] - Contrast in Galatians
- [12:14] - New Covenant in Hebrews
- [14:23] - Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
- [15:54] - Questions and Clarifications
- [19:36] - Reverence vs. Fear
- [23:06] - Depression and Desertion
- [30:38] - Sin and Forgiveness
- [35:06] - Satanic Attacks
- [42:15] - Feeling Deserted by God
- [47:25] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Romans 8:15 - "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"
2. Galatians 4:4-7 - "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
3. 1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Romans 8:15 say about the spirit of bondage and the spirit of adoption? How does this relate to our identity as children of God? [00:13]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the journey from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion for believers? [12:48]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the law in the believer's journey from fear to adoption? [03:14]
4. What evidence does the sermon provide to show that assurance of salvation is not contradicted by moments of doubt or spiritual attack? [09:17]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the transition from the spirit of bondage to the spirit of adoption reflect a believer's understanding of grace versus law? [04:38]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the spirit of adoption is a lived reality rather than just a theological concept? [05:34]
3. How might the presence of peace, hope, and joy in a believer's life serve as evidence of their adoption as God's children? [06:42]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between spiritual attacks and the assurance of salvation? [35:06]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the spirit of bondage and fear. How did you transition to experiencing the spirit of adoption, and what role did Scripture play in that process? [27:57]
2. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of your identity in Christ as a child of God, especially during times of doubt or spiritual attack? [09:17]
3. The sermon mentions the journey from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion. What practical steps can you take to move from a mindset of law and fear to one of grace and adoption in your daily life? [12:48]
4. How can you actively seek to experience the peace, hope, and joy that come with the assurance of salvation in your current circumstances? [06:42]
5. Consider a specific promise from God's Word that brings you comfort. How can you remind yourself of this promise during challenging times? [27:57]
6. In what ways can you support others in your community who may be struggling with the spirit of bondage and fear, helping them to embrace their identity as God's children? [05:34]
7. How can you ensure that your response to God's Word is a sign of life and assurance of your identity in Christ, even when facing trials? [27:57]
Devotional
Day 1: From Bondage to Adoption
The journey from the spirit of bondage and fear to the spirit of adoption is a transformative process that marks the transition from law to grace. Before understanding their adoption as God's children, believers often experience a spirit of bondage characterized by fear and a sense of condemnation. This fear is not just a fleeting anxiety but a profound awareness of sin and separation from God, unique to those being drawn to Him. It is a necessary precursor to the spirit of adoption, which signifies a profound shift in identity. [01:09]
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you still feel bound by fear or condemnation? How can you invite God to transform these areas with His spirit of adoption today?
Day 2: Embraced as God's Children
The spirit of adoption signifies a profound shift in identity, where believers are no longer slaves to fear but are embraced as God's children. This transformation is not about the intensity of initial fear but the presence of a new identity in Christ. It is a journey from Mount Sinai, representing the law and fear, to Mount Zion, symbolizing grace and adoption. This path is one every believer must walk, though it may not always be marked by a dramatic conversion experience. [05:15]
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering." (Hebrews 12:22, ESV)
Reflection: How does knowing you are embraced as a child of God change the way you view yourself and your relationship with Him?
Day 3: Assurance in the Midst of Doubt
Assurance of salvation is evidenced by the absence of fear and the presence of peace, hope, and joy. This assurance is not contradicted by moments of doubt or spiritual attack, as these are part of the Christian experience. Instead, the true test of our adoption is our response to God's Word and our ability to find comfort and assurance in His promises, even in times of trial. [09:17]
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: When you face doubt or spiritual attack, what specific promises from God's Word can you hold onto for assurance and peace?
Day 4: The Journey from Law to Grace
The journey from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion is a necessary path for every believer, symbolizing the transition from law to grace. This journey is not always marked by a dramatic conversion experience but is a necessary journey of faith. It involves moving from a place of fear and condemnation under the law to a place of grace and adoption as God's children. [12:48]
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your own journey of faith. How have you experienced the transition from law to grace in your life?
Day 5: Finding Comfort in God's Promises
True adoption is tested by our response to God's Word and our ability to find comfort and assurance in His promises, even in times of trial. The believer's response to Scripture is a sign of life and assurance of their identity in Christ. This lived reality of adoption is evidenced by the absence of the spirit of fear and the presence of peace, hope, and joy in the believer's life. [27:57]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
Reflection: What specific promise from God's Word can you meditate on today to find comfort and assurance in your identity as His child?
Quotes
We come back once more to a consideration of the 15th verse in the 8th chapter of Paul's epistle to the Romans. The 15th verse in the 8th chapter of the Epistle to the Romans: for we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [00:00:13]
The spirit of bondage always precedes the spirit of adoption. I'm arguing that it is impossible to have this spirit of adoption truly without having had the spirit of bondage first. I've emphasized that there are various degrees of the spirit of bondage. There's nothing here to say that it must be of a given intensity. [00:02:02]
The sons of God have been delivered from that spirit of bondage and the fear. You have not received again the spirit of bondage to fear. You did receive it once, but that isn't what you've received now. You have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear. [00:04:38]
The man who is rejoicing in hope of the glory of God is no longer under the spirit of bondage or a spirit of fear. It's just impossible. The things are not competitive. And again, you've got it at the end of their fifth chapter where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. [00:07:29]
The spirit of bondage and of fear and reverence and godly fear, the two things are entirely different. The reverence and godly fear is not a fear that hath torment, but the other fear has a torment in it. It is bondage. It is a terrifying fear. [00:19:36]
The Christian, the son, should have lost the spirit of bondage and the fear. Now, this, of course, is nothing new at this point in this epistle. The Apostle has been rarely saying this for quite a long time in this great epistle. Indeed, I am suggesting, as I've suggested so many times, that he began saying it in chapter 5. [00:06:42]
The believer knows this when he sins and when he's in this kind of condemnation. He knows that it's true still to say, if I confess my sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us my sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. He knows it. [00:33:38]
The Christian, I am laying it down as a proposition, has been delivered once and forever from the spirit of bondage and the spirit of fear. Praise God. [00:47:25]
The spirit of adoption signifies a profound shift in identity, where believers are no longer slaves to fear but are embraced as God's children. This transformation is not about the intensity of initial fear but the presence of a new identity in Christ. [00:05:15]
The journey from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion is a necessary path for every believer, symbolizing the transition from law to grace. This journey is not always marked by a dramatic conversion experience but is a necessary journey of faith. [00:12:48]
True adoption is tested by our response to God's Word and our ability to find comfort and assurance in His promises, even in times of trial. The believer's response to Scripture is a sign of life and assurance of their identity in Christ. [00:27:57]
Assurance of salvation is evidenced by the absence of fear and the presence of peace, hope, and joy. This assurance is not contradicted by moments of doubt or spiritual attack, as these are part of the Christian experience. [00:09:17]
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