Those Who Are Led by the Holy Spirit (2)

[Romans 8:14-17]

Look at Romans 8:15: "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'" There are various interpretations of what or who the "spirit of bondage" and "spirit of adoption" refer to, but they can be summarized in three theories: (1) The "spirit of bondage" or "spirit of adoption" refers to our human spirit, (2) The "spirit of bondage" is an evil spirit, and the "spirit of adoption" is the Holy Spirit, (3) Both the "spirit of bondage" and the "spirit of adoption" refer to the Holy Spirit. I support the third theory, that both the "spirit of bondage" and the "spirit of adoption" refer to the Holy Spirit, because there are many biblical verses that support this view.

When we look at the Bible, we see that the "spirit of bondage" (v. 15) also refers to the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit descended, the disciples of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Among them, the apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached the gospel (Acts 2:14-36). The reaction of the audience that heard this gospel was: "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 2:37). This is the work of the "spirit of bondage" (Romans 8:15), which is the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit filled the apostle Peter and caused him to preach the gospel, the 3,000 people who heard the gospel (Acts 2:41) were convicted of the sin of crucifying Jesus, and in fear, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37).

Peter responded, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:38-39). As a result, the 3,000 people repented, believed in Jesus, were baptized, and became believers (Acts 2:41). Thus, the "spirit of bondage," the Holy Spirit, worked to reveal their sins, bring them to repentance, and cause them to believe in and receive Jesus.

In Acts 7:54, we see the reaction of the crowd to Stephen's sermon. They, too, heard the word through Stephen and were convicted in their hearts. However, unlike the 3,000 believers, they did not say, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Instead, "they gnashed at him with their teeth" (Acts 7:54). Since the Holy Spirit, the "spirit of bondage," did not work in them, they angrily rushed at Stephen, dragged him out of the city, and stoned him to death in a great act of wickedness (Acts 7:57-58). At that time, Saul (who later became Paul) also joined them in stoning Stephen to death (Acts 7:58).

Before Saul (Paul) received the "spirit of bondage" from the Holy Spirit, he committed many sins. Look at Acts 8:1, 3 and 9:1-2: "Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles... Saul made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison... Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem."

What about us? Are we, through the "spirit of bondage" of the Holy Spirit, recognizing the sins of our past, repenting, receiving the Lord, and abiding in faith? If we have not yet done so, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will come to us, convict us of our sins, lead us to repentance, and cause us to receive Jesus as our Lord.

The Bible tells us that the "spirit of adoption" (Romans 8:15) also refers to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works through the spirit of adoption. How can we, sinners who were once enemies of God, become adopted children of the Holy God? It is made possible by God the Father. Let's look at Romans 8:3-4: "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

Not only has God the Father made us adopted children, but He also sent the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of adoption to regenerate us, to cause us to cry out to God the Father, “Abba, Father” (v. 15), and to make us heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (v. 17).

Look at Galatians 4:6: “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

We have become children of God, crying out to God the Father, “Abba, Father,” through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption. Therefore, we should obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit and cry out to God the Father, “Abba, Father,” but we must do so in the same way that the Son, Jesus Christ, cried out.

Let’s look at Mark 14:36: “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.’”

Thus, we too must live lives of obedience, just like Jesus, fulfilling the will of the Father, “Abba, Father.” Such a life is a happy Christian life, full of gratitude, joy, peace, and power.