A Personal Relationship: Sonship, Romans 8:12-17

Posted on December 29, 2014 by KD Manes under Bible Study

“It’s personal!” Although this phrase is often stated negatively, Paul turns it into a positive.

Adoption or “sonship” is the theme used in this passage to illustrate the believers new relationship with God. The NIV Study Bible observes: “In Roman culture, the adopted person lost all rights in his old family and gained all the rights of a legitimate child in his new family. He became a full heir to his new father’s estate.”

Shepherd’s Notes classifies Paul’s discussion into three areas: the test of sonship, the privilege of sonship, and the assurance of sonship.

The Test of Sonship (vs. 14) “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (vs. 14). We follow the one to whom we belong. A daily response to the Spirit’s leading shows we are God’s child. This factor is more reliable than our emotional ups and downs. “Elation without obedience is a fraud,” (Shepherd’s Notes).
The Privilege of Sonship (vs. 15) Through the contrasting pictures of slavery and adoption, Paul reminds us that turning to Christ releases us from enslavement to fear. In fact, believers are now privileged to call God “Abba! Father!” Shepherd’s Notes observes that Abba is found only three times in the New Testament: Galatians 4:6; Mark 14:36; and in this passage. Abba is the Aramaic word for father. Used in the Jewish home, it expresses the intimacy between child and father. No term serves better than Abba or Father to show the warm, personal relationship to God that His grace has made possible.
The Assurance of Sonship (vs. 17) Paul connects being “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” to sharing in Christ’s sufferings. These sufferings come from following Christ, not from the common adversity of illness, loss of employment, or bereavement (Shepherd’s Notes). (See also Philippians 1:29; 3:10; Colossians 1:24). But Paul also emphasizes the result: “in order that we may also share in His glory.”

So What?

When a person becomes a Christian, he/she receives all the privileges and responsibilities of a child in God’s family.
God deserves obedience to His indwelling Spirit by following Him and “dieing” to sin.
The believer’s current suffering dims in comparison to the glory he/she will share with Christ.
Nothing we suffer compares to the suffering Jesus experienced to save us.

Are you God’s child?

Future Glory, Romans 8:18-25

Posted on December 28, 2014 by KD Manes under Bible Study

I hope you’ve had a great summer. The glory of summer is soon fading. I enjoy summer, but I really love the changing colors and weather fall brings. I’m thankful for the changing seasons.

Speaking of fading, my computer’s hard-drive died. I’ve told myself that I will never take my computer for granted again! 🙂

Since my hard-drive crashed last week I’ve been using the library’s computer. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to post pictures. With limited time I will also be posting weekly for a while instead of twice a week.

Seasons

As I write about change and seasons I’m reminded of what my pastor said: “Knowing what season you’re in (spiritually) is important.” He suggested that our lives won’t be in perfect balance as we journey here on earth, but we usually have a rhythm in our spiritual growth. Knowing which season we’re in will determine how we respond.

On the tail of verse 17 in Romans 8, after writing about a season of sharing in Christ’s suffering, Paul sets up three reasons for encouragement: 1) the glory that will be revealed (vs. 18-25); 2) the Holy Spirit’s help (vs. 26-27); and 3) all things work together for good (vs. 28-30).

Hope of God’s Final Victory

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from the bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” –vs. 18-22

Genesis 3:17-19 sets the background for this passage. Paul makes three observations about creation:

It eagerly awaits the revelation of God’s children.
By God’s will, it was subjected to frustration.
It will be set free from decay’s bondage and share in transformation along with God’s children.

Paul ties the believer’s present trials to creation in verses 23-25. Similar to creation, we groan inwardly as we await the full adoption as God’s children that will happen at the resurrection. Our present hope is “the first-fruits of the Spirit”, God’s promise of our total victory with Christ in the end.

So What?

Through sin, all creation is subject to frustration and bondage to decay. But one day all creation will be set free and transformed. Because believers look forward to a new heaven and earth that God promised we can be filled with hope now.

Believers resurrected bodies will be glorified like the body Christ now has in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:25-58; 1 John 3:2). Believers have the down payment, “first-fruits”, of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of being resurrected (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14).

If you are a believer who is currently suffering, hold on to hope. Ultimate victory is your final resting place through Jesus Christ!

The Spirit’s Ministry of Intercession, Romans 8:26-27

Posted on December 27, 2014 by KD Manes under Bible Study

Have you ever been at a loss of what, or how, to pray in a given situation or for someone? While last week we explored hope and how it carries us through difficult times (Romans 8:24-25), these two verses offer another benefit of the new life of the Holy Spirit. This time in the area of our prayers:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us . . . . ” – vs. 26

How does God’s Spirit intercede for the believer? “. . . with groans that words can not express,” (vs. 26).

Perhaps no other Scripture gives greater encouragement in our prayer life. Dale Moody (Broadman Bible Commentary) writes: “The little English verb helps (vs. 26) translates a big verb in Greek. It is used elsewhere in the New Testament only when Martha called Mary to help her prepare a meal (Luke 10:40).”

For all of us who relate to Martha, this is huge encouragement!

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God’s Spirit not only helps when we’re low on faith and/or uncertain what to pray, He also intercedes according to God’s will. And “He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit . . . .” (vs. 27).

So What?

In the mystery, and sometimes confusion, of knowing what to pray we can have confidence that the Holy Spirit will intercede for us according to God’s will.
Because God helps us pray we don’t need to fear coming before Him with our requests.
Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede “according to God’s will,” then trust Him for the results.

God’s Overruling Providence, Romans 8:28-30

Posted on December 26, 2014 by KD Manes under Bible Study

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These are some of my favorite verses. I love that God is at work in every circumstance, and that nothing is wasted with Him.

I’m reminded of when my mother-in-law keenly observed—while laughing and pointing to the black, mushy banana on top of my freezer—“some of us look like this, but we’re pretty sweet on the inside.” Yeah, I thought, this also applies to ugly trials and circumstances. God takes those ugly moments and turns them into something sweet; something only He can do.

There’s a catch, however, to God’s promise of working all things together: “For those who love God, and have been called according to his purpose” (vs. 28).

God’s Redemptive Purpose (Romans 8:30)

Paul uses verse 30 to bridge eternity past with his grand summary of God’s redemptive purpose. Shepherd’s Notes defines the following:

Predestination: God’s grace at work before the foundation of the world
Calling: God’s grace confronting us
Justification: God’s grace making us right with Himself in the midst of history
Glorification: God’s grace in the consummation of this age

So What?

Believers can be assured that God is for us. Everything that happens to us is in His sovereign hand.
Although we can’t control our circumstances, or others, God is able to take what happens to us and use it for our future good.
God’s ultimate goal is not to make us comfortable, but conformable. That is, to grow us into the likeness of Christ (1 John 3:2). This is when we discover freedom and fulfillment in the true person God created us to be.

Assurance of Salvation, Romans 8:31-39

Posted on December 25, 2014 by KD Manes under Bible Study

More than the comfort of southern fried chicken . . . More than the carefree feeling of sifting warm sand through your toes . . . More than the sweet taste of hot cocoa and wrapping up in a fleece blanket on a cold, wintry day. This passage offers—more.

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On the heels of Paul using weighty terms—predestination, calling, justification, and glorification—to set up God’s redemptive purpose in verse 30, he asks: “What, then, shall we say in response to this?”

His answer—squeezed into one word—HOPE.

3 Reasons for Assurance of Salvation

Shepherd’s Notes identifies three reasons believers can have assurance of salvation:

Our assurance is based on the heavy investment that God has already made in our redemption (vs. 31-32).
Our assurance is based upon God’s acquittal and Christ’s continuing intercession for us (vs. 33-34).
Our assurance is based upon God’s love for us in Christ, which guarantees that nothing will be able to separate us from Him (vs. 35-39).

Paul concludes, after listing the many assailants of God’s people, that “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” This gives the brilliant backdrop for a dearly loved affirmation in the faith:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –vs. 38-39

So What?

Although believers face earthly trials, we can rest in hope and confidence. Nothing can separate us from God’s love because of Jesus’ faithfulness. Our salvation is firmly secured because of Jesus’ work on the cross.

What are some of your favorite encouragements promised for believers in chapter 8?