7.31.13 — Our Abba Father

Romans 8:12-17

So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “ Abba, Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and co- heirs with Christ — seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

We are obligated to live according to the spirit by putting to death the deeds of the flesh. We are empowered to do this because we have been adopted as God’s children.

Isn’t it interesting that before we be become Christians we are obligated to live according to the demands of the law. If we do not, we are guilty and deserve eternal punishment. After conversion we still have an obligation to live according to the law, yet no guilt remains for our disobedience any longer. We saw yesterday that those who set their mind on the flesh are those who “do not submit to God’s law.” Our Pastor says something like this: “the law drives the unbeliever to the cross of Christ; Jesus then points the individual back to the law so that they may learn how to live a pleasing life to God.” The couple of things that are different now as a Christian is God gives us his Holy Spirit to be our helper. Also we are now adopted children who will never suffer under the weight of guilt for our disobedience.

Guilt drives the sinner to Christ. The new Christian looks back to the law and seeks to live according to it out of love to God for our forgiveness. The Christian has a new Daddy…our Abba Father.

• Explain the non-believers relation to the law.
• Explain the believers relation to the law.