“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba Father.’” - Romans 8:15
One of the marks of being a child of God is that you are led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14). There is a popular belief that everyone is a child of God because everyone was created by God. This is not true. There is a difference between being God’s creature and God’s child. So how do you become God’s child? Through adoption.
When we come to Jesus, we come as sinners in slavery to sin. Jesus died on the cross to free us from sin, but He doesn’t just free us and forgive us – He adopts us. Adoption is a legal act where one person takes the child of another person and makes that child his own. The adopted child is given the same legal position and privilege as if he were a natural child by birth.
The Greek word for adoption in Romans 8:15 is a combination of the words, “son” and “to place.” It literally means, “to place into a family as a son.” When we are born into the family of God it is through adoption. The moment we accept Christ we are given the Spirit of adoption. He did not free us to become slaves, but sons and daughters. Slaves obey their masters out of fear. Sons obey out of love. Slaves obey because they have to, but sons obey because they want to. Slaves are burdened by obedience; sons are blessed by obedience. Do you see the difference?
We, the children of God, are led by the Spirit of God because we have been adopted into the family of God. Now, we have the great privilege of calling God, “Father.” Up until the time of Christ, the only Jew in history to call God, “Abba” was Jesus. It literally means, “Daddy.” No Jew would have dared to address God in this casual manner. As Christians, we have an intimate relationship with God just like a child to a father. We are no longer slaves but chosen children.
Father, thank You for giving me the Spirit of adoption so that I can call You, “Abba Father.” Help me to fully understand this privilege. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Topics: Holy Spirit
