Sunday Sermon: The Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:12-17)

You're listening to the preaching ministry of Gabriel Hughes, pastor of Providence Reformed Baptist Church in Casa Grande, Arizona. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on this podcast, we feature teaching through a New Testament book, an Old Testament book on Thursday, and our Q &A on Friday.

Each Sunday we are pleased to present our sermon series. Here is Pastor Gabe.

Romans 8 and the Assurance of Adoption

Well good morning.

Good morning. As always, as you are seated open to Romans chapter eight, we come back to our study in Romans eight. We began this chapter with reading these precious words, this beautiful assurance. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Now keep these words in mind for some of the things that we will consider today may be heart piercing. But if you feel the conviction of the spirit, it is not to say that you are not saved, but rather you are being disciplined by the spirit because you are sons of God.

We've said about it this morning in our congregational recitation. We've sung about it in our songs that in Christ Jesus, we are adopted as sons and daughters of God. And God reproves the son whom he accepts.

He disciplines his children. If not, then we wouldn't be legitimate sons and daughters of God. As we will consider today, continuing through our passage today, we read about our adoption as children of God.

And before coming to our passage, I found this quote from 17th century Puritan, Richard Illestry in his writing, The Beauty of Holiness. He said, Holiness is the best evidence of being in favor with God and of adoption into God's family.

Do you desire holiness in the example of Christ our Savior, in the righteousness of Christ that we've been given as followers of him? Let us consider this adoption that we have received in Christ Jesus as we read this morning, Romans 8, verses 12 through 17.

In honor of the word of the King, would you please stand? Romans 8, beginning in verse 12, the apostle Paul writing to the church in Rome, hear the word of the Lord. So then brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh.

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God. 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.

The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

You may be seated as we pray. Heavenly Father, as we come to your word this morning, I pray that you guide us and direct us according to your word. Jesus said to his disciples, you will show me that you love me when you obey my commandments.

John 14, 15. And Lord, if we love you, we will delight to hear those things that we must hear today. The conviction that we receive from your word, the direction we are given to walk in holiness. Many, many more things could be said about this than even what we will consider in a short sermon today.

But may your spirit continue to guide us into all truth. That we may put away the desires of the flesh and put on Christ and desire the holiness, the righteousness that he gives. Teach us as your children and lead us in the way everlasting.

We ask in Jesus' name, Amen. In Hosea 11, beginning in verse 1, we read the following,. When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away.

They kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk. I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.

They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. And this was punishment that God was inflicting upon a people who had rebelled against him and gone after false gods instead of the true God who bore them and raised them up.

Multiple times throughout the Old Testament, God refers to Israel as a son. This verse in Hosea 11 .1, we know from Matthew 2 .15, actually points to Jesus Christ. Out of Egypt I called my son. Jesus is God's one and only Son, whom he sent into the world to be the propitiation for our sins, as we have considered already this morning.

Israel was God's adopted son. Jesus, his true Son. And likewise, we who believe in Jesus are also adopted sons and daughters of our Father who is in heaven. And knowing this doctrine of adoption, as we are going to consider it today, this furthers our assurance of the salvation that we have been given in God.

This text that we're looking at today, we're going to divide into two parts. Verses 12 -13 are part one, where we hear of our new obligation to put to death the works of the flesh and live by the Spirit.

Verses 14 -17 are part two, where we hear of our new position as sons and daughters of God and fellow heirs with Christ. So part one, our new obligation. Part two, our new position. And as we go through these two parts, I'm going to give application even through part one and then at the end of part two.

In all of this, we come to understand the purpose and the promises that have been given to us as the children of God through the Spirit of adoption. So first of all, number one, let us consider our new obligation to live according to the.

Spirit.

Putting to Death the Deeds of the Body

Read again with me verses 12 -13, where Paul says,. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

We are debtors. In what way are we debtors? Consider what Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 6. You were bought with a price, the precious blood of Christ, a price you would never be able to pay back.

Do you understand the preciousness of the blood of Jesus? You could never pay back that price that Christ gave for us. But Paul goes on in that verse to say, we are not expected to pay it back. We would never meet the amount.

You were bought with a price, so Paul says, honor God with your bodies. Jesus Christ for us took on a body and He gave that body up on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. And we now, as said in Romans 12 -1, are to be living sacrifices unto the Lord, holy and acceptable to Him, and this is our spiritual act of worship.

In this we're debtors. For Christ paid so high a price for us. Praise God we don't have to pay that back. But there is an expectation that we would live in honor of the life of Christ that was given for us.

Remember that we've heard previously in verse 6, to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace. When we set our minds on the things that our flesh wants, it leads to death.

The wages of sin is death, as we've read in Romans 6 -23. But the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And now to set our minds on the things that God wants, that leads to life, even peace, in this present life.

We considered last week in Philippians chapter 4. It's a peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding our hearts and our minds in Christ.

Jesus.

A life of sin is not a life of peace. As Isaiah says, there is no peace for the wicked. Proverbs 28 -1 says, the wicked flee when no one pursues them, but the righteous are bold as a lion. The wicked man is continually aware of his guilt.

It may not be on the forefront of his mind, but there's always this looming dread that he's going to get caught. I've been there. I know exactly how that feels. Trying to put this good looking guy on the outside, look how righteous and holy I am.

But in the meantime, I'm indulging in sins in darkness that no one can see. And I'm afraid my squeaky clean image is going to get exposed. And I'm going to be found out for my sin. I'm running away from something even though nobody knows of it and nobody is pursuing.

Me.

Hoping that no one would find out what it is that I'm doing. And yet, though such a person takes these precautions to hide these sins, they still have this fear that they're going to be found out. It doesn't make them stop because they're convinced they're not going to be caught.

Psalm 10 verses 3 -4 says, for the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his face, the wicked does not seek him and all of his thoughts are there is no God.

Now whenever we hear that phrase in the Psalm, there is no God, we tend to attribute that to atheism. Like Psalms 14 and 53, they both begin by saying, the fool says in his heart there is no God. And we will exposit that as, well that's talking about the atheist.

But remember the words of Isaiah which were repeated by Jesus when he said, they acknowledge me with their lips but their hearts are what? Far from me. Yes, indeed, the atheist is a fool who says there is no God.

But more so is the man who may acknowledge God with his lips but thinks with his heart that God does not see him. He does not change his behavior or his actions because he does not think he will have to answer to God for them.

As Psalm 10 goes on to explain what this means when the wicked man says there is no God. In verse 11 we read, he says in his heart God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it. Psalm 94 exhibits similar words.

They say, the Lord does not see, the God of Jacob does not perceive. And verses 8 and 9 there in Psalm 94 say, understand O dullest of the people, fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear?

He who formed the eye, does he not see? In other words, do you really think you're going to hide from the God who made your eyes? In Psalm 139, David says, even our thoughts are known to God. O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

You discern my thoughts from afar. Even before a word is on my tongue, you know it all together, O Lord. If even your thoughts you cannot hide from God, let me ask you this question, dear believer. What of your flesh are you still holding on to that you think God will not see?

That you think God will not know? What are you saying that you don't think God will hear it? Men, do you lust when you are alone? What are you looking at on your computer or on your phone when you think no one else can see what you're looking at?

In Matthew 5, 27 to 28, Jesus said, you have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Now, that's bad enough. But pornography is several steps worse than simply lusting for a woman in your mind. There is activity that is going on here. And these words of Jesus in Matthew 5 confront exactly this kind of problem among many men and women in our culture today.

Jesus goes on in verse 29 to say, if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better if you lose one of your members than your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.

For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. Guys, what do you have to cut out of your life to get this sin out of your life? Get rid of it. For as James 1 14 to 15 says, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Then desire, when it is conceived, gives birth to sin. And sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. Again, to live by the flesh is death. But to live by the spirit is life and peace. Now, women, don't think that you get off the hook.

This immoral fantasizing has reached a lot of women in our culture as well. Smut novels or romance novels, as they are affectionately called, have surged in popularity, despite the fact that we're not as keen on books as we used to.

And we read things on our phone most of the time. Sales of this genre of books was up 50 last year compared to the years before. And greater than 85 of readers in that market are women. So what are you reading?

What are you imagining? What are you fantasizing about when you're alone? When we were in Romans 1, the apostle Paul talked about those who do not see fit to acknowledge God or give thanks to him, and they are given over to their depraved minds, and their foolish hearts are darkened.

And the first of the sins that he talks about there are sexually immoral sins. So that's why I tread on that first of all. But there are many other secret sins that we may want to keep to ourselves. The bitterness in our hearts, the grudges that we hold, the anger that we harbor, pride.

I mean, just thinking that you're better than someone else, and you look down your nose at this person or those people. Greed and covetousness. Desiring things that don't belong to you. Believing that you deserve this thing that this other person has, or this opportunity that they got, and you resent people who got it and you didn't get it.

Cursing others when you're by yourself. Do you have an addiction to substances that no one knows about? Something you continually crave? Maybe you just desire laziness. You don't want to think about doing anything at all.

What do you do with those thoughts when you have them? Do you pray and you say to God, God, I don't want to think this. It's horrible.

I hate it.

I hate when these thoughts come into my mind. It is not honoring of you. It's not honoring of other people. It's certainly not healthy for me. So God, take these thoughts from me. Let me think things that are honoring to you.

Let me think of things that conform me more to the image of your son. Do you take those thoughts captive and you make them a slave to Christ? Or do you really like the thought? You don't pray for God to take it from you because you like thinking about it.

You know that if you were to pray about it, you wouldn't think that anymore. And I kind of like these thoughts that I have. And you sit there couched in those thoughts, dishonoring God, even in your thinking, grieving the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you.

For all of us who follow Jesus, if you like the thought, so that's why you don't give it to God, then my friend, you have turned these desires into idols. In Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul begins that chapter with saying, if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you will appear with him in glory.

You are seated with him now. And you will really be seated with him later. And so shouldn't that be where our minds are? If our destiny is there, then our mind's fixed on those things. That's the way Paul begins the chapter, to set your mind on heavenly things, on godly things, on Christ-like things.

But he goes on from there to say in verse 5, put to death therefore, what is earthly in you? And he names it, sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming.

Note there that Paul lumps in passion, evil desire, and covetousness, along with the sin of sexual immorality. Even to desire it is to incur the wrath of God. His wrath is burning, not just against the sins that men do, but even the sin that they desire.

Among many evangelicals today, when it comes to the sin of homosexuality, there is this distinction between the desire and the actual act itself. And you've heard the expression, same-sex attracted. They can't help it, like it's in their DNA.

They can't help who they're attracted to. So you'll hear some go as far as saying, it's okay for you to be gay just as long as you're not playing out that desire. This is also referred to as side B Christianity, for those of you who've heard the expression.

But the hypocrisy in this is that we don't talk about this way about any other sin. No one says of a racist, well, they can't actually help that they hate people of another skin color. Just as long as they're not going out and lynching or enslaving anyone, then it's okay.

Or no one says of an adulterer, well, they can't really help that they lust for someone else's spouse. Just as long as they're not going to bed with them, then it's all right. We don't say that about any other sin.

And we do a great disservice to anyone, even great damage, telling anybody that their desires are okay, so long as they don't play them out. Right here in Colossians 3, 6, it is said plainly, even against the desires, the wrath of God is coming.

The Lord has clearly spoken about this, put to death, even the worldly and fleshly desires that you have. Now that's certainly easier said than done, but as I've already said to you, pray, commit your thoughts to the Lord, ask of him as David prays in Psalm 51, to create a clean heart in me, O God, renew a right spirit within me.

As Puritan Thomas Case once wrote, he that sets God in his presence, dares not sin in his presence. We read last week in Romans 8, 11, if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you.

I applied this verse mainly to that truth that even our bodies will one day be raised from the dead just as Christ's body was raised from the dead. But more to the point, we have been given life through his spirit who dwells in us that we may walk in a way that is not pleasing to ourselves, but pleasing to the Lord.

And if you truly desire Christ, then that will be pleasing to you, that you would put to death the deeds of the body and walk in the righteousness of Christ. As a Christian, God has given you the power to resist sin and live righteously.

Remember, we read previously, we could not do that on our own. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But now in the spirit of Christ, we belong to him. Verses 12 to 13 again, so then brothers, we are debtors.

And not to live to our flesh, to set our minds according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. Again, the wages of sin is death. But if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

By the power of his spirit, we put these desires to death and we have a new orientation, a new set of desires. By his spirit, you've been given the power to put to death these earthly things and live in a heavenly minded way.

This is our new obligation as followers of Jesus. And as I said to you in the beginning, if in going through these things, you feel convicted even over the sins that may have been named, as we consider that.

Listen, I'm not telling you anything that the Bible doesn't say. I may just be giving application to it. But the Bible directly confronts all of this. And if in your heart you are convicted over sins, you know, that are contrary to God.

That are at enmity with God. Then listen to that spirit of conviction and turn from your sin and be holy. Hebrews chapter 12 tells us that God disciplines the one he loves. The son whom he receives, he chastises.

It's good.

It's good that you feel this conviction and this guilt over this sin. What's even better is that you turn from it to Christ and you go and sin no more. God disciplines us as his children. And so that precious promise that we have in 1 John 1, 9.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to what? Forgive us our sins and what else? Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In the same book that we quoted from already this morning. How great the love of God that he has lavished upon us.

That we should be called the children of God. And so we are. And so we've read about our new obligation as followers of Jesus. Second part of this passage we look at today. We read of our new position.

Sons and Daughters of God

So verses 14 to 17. For all who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God. We are now part of the family of God. And there are many who will wish to claim that everyone is a child of God. Oprah Winfrey has said we are all God's children.

God has a plan for us all. We all share in God's love. Martin Luther King Jr. had preached. Every man is somebody because he is a child of God. The previous Pope. Pope Francis said that every human is a son or daughter of God.

Including people of other faiths. Former President Barack Obama said we are all God's children. The Dalai Lama has said all human beings are children of God. And I hate to break it to you. I know everyone who knows his name loves this guy.

But even Mr. Rogers has said I believe that every person is a child of God. And that God loves each one exactly as they are. Now that may sound beautiful in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. But that's not what the Bible says.

Now on the one hand it is true that every person has been made in the image of God. But that's altogether different than being called a child of God. We were made in his image. But what did we read about in Romans chapter 3?

That in our sin we become worthless. We took the beautiful image that we were made in. And we desecrated it with our sin. And we are worthy to be destroyed and perish in hell forever. Is God going to send his children to hell?

No.

So there is an altogether different distinction between one who is made in the image of God. And one who is a child of God. You know that in John 8 Jesus confronted those Jews who claimed to be we're children of Abraham.

And in so saying they were claiming that we get all the inheritance. We get eternal life just because we're children of Abraham. And what did Jesus say to them? You are of your father the devil. And your will is to do your father's desires.

In our responsive reading this morning we quoted mostly from 1 John. It's in chapter 3 verse 10 that we read. By this it is evident who are the children of God. And who are the children of the devil. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.

Nor is the one who does not love his brother. Now that doesn't mean that loving others makes us children of God. But rather if we are the children of God we will love one another. Only a follower of Jesus has been adopted into the family of God.

And has been made a child of God. And so now as his children we love because he first loved us. And don't you desire to please your father in heaven? Do you desire to please your father? I had the wonderful privilege growing up of working for my dad.

Now that was not always easy. The accusation of nepotism was always thrown around the office. But my dad actually worked me harder than he worked any of his other employees. And I'm grateful for it. Now there was one day that my dad said to me.

This was when I was pretty close to ending my time in Christian radio. And I was actually moving into the ministry. Into church ministry. And he said to me that you know of all the employees that I ever had.

Every single one of them complained about their hours and their salary. Except one. And he said you. And he was saying that to me as though to hear from my earthly father. Well done good and faithful servant.

Recently with the busyness that we've been in. And different things that have been going on in the life of our church. One of the elders had said something to Becky about. It's amazing how Gabe is just bearing the load and taking it.

I don't hear him complain about any of it at all. And Becky said that's my husband. Now I want to say here. I'm not standing here to share that story. To toot my own horn. Because when she told me that she said that.

My immediate response to that was. If only I complained a lot less at home. I mean I appreciated the praise from my wife. But it was also convicting. Because I knew that my attitude at home was not the same.

As what everybody else had been seeing. But that itself. That's a conviction of the spirit. That's something that I need to put to death. That I may exhibit the joy of Christ in my life. Even to my children.

As much as I would exhibit it to anybody else. Or more than I would even exhibit it to anybody else. These are the ways that we are disciplined by our father in heaven. And we desire to please our father.

Who is in heaven. Our lives should look like we are God's children. And if you live like the world. You live like the devil. Then Satan is still your father. But if you live like Jesus. If you follow his word.

If you obey his commands. You show that your father is God. Again from 1 John chapter 5 verses 1 and 2. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. And everyone who loves the father loves whoever has been born of him.

By this we know that we love the children of God. When we love God and obey his commandments. And so here in Romans chapter 8 going on to verse 15. 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. And remember what I said earlier about the person who still lives according to the flesh. That person still lives in fear.

They are in fear of being found out. They are in fear of judgment. They're like Adam and Eve in the garden having just sinned. They sow fig leaves together to hide their nakedness. Covering themselves.

And then they literally try to hide from God. And God comes walking through the garden. Cannot find Adam and Eve. So he calls out where are you? And in the worst game of hide and seek in history. Adam calls out from his hiding place.

And says I heard you coming. But I hid from you because I was naked. It was like instinctively. Adam knows I can't hide from God but I'm going to do it anyway. Fight or flight or flee. And Adam is fleeing.

But as we have considered in Romans if we are in Christ we're not like our father Adam. We have nothing to fear of the judgment of God. We know that by Christ's death on the cross for our sins. Raised again for our justification.

By faith in him the wrath of God is no longer on us. We are not the objects of his judgment. But we are the recipients of his love and his mercy. More than just wiping out our sins or forgiving about our sins.

That would be great enough. But God has gone above and beyond that. He has made us his sons and his daughters. And as we also read here in this passage. We have been made fellow heirs with Christ. Look again at verse 17.

And if children then heirs. Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. Provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. As being fellow heirs with Christ that means. My brethren we get all the stuff the king gets.

He shares it with us. And so understanding again how great the love the father has lavished upon us. That we should be called the children of God. Now this last portion of this verse 17. We suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified in him.

That's something we're going to get into next week. For look at verse 18 just kind of tease the next sermon. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time. Are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

So we will continue to consider what this means to suffer with Christ. Even in this present life. But as I kind of wrap this up. I want to I want to give you this illustration. Imagine that you are 20 years old.

Okay for some of you that won't be too hard. You're right around that age 20. For others of you you have to go way way back. To think of yeah somebody's silencing me. And don't remind me how far back I got to go.

But just imagine you're 20. Some of you are looking forward to 20. Many of you are looking back on 20. And others of you can't even remember what 20 felt like. But in order for this illustration to work.

I think it's better for us to just all go back to the same age. So let's say that you have a very wealthy and very wise relative. And more than just being wealthy and wise. This relative is a prophet.

And your relative calls you to visit him. And he says to you. 20 is going to be a great age for you. In fact you're going to have a great decade. You're going to get married this decade. You will have your first children.

And everyone is going to be of great health. You will advance in your career. You will be financially stable. Indeed you will know that this is the blessing of God. So be thankful to him for all the wonderful blessings.

That he's going to give to you in your 20s. But after that things are going to get more difficult. You're going to go through a few jobs. You're going to face trials in your marriage. You will weep for your children.

You will experience times of depression and health complications so difficult. You will feel like you have received the sentence of death. But I tell you no matter how hard things get. You won't die. Trust in the Lord and he will sustain you.

Thank him for even these moments too. And as difficult as these next couple of decades will be. When you reach the age of 55 I am going to die. Your relative will tell you. And I'm going to leave behind for you an inheritance of 500 million dollars.

And you will never have to worry about money ever again. For the rest of your prosperous life. Now if someone were to prophesy something like that for you. Though you are a young and immature 20 years old.

Would that change the way that you live your life? Would you have a sense of hope every single day that you wake up? Yeah things are going to get really hard. But you know I'm not going to die. And there's this incredible reward waiting for me.