Reading: Rom 8:14-18
Text: Rom 8:15-16
Introductory Thoughts
* We have been, for some time now, discussing the reality of Biblical salvation, contrasted with the traditional idea of “say the words and you are saved.”
* Believe it or not, this idea of “say the words and you are saved,” has a real theological name: it is called fideism, and also sometimes called assensus, and it has a long theological history—in Roman Catholicism.
*There was a Protestant cult in England in the 1700s and 1800s that taught the same thing, they were called “Sandemanians,” or “Glasites.”
* My favorite name for this heresy, however, is “easy-believism,” because that term best conveys the main error. The problem is, that those who teach this idea think that believing is easy, that it is easily within the grasp of lost men and women. Nothing could be further from the Truth.
* Faith is simple, but it is not easy, because those who need to believe in Christ for salvation have one huge problem—they are dead in trespasses and sins, and only a jolt from heaven, only conviction by the Holy Spirit, only the power of God can call them forth from their spiritual tombs.
* Saying “I believe,” is easy; having some degree of intellectual faith, admitting there is a God, etc., that is easy. Hey, the Devil believes to that extent. The Devil knows for sure who Jesus is, and the Devil could mouth the words of a sinner’s prayer—it is within the power of any intelligent creature to do that—but the Devil is not saved and will not be saved.
* The question is the reality of salvation, knowing that God has done a work in your life and saved you. How are you to know this is really the case? Our text tonight explains to us how we are to know. God lets us know the reality of our salvation through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
1. Not the Spirit of Bondage—God as Judge vs. God as Father—15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear,
a. The Spirit of Bondage—the prime motivator of the lost person.
Eph 2:1-3 "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."
b. The Spirit of Bondage, the spirit of humanized works religion—
(1) Human religion is all about bondage.
Gal 4:8 “… when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
(2) Christ frees us from the bondage
Gal 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
c. The Spirit of Bondage to fear—the undeniable, often undefined, dread.
Heb 2:14-15 "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
(1) The bondage of mortality, of impending death
(2) Some ways the lost handle the dread bondage to death
(a) Human Religion
(b) Denial
(c) False Bravado—
“...Live fast, die young, and have a good-looking corpse…”
“…Looking death in the face…”
Yeah, like death is afraid of YOU.
(d) Resignation
(3) Death is the ruler of every lost man and woman. Death is their king. Death awaits them, ready to overwhelm them in everlasting defeat. They cannot avoid it, cannot really delay it, and cannot bear to think of it—but its reminders are all around us.
(4) And if you are lost and here tonight, death is your ruler, your king, and your destiny.
* Death awaits you with open arms.
* Death is patient, Death has all the time in the world
* Death waits to overwhelm you, to consume you, to conquer you.
* If you are lost tonight, you have no hope, no way of withstanding death. The best athlete cannot outrun it, the richest man cannot buy his way out of it, the smartest attorney cannot argue his way out if it. Death is the ultimate ruler of the lost.
* If you are lost tonight, when your time comes, Death will defeat you, and will usher you into an eternity of living death—separation from God and from all that is good, and there is nothing you can do about it from within your own resources.
* There is no part of death that is good news for the lost person.
d. “But don’t Christians die too? Yes, but death has no sting for the believer. There is no part of death that is bad news for a saved person.
(1) God’s People do NOT fear Death.
1 Cor 15:54-58 " 54 … "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
(2) Death, for the true believer in Christ, is a no-lose proposition.
** 2 Cor 5:1-9
(a) If we stay, we minister unto God and serve Him on Earth.
(b) If we Go, we minister unto God and serve Him in Heaven
(c) “But, I really am not serving God on Earth…” Then check yourself out, because the one you serve here is the one you will serve in eternity.
e. Really NO FEAR for God’s people.
2 Tim 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
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."
2. The Spirit of Adoption—but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
a. But—The Spirit of Adoption must be contrasted with the spirit of bondage, again to fear.
(1) You have not received that spirit of Bondage.
(2) Everything is therefore different for the believer.
(a) No fear of death
(b) No bondage to the world or human religion.
b. Adoption in the Bible—but you received the Spirit of adoption
(1) Moses was adopted by Pharaoh’s sister
(2) Esther was adopted by Mordecai
(3) Mephibosheth was adopted by David.
c. Adoption in Roman Times, and its meaning—but you received the Spirit of adoption
“…For some people today the concept of adoption carries the idea of second-class status in the family. In the Roman culture of Paul’s day however, an adopted child, especially an adopted son, sometimes had greater prestige and privilege than the natural children. According to Roman law, a father’s rule over his children was absolute. If he was disappointed in his natural sons’ skill, character, or any other attribute, he would search diligently for a boy available for adoption who demonstrated the qualities he desired. If the boy proved himself worthy the father would take the necessary legal steps for adoption. At the death of the father, a favored adopted son would sometimes inherit the father’s title, the major part of the estate, and would be the primary progenitor of the family name. Because of its obvious great importance, the process of Roman adoption involved several carefully prescribed legal procedures. The first step totally severed the boy’s legal and social relationship to his natural family and the second step placed him permanently into his new family. In addition to that, all of his previous debts and other obligations were eradicated, as if they had never existed. For the transaction to become legally binding, it also required the presence of seven reputable witnesses, who could testify if necessary, to any challenge of the adoption after the father’s death….(MacArthur, Romans)
d. Adoption itself is a legal declaration—“…you are my son…”
(1) Adoption happens at the same time as justification
John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:"
(a) Justification by faith—not acceptance, but faith
(b) Saving Faith defined
* Rom 10:8 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus confess = say the same thing. Agree with God about Who Christ is, and, by the way, with who YOU are…
* and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Faith—pistueo, trust in, adhere to, rely upon.
Heart faith—deep down faith. Not something which human beings can generate on their own.
*10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(c) Heart faith—something only God does.
Jer 17:9-10 ""The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart…”
Acts 16:14 "Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. …… The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul."
Acts 2:37 "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?""
Acts 8:36-37 "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.""
Eph 4:18 "having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;"
(d) So, saving faith involves agreement with God about Who Christ is (which means we must also agree about who we are), and heart faith in What The Father has done in Christ has done.
(2) Part of God’s Sovereign plan
Gal 4:4-5 "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Eph 1:4”… He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…"
Rom 8:29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."
(3) God’s eternal plan for us is more than just saving us from Hell
(4) God’s plan for us includes making us into the image of His Son, which goes beyond restoring what we lost in the Fall of Adam and Eve.
3. The Spirit’s Work in Adoption— Rom 8:15 "… by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
a. The Cry of the Heart—Rom 8:15 ".. by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father.""
Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!""
b. The Holy Spirit is the One who turns the declaration of adoption into an internal reality—16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
c. The Spirit Teaches us—What is it that the Spirit teaches us about adoption?
(1) We are now near to God, and He to us.
(a) Before Christ came into our lives, we were not near—
John 3:36 ""He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.""
Rom 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,"
Eph 2:11-12 "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh; who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands; 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
(b) A lost person has no basis to approach God, except salvation through Christ alone.
(2) There is a family relationship for the believer; the born again Christian can approach God.
Heb 7:19 "for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God."
Heb 10:18 "Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith..."
James 4:8 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
(3) In times of deepest need, we can go to Him, run to him, cling to Him. Rom 8:16 "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,"
Mark 14:34-36 "Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch." 35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.""
d. The Witness of the Spirit—The Witness of the Spirit is NOT merely a subjective “inner voice” that tells you that your salvation is secure.
(1) “I know I’m saved because God told me I am…” Maybe He did, and maybe He did not. Does God lie? Does God contradict Himself? If God saves a man or a woman, He begins to change them, He will chastise them, He will work in their life.
(2) Some will say, “But you must cooperate.” Yes you must, and God knows how to get you to cooperate—kind of the same way my earthly father had to adjust my attitude, only much more effective than even he was. And, if no desire exists within you to cooperate, you are not His anyway.
(3) “Brother Charley, where did you get the idea that God would act in that way?” The Bible—See Jonah, Peter, Paul, David, Job, Moses, etc. etc., etc.,
(4) “God told me I’m saved.” If there is no evidence in your life, if there is no change in your life, if there is no desire to really follow God in your life, somebody may have told you that you were saved—and somebody lied. (So it wasn’t God.)
(5) The Witness of the Spirit is NOT some supernatural sign to look for—tongues, fire, etc.
(6) The Witness of the Spirit is NOT merely some increased personal piety and religious emotion.
e. The Internal Witness of the Holy Spirit—not subjective things, but objective realities, desires, longings, new interests.
(1) A true desire for God, Godly Things, and God’s Word
Rom 8:15 "… by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father.""
Psa 73:25 "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You."
Psa 119:20 "My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times."
Isa 26:9 "With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."
1 Pet 2:2 "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,"
(2) A yearning for God’s Presence
Psa 42:1 "As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God."
(3) A tenderness to sin
Psa 51:3-4 "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest."
(4) A love for the fellowship of God’s people
Psa 122:1 "I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD.""
Psa 26:8 "LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells."
Psa 84:10 "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness."
f. The External Witness of the Holy Spirit
(1) Fruits of Repentance— Mat 3:7-8 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,"
(2) The contrite heart of the soul set free.
Psa 34:18 "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit."
Psa 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise."
Isa 57:15 "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Isa 66:2 "… on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word."
(3) The Fruit of the Spirit—new ways, new doings, new actions, new walk.
Gal 5:22-24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
Applications
1. How does God let you know that you are really saved?
a. Assurance is a thing of faith, but like faith, it is based on evidence—
2 Cor 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Heb 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
b. What is the evidence in your life?
2. For some, the evidence will be that God is working in your life—you can praise Him for that, and take comfort in that wonderful assurance.
3. For others, the case may be doubtful. You see some hopeful signs, but there are big problems—pray that God would work in your life to make your calling and election sure.
4. For still others, the evidence is sure, but it is sure that you are NOT a child of God. Tonight, God may have convicted you of your lost condition—come to Christ even now!
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