Embracing Our Identity as Children of God

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound themes found in Romans 8:12-17, focusing on the concepts of adoption and inheritance in the family of God. We began by discussing the relatable humanity of the disciples, particularly Peter and John, and how their flaws and strengths resonate with our own spiritual journeys. This set the stage for delving into Paul's message about living by the Spirit rather than the flesh. Paul uses the term "offaletes," meaning obligation, to emphasize that we are indebted to live in the Spirit because of the gift we've received from God.

We are not just individuals; we are children of God, adopted into His family. This identity comes with both privileges and responsibilities. As children of God, we inherit not only the power and authority that come with being part of His family but also the obligation to live as beacons of His love and to participate in His mission. This means embracing both the joys and the challenges that come with this identity, including suffering and self-denial, much like Jesus did.

Living by the Spirit doesn't mean living perfectly. It means allowing the Spirit to guide our actions and responses, especially when we make mistakes. The world often responds to mistakes with defensiveness or concealment, but as followers of Christ, we are called to respond with humility, seeking healing, forgiveness, and restoration. This is a crucial aspect of our witness to the world.

Finally, we touched on the importance of spiritual practices like solitude, silence, and Bible study to help us hear God's voice amidst the noise of the world. These practices enable us to tune our hearts to God's will, helping us to live out our identity as His children more faithfully. The comfort of being able to call God "Abba," or "Daddy," underscores the intimate relationship we have with Him, providing both comfort and strength as we navigate the challenges of our spiritual journey.

### Key Takeaways

1. **Humanity of the Disciples**: The disciples, particularly Peter and John, are relatable because of their human flaws and strengths. Their stories remind us that God’s grace is sufficient for our own imperfections, encouraging us to follow Jesus despite our mistakes. [07:00]

2. **Adoption and Inheritance**: As children of God, we are adopted into His family, which comes with both privileges and responsibilities. This identity calls us to live as beacons of God's love and to participate in His mission, embracing both the joys and challenges that come with it. [11:03]

3. **Living by the Spirit**: Living by the Spirit means allowing the Spirit to guide our actions and responses, especially when we make mistakes. It’s not about living perfectly but about seeking healing, forgiveness, and restoration, which is a powerful witness to the world. [20:41]

4. **Spiritual Practices**: Practices like solitude, silence, and Bible study are essential for hearing God's voice amidst the noise of the world. These disciplines help us tune our hearts to God's will, enabling us to live out our identity as His children more faithfully. [28:30]

5. **Intimacy with God**: The ability to call God "Abba" or "Daddy" underscores the intimate relationship we have with Him. This provides both comfort and strength, reminding us that we are deeply loved and supported by the Creator of the universe. [32:30]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[03:31] - Summer with the Kids
[07:00] - Relating to the Disciples
[10:11] - Obligation to Live by the Spirit
[11:03] - Adoption and Inheritance
[11:57] - Responsibilities as God's Children
[12:45] - Family History and Identity
[14:16] - Living in but not of the World
[20:41] - Imperfection and the Spirit
[22:57] - Embracing Jesus as Lord and Savior
[24:21] - Welcoming God into Our Lives
[28:30] - Importance of Spiritual Practices
[32:30] - Comfort in Calling God "Abba"
[33:48] - Complicated Constructs of Family

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Romans 8:12-17

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean by the term "offaletes" in Romans 8:12, and how does it relate to our obligation as Christians? [10:11]
2. How does Paul describe our identity as children of God in Romans 8:14-15? [11:03]
3. What are some of the responsibilities and privileges that come with being adopted into God's family, according to the sermon? [11:57]
4. How does the sermon describe the way we should respond to our mistakes as followers of Christ? [20:41]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to live by the Spirit rather than the flesh, and how does this impact our daily lives? [10:11]
2. How does the concept of adoption into God's family change the way we view our identity and purpose? [11:03]
3. In what ways can spiritual practices like solitude, silence, and Bible study help us hear God's voice more clearly? [28:30]
4. How does the ability to call God "Abba" or "Daddy" provide comfort and strength in our spiritual journey? [32:30]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you made a mistake. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently by allowing the Spirit to guide you? [20:41]
2. What are some practical ways you can live out your identity as a child of God in your daily life, embracing both the privileges and responsibilities? [11:57]
3. Identify one spiritual practice (solitude, silence, or Bible study) that you can incorporate into your routine this week. How do you think this will help you hear God's voice? [28:30]
4. Think about a situation where you felt distant from God. How might calling Him "Abba" or "Daddy" change your perspective and provide comfort? [32:30]
5. How can you be a beacon of God's love in your community, especially in challenging situations that require self-denial or suffering? [11:57]
6. What steps can you take to ensure that you are living by the Spirit and not by the flesh in your interactions with others? [10:11]
7. Reflect on the humanity of the disciples, particularly Peter and John. How does their story encourage you to follow Jesus despite your imperfections? [07:00]

Day 1: Relatable Humanity of the Disciples
The disciples, particularly Peter and John, are relatable because of their human flaws and strengths. Their stories remind us that God’s grace is sufficient for our own imperfections, encouraging us to follow Jesus despite our mistakes. Peter, known for his impulsiveness, and John, known for his zeal, both had moments of failure and triumph. These stories resonate with our own spiritual journeys, reminding us that God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will.

By reflecting on the humanity of the disciples, we can find comfort in knowing that our flaws do not disqualify us from God’s love or His plans. Instead, they become opportunities for God’s grace to shine through us. This perspective helps us to approach our spiritual walk with humility and reliance on God’s strength rather than our own.

[07:00]

Romans 7:18-19 (ESV): "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing."

Reflection: Think of a recent mistake or failure. How can you invite God’s grace into that situation and allow it to transform your response?


Day 2: Adoption and Inheritance
As children of God, we are adopted into His family, which comes with both privileges and responsibilities. This identity calls us to live as beacons of God's love and to participate in His mission, embracing both the joys and challenges that come with it. Being adopted into God’s family means we inherit His power and authority, but it also means we are called to live out His love in tangible ways. This includes acts of kindness, service, and sharing the gospel with others.

Our adoption into God’s family is a profound truth that changes how we see ourselves and our purpose in life. It’s not just about the benefits we receive but also about the mission we are entrusted with. Embracing this identity means we are willing to face suffering and self-denial, just as Jesus did, for the sake of God’s kingdom.

[11:03]

Ephesians 1:5-6 (ESV): "He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."

Reflection: How can you live out your identity as a child of God today? What specific action can you take to reflect God’s love to someone in your life?


Day 3: Living by the Spirit
Living by the Spirit means allowing the Spirit to guide our actions and responses, especially when we make mistakes. It’s not about living perfectly but about seeking healing, forgiveness, and restoration, which is a powerful witness to the world. The world often responds to mistakes with defensiveness or concealment, but as followers of Christ, we are called to respond with humility and openness to God’s transformative work.

This approach to life is counter-cultural and requires a deep trust in God’s goodness and mercy. By living by the Spirit, we demonstrate a different way of handling failures and conflicts, one that points to the redemptive power of Christ. It’s a daily choice to surrender our will to the Spirit’s leading and to seek God’s guidance in all circumstances.

[20:41]

Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent conflict or mistake. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your response and seek restoration?


Day 4: Importance of Spiritual Practices
Practices like solitude, silence, and Bible study are essential for hearing God's voice amidst the noise of the world. These disciplines help us tune our hearts to God's will, enabling us to live out our identity as His children more faithfully. In a world filled with distractions, setting aside time for these practices is crucial for spiritual growth and discernment.

Solitude and silence create space for us to listen to God without the interference of daily demands. Bible study grounds us in God’s truth and equips us to navigate life’s challenges with wisdom. These practices are not just about personal enrichment but about aligning our lives with God’s purposes and being more effective in our witness to others.

[28:30]

Psalm 46:10 (ESV): "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Reflection: What specific time can you set aside this week for solitude, silence, or Bible study? How can this practice help you hear God’s voice more clearly?


Day 5: Intimacy with God
The ability to call God "Abba" or "Daddy" underscores the intimate relationship we have with Him. This provides both comfort and strength, reminding us that we are deeply loved and supported by the Creator of the universe. This intimate relationship is a source of profound security and joy, knowing that we are not alone in our journey.

Calling God "Abba" reflects a childlike trust and dependence on Him. It’s an invitation to approach God with openness and vulnerability, confident in His love and care for us. This intimacy with God transforms our prayer life and our daily interactions, as we live out of the assurance of His presence and guidance.

[32:30]

Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV): "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of intimacy with God in your daily life? What does it mean for you to approach God as "Abba" today?

And we have the Reverend Dr. Scott Palmbush. I'm glad to be here. This is fun. Always fun.

Yeah. You want to kick it off?

All right, sure. Well, hot is tricky for us because we don't have air conditioning. So I have the portable air conditioner that I set up in the living room. And then I have fans that help disperse. I have a whole system that I set up and take down. And then I have the portable air conditioner that I set up in the living room. And then I have fans that help disperse.

Yeah, and I go down every night. And so it's kind of a fun project. But we just kind of huddle in the dining room there. But yeah, it's fun to go to the pool with some folks that have a pool that we can use once in a while. It's the best.

But other than that, yeah, it's mostly just hanging out.

Yeah, all my kids are home. I have four kids. They're all with us, and that is fun. And sometimes a little, you know, we get a little...

Yeah. A little too much togetherness.

I don't know if it's hard to imagine, but last week, one of my kids was in Taiwan with his friend, so he was away. And so people are kind of coming and going, too, as you will. But yeah, it's been a fun summer with the kids.

Sounds like it.

It's always fun having them home.

Very fun.

Awesome.

Well, you hear more about some of the disciples than the others. So it's a little bit easier to know about them. But I think, I don't know, lots of people are going to be drawn to Simon Peter, of course. He gets a lot of airtime in the Bible.

And I think the reason I love him, a lot of people appreciate Peter is because he's very human in the sense of he's flawed.

Yeah.

Makes a lot of mistakes. I feel like I can relate to him as a disciple. I feel like that's kind of how I live and how I fall for Jesus, make a lot of mistakes. And I'm grateful for his grace in that.

But John's another one. Just his emphasis on love and loving and how that is such a big part of who God is. So that also strikes a chord in me.

But yeah, those would be my goat answer.

There you go.

Yeah, it's a great, I mean, as we've said, Romans 8 is a wonderful, full chapter, and really explores the Apostle Paul's kind of theology and heart and his understanding of the power and majesty of God.

So I got this passage, 12 through 17, where we get this language of adoption and inheritance, and it's just a really comforting and really wonderful. It's a really powerful part of the text.

So, yeah, I mean, it starts off, again, the kind of theme that Paul has about there's the flesh and the spirit, and we have, he says, uses this word, offaletes, that means obligation, this kind of indebtedness to say, because we've been given this gift, we're called to then live into it, live in the reality and the power.

Phil talked about power previously.

Right.

That we've been given. And if we do that, if we live in the spirit that way, then we're honoring the gift that's been given to us. And so that's a big call for that.

And then Paul talks about us being the children of God, that we are adopted into the family as God's child. And I think that comes with an identity. I'm not just me. I am a child. I'm a child of God.

And if we really embrace that, that comes with a whole set of things, right, about being in a family. And I was, Phil's mentioned this book, N.T. Wright, The Heart of Romans, but he really kind of opens up this idea that as children of God, the inheritance that we have, we get to be part of the family in kind of every way.

And that means not just with the power that comes with that and the authority in a sense, but the obligation to live as a beacon of God's love in the world and also to be part of the mission and work that God's doing in the world.

It's like you think of a family, like we get to be, you know, if you're a guest, you get to sit on the couch, right? And we serve you. You got some chores to do. You got things to do.

And I think that idea that... No, we're part of this mission. We're part of this work that God's doing is a really powerful call to kind of the vocation. No matter what we do, right, our identity puts us in that place where we are part of the work that God's doing.

So I just, I love that heart of it. And, you know, also being part of this family means we don't escape the challenge of it as well.

And we think about Jesus who showed us what this really looked like and in his suffering and in his death. And there's a kind of death. There's a kind of death that we experience as well to ourself. We experience suffering in our own way, in various ways.

And that's part of it too, but it's all for the purpose that God intends. And so it's not meaningless in that sense.

So that's kind of how Paul wraps up this section. But it's just, it's rich in so many ways.

Yeah.

Well, it's, uh, yeah, it was just kind of well-known in our family history because there were these brothers in the Netherlands, um, and two of them came over and, uh, settled in Holland, Michigan, which is a very, you know, Dutch, obviously Holland, Michigan. You don't have to go very far to figure it out.

So, uh, and it was, you know, it's kind of the lowlands by the, uh, by the water. It felt like home. It was cold, you know, so we'll just be here.

And then those two brothers kind of, you know, like a lot of, uh, immigrants, right, created a beachhead and kind of said, hey, bring over the rest. But the rest of the brothers that came over, uh, including my grandfather, my great-grandfather, um, you know, when they got to Ellis Island, uh, they all of a sudden were Palm Bush instead of Palm Boss.

And so it was just, you know, just a clerical error, right? They were really, they weren't using vibe boards; they just wrote in a book.

So, um, but you know, they were like, we're gonna go, we're in America, we're gonna love it, we're gonna go with it.

So, yeah, the fun part is, so then they went out to Holland, Michigan, and then, um, eventually, uh, kind of stayed there for a few, uh, a few years, but then they were, you know, giving away land right in the west, and so they went out to Montana.

Okay, which is where I grew up.

And, uh, so yeah, a little bit of a story about that family history there. But if you hear of a Palm Bush, somehow I'm related to that.

So that's in the lay world.

Yeah, and I think that's a great example too of where, um, there is some cost to this, right? Like if you're going to live, and I think that phrase being, um, in but not of the world is a really way to encapsulate some of what Paul's talking here.

Um, and by the spirit in me, I can live into that identity, but there's a cost to that because not everybody's going to like that. But the world will give you an identity, and we're always facing kind of am I gonna, which, you know, flesh or spirit, and am I going to listen to one or the other?

And, um, and you know, again at the end to say, um, there's going to be some level of people that aren't going to like that. The world is going to resist that.

So, yeah, there is that piece, but, um, that courage to say I'm going to do my best to live in that is great.

And I think one of the misnomers or one of the things I think that I had to wrestle with a little bit in the passage was, uh, was this idea of if I'm living by the spirit, does that mean I'm living perfectly? Like what does it mean to live in the spirit?

Right, and so I was gonna ask you that.

Yeah, right. I mean, it's a really big question, and Paul gives us some pictures here, but, um, you know, it's not living perfectly.

Uh, it's letting the spirit drive how I live and the way I live. And that can mean when I make mistakes because we are human this side of, uh, of eternity.

And, um, but typically how does the world respond to mistakes? How does the world respond to things that are misdeeds or what?

And, you know, with defensiveness, with bear, you know, bury it, nobody sees it.

But to, you know, so as a light of Christ, if people want to see the spirit, it's how we respond even when we're not our best.

And I think that's an important thing for people to see too. You know, Christian, we don't claim to be perfect. We don't claim our church is perfect. We talk about nobody being perfect, um, but we say we want to be a place where at least we're after healing, we're after wholeness, we're after forgiveness, we're after, uh, restoration.

Um, and, uh, and that's the key to what the spirit does.

And so I just want to make sure people don't come away with, you know, right, the binary choice that Paul gives us can make it hard.

Yeah, I think it's an extension of the gospel message, um, really that's just, it's part of the outflow of a life that welcomes God into it.

That's really what you're saying when you receive Christ. When you receive the gospel, you're welcoming God now to be, uh, the person that, um, you know, is Lord of your life.

We talk about, you know, Jesus being our Lord and our Savior.

We probably don't have that right now.

We probably don't have that right now.

We probably don't have that right now.

You know, a lot of people want Jesus to be their Savior. You know, like, okay, sure, I don't, I want to live forever. I, hell does not sound like a good option for me.

Um, and so I'm grateful. I want to have my sins forgiven. People love that part of it.

Uh, but to really embrace the life that God has for you, it's my Lord, my Savior, and my Lord. And that means that I give over control of my life.

And that's, uh, and Phil talked about this a little last week about the indwelling of the spirit versus kind of the operation of the spirit in your life.

You know, when you receive Christ, when you invite Jesus into your heart, which anybody can do, God is always there.

Um, but he's a gentleman too, you know, he won't force himself on you. But if you welcome him into your life, the spirit says, we'll come and live inside our, and that's a powerful thought that God, as we said, is living in us, um, and speaking to us, um, in ways that, you know, as we get into this chapter, we'll hear more about how that works.

But, um, but yeah, to my neighbor, you know, who, uh, is wondering about that, you know, the first step is just to say, hey, just are you at a place where you're willing to let God into your life?

Um, because that's what it is, and it's a perspective.

Yeah, yeah.

And again, you know, if Jesus is Lord of our life, then he's the one in charge, not us.

And that's the battle of our will and the spirit slowly working on our hearts that we hear and obey.

Um, you know, and those are two different things. We can hear what God's saying to us, but we can say, you know, not today, God. I know I'm gonna do it my way.

I'm guilty of that.

We'll see how this goes.

Oh, all the time.

Never goes well.

But that decision is in front of us every minute, every day, every year, you know.

So we're always, and hopefully, and with the spirit inside us, our ears, our heart is tuned a little more, and we get to learn it a little more, and we can have that peace because I've learned how to listen to the voice of God in my life, right?

And I know whose voice is whose, and it takes a...

Is not...

And, um, how's that helped you tune your perspective?

Yeah, I think all the, I would just say all the classic spiritual practices that we know about, those basically are all designed for this world and purpose, right? To enable us to hear the voice of God.

Yeah.

Outside of the din and the lies and all the things we hear.

And so, you know, solitude and silence, right? I need to get quiet so that I can hear God's voice.

We have that, uh, great passage where, you know, um, uh, Elijah is at the, at the, uh, you know, cave, and God's not in the fire or the earthquake; he's in the still.

So we need to be in a place where we can hear that voice because, uh, sometimes God shouts to us, but most of the time he's speaking to us, and we need to tune our ears.

And so solitude, silence, fasting, all these practices, uh, enable us, give us space to hear.

And once we hear, then we can hear that voice above the noise a little bit, right?

Um, and, uh, and it just takes time, I think, um, and living in those practices year after year.

Um, and you know, the Bible study, if I, when I read the Bible, part of that practice is to get the words of scripture in my mind and heart so that I know because we know that God's voice is never going to contradict his word, right?

So, um, if I hear something that contradicts his word, well, I can assume that that is not him.

So, you know, that's all the disciplines kind of...

Yeah, sorry, I wasn't picking one, but that's fine.

Yeah, yeah.

Um, yeah, there's a lot in here, right? And so you pull it in so many threads are in here.

Yeah.

Um, I think, uh, you know, there's one of the other ways to think about the gift of being included in God's family and being heirs is there's an incredible amount of comfort in that, you know?

And, uh, and I didn't spend a lot of time talking about the power of being able to call God your daddy, you know, the Abba.

Uh, yeah.

And, uh, and just the incredible comfort that comes from saying, uh, I am, I'm loved by God. I'm in the family, and, uh, and I can call him, I'm the God of the universe, my daddy, which, right?

Um, there's just a lot that you could unpack there.

And, uh, I think a lot to say in terms of the comfort of it.

Um, yeah, I, you know, tended in the sermon to talk more about, uh, the vocational aspect of it, but I think it's really powerful.

I think another thing to keep in mind, you know, as you, as we think about that parallel of us being able to use that phrase, that Aramaic phrase, Abba, for God, you know, the time that Jesus used that was in the garden when he was obeying, but man, it was hard, right?

And so, um, I think one of the things that's the other side of this, right, is that I'm gonna need, you know, if I'm really gonna be a child, I'm gonna live into my identity and my inheritance, there's gonna be times I'm gonna need to call out to my daddy.

Yeah, yeah.

And so, you know, we get this privilege because we're gonna walk down this road that's gonna require it from us.

And, uh, so yeah, I think there's more that could have been unpacked in that, but, uh, that's a really powerful thought that I've been...

Feel that fatherhood in a very germane sense.

Yeah, wow, it's powerful.

Yeah, yeah.

What a, that's a beautiful picture.

And I think it's good to remember too, you know, people's relationships, right, with that word, with father or dad is complicated.

Family and family.

Yeah, that these are all complicated constructs.

And so, um, you know, how God meets us in that, I think there's grace in that too.

But to hear, um, yeah, you embrace that as no, I have a father that is a...

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "I think one of the things that's the other side of this right is that I'm gonna need you know if I'm really gonna be a child I'm gonna live into my identity and my inheritance there's gonna be times I'm gonna need to call out to my daddy." [33:48] (Making raw clip | Making vertical clip | Making vertical captioned clip)

2. "Christian we don't claim be perfect we don't claim our church is perfect we talk about nobody being perfect but we say we want to be a place where at least we're we're after healing we're after wholeness we're after forgiveness we're after restoration and that's that's the key to what the spirit does." [22:57] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "If you welcome him into your life the spirit says we'll we'll come and live inside our and that's a powerful thought that god as we said is living in us and speaking to us in ways that you know as we get into this chapter we'll hear more about how that works." [24:21] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "Are you at a place where you're willing to let god into your life because that's what it and it's a perspective yeah yeah and again you know if jesus is lord of our life then he's the one in charge not us and that's the battle of our will and and the spirit slowly working on our hearts that we hear and obey." [24:21] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "We know that god's voice is never going to contradict his word right so if if I hear something that contradicts his word well I can assume that that is not him so you know that's that's all the disciplines kind of." [28:30] (Making raw clip | Making vertical clip | Making vertical captioned clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Paul talks about us being the children of God, that we are adopted into the family as God's child. And I think that comes with an identity. I'm not just me. I am a child. I'm a child of God. And if we really embrace that, that comes with a whole set of things, right, about being in a family." [11:03] (Making raw clip | Making vertical clip | Making vertical captioned clip)

2. "If we live in the spirit that way, then we're honoring the gift that's been given to us. And so that's a big call for that. And then Paul talks about us being the children of God, that we are adopted into the family as God's child." [10:11] (Making raw clip | Making vertical clip | Making vertical captioned clip)

3. "I think that's a great example too of where there is some cost to this right like if you're going to live and I think that phrase being in but not of the world is is that's a really way to encapsulate some of what Paul's talking here." [14:16] (Making raw clip | Making vertical clip | Making vertical captioned clip)

4. "I think one one of the misnomers or one of the things I think that I had to wrestle with a little bit in the passage was uh was this idea of if I'm living by the spirit does that mean I'm I'm living perfectly like what does it mean to live in the spirit right." [20:41] (Making raw clip | Making vertical clip | Making vertical captioned clip)

5. "I think another thing to keep in mind you know as you as we think about that parallel of of us being able to use that phrase that aramaic phrase abba with for god you know the time that jesus used that was was in the garden when he was obeying but man it was hard right." [33:48] (Making raw clip | Making vertical clip | Making vertical captioned clip)