Calvary Road Baptist Church
“ABBA, FATHER”
Romans 8.14-17
How would I go about impressing upon you the majesty and the might, the greatness and the glory, of the true and living God? Could I take you to the top of Mount Everest, or into the eye of a hurricane, or into the spout of a tornado, or into the bowels of a volcano? Could I focus your attention on the eyepiece of a telescope to see the immensity of God’s universe, or the eyepiece of a microscope to see the fine detail of even the smallest of His creations? Would that I could translate you into the center of a thermonuclear fireball as a part of nature is ripped apart, or into the womb of a woman the instant that she becomes a mother when conception takes place and life begins.
Psalm 19.1 reads,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.”
We can see by the nature that is observable around us that ours is a God of great and astonishing glory, that our God is a God of unfathomable immensity, and that He is a God of transforming wisdom and power.
But it is between the covers of the Book that it is revealed to us that our God is also a God of radiant holiness, a God of unparalleled righteousness. He is a God Whose face, not even His choicest servants can look upon, whether it be Moses, the man to whom God spoke as a friend or the holy seraphim that surround His throne with covered eyes, according to Isaiah chapter 6.
God is such a God that His people in Old Testament times greatly feared and quaked in His presence. When God thundered forth with the Law from the cloud-covered top of Mount Sinai the people at the foot of the Mount feared and stood afar off.[1] When God appeared in various forms to His servants they, without hesitation, fell before Him on their faces in postures of abject humility and submission. And why did they do this? They did this because such was the relationship that even the most intimate of God’s servants had with Him.
Such is not the case with me. And such is not the case with you, fellow Christian. For such is not the case with anyone who knows Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, who has been justified by faith according to Romans 5.1. You see, my relationship with God is somewhat different than was Abraham’s and Moses’ and Isaiah’s. For God has given to me, and to every born again child of God of this era, His wonderful and precious Holy Spirit to live inside me.[2] And this marvelous Holy Spirit performs some much needed and greatly appreciated ministries in every believer’s life. Over the course of the last few weeks, we have seen that the Holy Spirit delivers believers from sin. He gives us victory over the power of sin during the remainder of our physical lives, and He will deliver us from the presence of sin when we are promoted to heaven at the end of our physical lifetimes.
But that’s not all. This evening we see another marvelous ministry that the Holy Spirit performs in our lives. One that we can get as excited about as we did when we learned of the Holy Spirit’s deliverance from sin. And what is it? The second ministry Paul makes us aware of is this: The Holy Spirit of God declares believers in Christ to be the sons of God.
“Sons of God? Pastor, surely you can’t be serious. In the Old Testament believers were never referred to as the sons of God. Only angels, beings directly created by God, are ever designated as sons of God.” I know that. But the believer who lives during the era in which we live, indwelt as we are by the Holy Spirit, is declared by this same Holy Spirit to be a son of God.
To prove it to you we will now stand and read my text, Romans 8.14-17:
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Four pieces of evidence are found in this passage that supports the conclusion that the Holy Spirit declares believers in Christ to be sons of God:
First, THE EVIDENCE OF IDENTIFICATION
Though most Christians have difficulty with this notion, we Baptists realize that the very first means of publicly identifying with Christ as believers are through the ordinance of believer baptism. Amen? Through baptism, we affirm our identification with Christ in His death for our sins, His burial, and His glorious resurrection three days later. But what about the ongoing identification that every believer is to maintain after his initial obedience in the matter of baptism? This ongoing matter of identification is addressed in Romans 8.14:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Two things to note in this verse:
First, please note that Paul states the result, not a reason. Some people think that one becomes a son of God by submitting to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in his life. However, this is not true, for two reasons: First, the Holy Spirit being, as He is, holy, cannot and will not indwell a sin-stained unbeliever. He can only indwell, and He will only indwell, that person whose sins have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. Second, submission to the leadership of the Holy Spirit is work. And since salvation is not by works of righteousness which we have done, salvation cannot come by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. These two reasons, then, show us that this first phrase does not indicate the reason why one is a Christian, but rather the result that occurs after one is a Christian; he will be led by the Holy Spirit. And please take note that to be led by the Spirit is not to experience supernatural nudges as the Holy Spirit micro manages your life and makes your decisions for you. Not at all. The believer who conscientiously seeks to discover God’s will and comply with God’s will through Bible study and use of the means of grace is one who is led by the Spirit. Evidence for this is the tense of the verb being ongoing and continual, referring to allowing oneself to be led.[3]
The result, not a reason. Next, please note that Paul states recognition, not a reaction. For the very same reasons I stated just moments ago, we see that the phrase “they are the sons of God” is not a pronouncement that God makes on those who allow the Holy Spirit of God to lead them, thereby making them sons of God. Rather, we see that the great distinction that separates into observable categories those who know Jesus Christ from those who do not know Jesus Christ, those who are saved from those who are lost, has to do with this matter of being led of the Spirit. Only those who are the sons of God can obey the Holy Spirit. Only those who are the sons of God do obey the Holy Spirit. So we recognize who the sons of God are, not as in Old Testament times by the fact that they are angelic beings created directly by God, but by the fact that being new creatures in Christ we are indwelt by and are obedient to the Holy Spirit of God, as His will is revealed to the Christian in the Word of God, the Bible.
Next, THERE IS THE EVIDENCE OF INVOCATION
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
As to the reception of the Spirit Paul writes,
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption.”
For Paul’s words to have any real meaning at all, it must be that Paul knew that his audience in Rome, and by extension Christians everywhere, had already received the Holy Spirit, referred to here as the Spirit of adoption as opposed to the spirit of bondage. The phrase “received the spirit of bondage again to fear” is an allusion to being under the Law of Moses, where one would always be afraid of doing something wrong and being punished for it. The consequence of receiving the Holy Spirit was not to be overwhelmed by fear, such as the fear of standing before God on Judgment Day as a condemned sinner or the fear of being alienated from God, but something quite different. What a welcome relief. To the Romans, Paul uses the word “adoption,” a word representing something very common in Greek and Roman society, but quite foreign in Jewish society. Remember, the Law of Moses dictated that children were the automatic recipients of their father’s inheritance, even if they were orphaned when young. But such notions did not exist elsewhere in Paul’s day. So Paul illustrates the relationship that the Gentile believers have with God by using the notion of adoption, which was well understood by them. In fact, adoption was so well understood by these Roman readers of Paul’s letter that they understood that in Roman society the adopted child of a man had standing, insofar as inheritance rights were concerned, that was greater than the man’s naturally sired children. In the course of only two verses, Paul has stated our relationship with God in terms that could be nothing less than astounding to anyone who was Jewish or knowledgeable in the Old Testament. First, he refers to us as “sons of God.” Then, he indicates that we have “the Spirit of adoption,” implying at least that our rights of inheritance before God are greater than those of His chosen people the Israelites.
As to the response by the Spirit Paul writes,
“whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”
This word “adoption” means to place as a son, to designate as a son. In Paul’s day, this was no empty honor conferred on someone you liked. No. This meant something. There was an established procedure to follow to adopt someone and declare them to have inheritance rights. Often something meaningful would be given to that adopted son as a demonstration of his new relationship with the adopting father. Don’t you see what God has done? Giving us the Holy Spirit did not make us adopted sons of God. All of that was done for us by Jesus Christ. But by giving to us the Spirit of adoption God gave us a precious gift of such great value and importance that the seriousness of His intentions to grant to us our full inheritance someday could be questioned by no one. The Holy Spirit shows our relationship with the Father. And what better way to show this relationship of the child to Father than through our communion with our Father? By the Spirit of God, we cry out to our Father as a little child cries out to his daddy. And we say “Abba, Father.” This is “daddy.” In later chapters of Romans Paul will refer to God provoking the unsaved Jews to jealousy by saving Gentiles. One reason they were jealous is that we have a relationship through the Holy Spirit with God that the saints during Old Testament times never enjoyed. Sons of God. The Spirit of adoption. No wonder we can address our Father in such familiar, albeit respectful, terms as “Abba, Father.” That is our invocation. That is our manner of address. “May I have this Daddy, Father? Thank you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
Then, THERE IS THE EVIDENCE OF CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is an interesting thing. It’s a rather common feature of different religions to have what they call a confirmation ceremony, or some other right of passage that symbolizes the attainment of manhood, or the acquisition of a certain status with God, usually when you turn 13 years of age. From a study of the Bible, however, we see no ritual or ceremony which supposes to celebrate the filling of the young boy or girl with the Holy Spirit, as so-called confirmation services are supposed to do. No. Confirmation, as it is found in the Bible, is never anything remotely resembling an outward ritual or observance. Rather, it is an internal witness to the believer’s spirit by the Holy Spirit that you are a child of God. Paul writes in verse 16,
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
Notice that this confirmation comes from the Spirit of God. This confirmation does not come from any man. This confirmation does not come from any ceremony. This confirmation does not come from any observance. This confirmation does not come from any stated step of obedience. It is the direct assurance from the Holy Spirit of God to the spirit of the individual man or woman who has trusted Christ. It is not a feeling that is subject to emotions or the human nervous system. It is a confidence born of the testimony of a witness Who is in a position to know. And that witness is the Holy Spirit of God.
This confirming evidence from the Holy Spirit is assurance that we are the children of God. Have you ever observed how irritated unsaved people get when a child of God gives a confident testimony that he is a child of God, that he is 100% sure that when he dies, he is going to heaven? This is because people who would like to think they are going to heaven do not have the assurance that the Holy Spirit provides by witnessing to their spirit. You see, the Holy Spirit gives this assurance only to those He indwells, only to those who are genuinely saved, only to those who have committed the safekeeping of their souls to Christ. And he does not give it to the child of God based on any good works that have been done. We who know Jesus Christ, who have the Holy Spirit living inside us, have the constant and confident assurance that only He provides, as He bears witness to our spirit that we are “the children of God.” This is a gracious thing that God accomplishes in the life of someone who has been saved by grace. Is the Holy Spirit doing a good job of showing Paul’s readers that we are God’s children? Notice. In verse 14 we are referred to as “sons of God” using the Greek word for “son.” In verse 15 reference is made to our adoption, being placed as sons, or actually better than natural sons. And then, in verse 16, we are termed “the children of God” using a different Greek word, translated “children.” The relationship with God that is suggested by these words and phrases would boggle the mind of the religious Jews of Paul’s day. And they would surprise with delight any Gentile of Paul’s day who had thought that the God of creation was unknowable. But we know Him. Amen? And, more importantly, He knows us.
Finally, THERE IS THE EVIDENCE OF ANTICIPATION
There is identification. The Spirit leads us. There is invocation. We can address Him with confidence as “Abba, Father.” There is confirmation. The Spirit bears witness that we are God’s children. Now, in verse 17, there is the evidence of anticipation:
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
We who are the sons of God, the children of God, anticipate certain consequences that spring directly from this relationship that the Holy Spirit declares:
First, the expectation that we anticipate. Since I am a child of God, since I am a son of God, since God adopted me, it is only expected that I be an heir. What is an heir? An heir is a person who gets everything that belongs to his father when he comes of age. And not just an heir, but an heir of God, receiving the very best that He has to give me when I receive my full inheritance. Which, obviously, since it’s the very best, would include the Lord Jesus Christ. What the Lord Jesus Christ receives from His Father I will receive, as well.
Second, the experiences that we anticipate. We’re not deluded little children as Christians. We are mindful that as suffering was part of God’s program for the Lord Jesus, so it is also God’s program for His children. As Paul reminded young Timothy in Second Timothy 3.12:
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
We’re all going to suffer for His name’s sake. Amen? But remember that our sufferings are only the potholes in the road that leads to glory. And no matter how severe and arduous is the suffering of the child of God, it is the way of the transgressors that is hard, Proverbs 13.15. Meaning? Meaning, it is always worse for the unsaved. Always.
Which brings me to our final anticipation, which is exaltation. All of God’s children are going to heaven. And Paul teaches us in First Corinthians 15.38-50 that to be suitably prepared for heaven every Christian will be outfitted with a new glorified body, suitable for eternity in heaven with God. This is what we anticipate as God’s children that someday this sin-racked and sin-ravaged body will be set aside for a new body. A body like the body my Lord Jesus has . . . almost. You see, my glorified body won’t have wounds. It’s been stated that the only earthly things that will ever be in heaven are the wounds that my Lord Jesus received on the cross. Setting aside that the blood of Christ is also in heaven, that is an accurate statement. Other than that His body will be a perfect glorified body. Like mine. Like yours, Christian.
What a glorious ministry the Holy Spirit undertakes in the life of each believer in Jesus Christ. Not only does He deliver us from sin by His great and awesome power, but He also declares us to be the sons of God. Folks, we can call God, the great God Who created all things, Daddy. Do you realize how wonderful this privilege is? What status we have who know Jesus Christ.
Reminds me of the story of the little boy who rode his bicycle down the sidewalk of the busy city street until he arrived at the front door of the bank. Waiting until a customer walked out, the little boy pushed his bike right into the bank and leaned it up against the wall. Though there were a bank guard and numerous tellers who noticed the little boy, they did nothing as he crawled under the gate that separated the bank employees from the customers. Then he stood back up and walked over to a door in the corner, the door of the bank president, twisted the knob and pushed the door open and said, “Hi, dad.”
Ever mindful of being respectful of our great and glorious God, we must understand that we can do what that little boy did. The Holy Spirit Who delivers us from sin also declares us to be God’s sons. That means we can approach God any time we want and say “Abba, Father.” All the more reason to heed the prompting of Hebrews 4.16:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Let’s stand with our heads bowed and our eyes closed for just a moment. We can say “Abba, Father.” We that is, who know Christ. We who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Can you say “Abba, Father”? I mean, really? Are you indwelt by the Holy Spirit? Does He reassure you constantly that you are a child of God? If not I invite you to come to Christ right now.
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[1] Exodus 19.16
[2] Romans 8.9
[3] Bauer, Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, (Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2000), page 16.
Would you like to contact Dr. Waldrip about this sermon? Please contact him by clicking on the link below. Please do not change the subject within your email message. Thank you.
Pastor@CalvaryRoadBaptist.Church