A debtor (2)

[Romans 8:12-17]

How should we live as debtors?

First, as debtors, we must not live according to the sinful nature.

In a word, as debtors, we should not live according to the sinful nature (Rom. 8:12). We must live by putting to death the misdeeds of the body by the Spirit of Christ (v. 13).  We must live as servants of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God (v. 14), obeying God's laws (commands).  The Scripture says that these Christians are “sons of God” (v. 14).

Second, as debtors, we must live like children of God.

Look at Romans 8:16 – “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.”  What does it mean to live like children of God?

• God’s children call God “Abba, Father.”

Look at Romans 8:15 – “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”  Last week, while I was at home preparing a sermon with the door locked, my youngest daughter, Karis, knocked on the door.  I said to her ‘I am busy and would not open the door.’  Then she pushed the card through the gap under the door.  So, after she left the door, I opened the envelope and read the card inside.  On the cover, she wrote “Friend” referring to me, and then wrote “I love you Dad”.  And when I looked at the contents of the card, she drew a picture that I was sitting in a chair in front of my desk, and she drew a computer in front of me.  Perhaps my child imagined and drew me preparing a sermon.  She wrote a note on the picture.  She wrote with her regretful feeling, saying, ‘My dad is so nice to me.  I love him and I really want to help him, but I can’t help him.’   Haha.  When I read Karis wrote “I love you Dad” and saw her drawing of me, I felt a little bit how much my daughter loves me as a father in her own way.  At that time, my heart was grateful and happy.  I thought about how Heavenly Father would feel.  Because Jesus Christ died on the cross and was resurrected, those who believe in Jesus no longer have the spirit of sin within us (cf. Jn. 8:34-36) but have received the spirit of adoption (Rom.8:15).  Now, as children of God, we cry out to God, “Abba, Father.”  I think about how Heavenly Father will feel.  In particular, I imagine how happy our Heavenly Father will be when we go to God and say ‘Abba, Father, I love you with all my heart and soul’ and obey His commandments (Jn. 14:21).  However, if we, who believe in Jesus and have the spirit of adoption, the Holy Spirit, dwells in us, still enslaved to sin as we were in our old self, and thus we are living in fear of judgment and death, how will our Heavenly Father feel?  Although our old self died on the cross with Jesus, if we are still living the life of the old self, committing the same sins over and over and not enjoying a life freed from sin, how would Heavenly Father feel?  We will grieve God the Holy Spirit and our Heavenly Father.  As debtors, we are those who are guided by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.  As God's children, we no longer receive the spirit of slavery but rather the spirit of adoption.  Therefore, we cry out to God, “Abba, Father,” with total trust in Heavenly Father.

• The testimony of the Holy Spirit appears in the life of living like children of God.

Look at Romans 8:16 – “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”  Indeed, how does the Holy Spirit who dwells in us testify that we are God's children in our lives, who have become God's children by believing in Jesus?  According to Pastor John MacArthur, the Roman custom at the time of Paul required seven reputable (respected) witnesses for adoption to be legally binding (MacArthur).  God has adopted us as His adopted children, and the one who proves this fact is the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.  How the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, proves that we are children of God by bearing the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) and supplying the necessary power for our spiritual service (Acts 1: 8) (MacArthur).  If we are children of God, surely the Holy Spirit bears (inwardly) the fruits of the Spirit, 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control' (Gal. 5:22-23) and the fruit will appear through our lives.  Also, the Holy Spirit inwardly sanctifies us and makes us holy.  Therefore, true children of God must have the work of sanctification of the Holy Spirit appear in their lives.  Also, if we are children of God, the Holy Spirit will give us power to do the will of our Heavenly Father.  For example, the Holy Spirit will make us do the work of spiritual service through us, such as preaching the gospel and doing good deeds, which is the will of Heavenly Father.

• God's children suffer with Christ.

Look at Romans 8:17 – “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”  Those who believe in Jesus are not only children of God, but also heirs of God.  Here, “heir” means “one who will receive an inheritance” (Park).  Then, what is the inheritance that you and I, the children of God, will receive?  It is eternal life.  Look at Titus 3:7 – “so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  And the inheritance we, as children of God, will receive is “the glory of God” (Rom. 5:2).  As those who receive these amazing blessings, the Scripture says that we must suffer together with Christ.  Why?  Why do we have to suffer?  The reason is to be glorified with Christ (v. 17).  We must suffer together with Christ on earth in order to enjoy the glory of resurrection and a glorious eternal life in heaven (Park).

I hope and pray that all of us, as debtors, do not live according to the sinful nature, but, like children of God, cry out to God, “Abba, Father,” experience the testimony of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and receive the suffering with joy in order to be glorified together with Christ.