In previous verses, Paul taught that the Holy Spirit will give eternal life to those who place their trust in the identity and work of Christ (Christians).
Paul then says that because of this, Christians have an obligation to God to not settle into a selfish, “sarx” way of living. (See previous weeks for more on “sarx”.) (v.12)
Living this way ultimately results in death, as we saw in previous verses. But if we live life on the same page as God’s Spirit, we will put to death the sin clinging to our lives and gain spiritual vitality in exchange. (v.13)
Everyone who is letting God’s Spirit govern their life is a “son” of God. The Greek word for son here is “Huios”, and refers not just to offspring, but to a child that reflects the attributes of their parent. Allowing the Holy Spirit to govern the way we live results in lives that more and more mirror the character of God. (v.14)
Consider this for a second. Becoming a Christian, someone who places their earthly and eternal life in the hands of Jesus, is not signing up for slavery. It’s not a band-aid or something to simply fill that “spiritual slot” in your life. It’s a journey of transformation, in which real change comes about that you can look back on and be encouraged by. A life in which you are more than just a servant of God, but his adopted child!
The Christian life, despite involving growing obedience to God, is not a life of slavery and burden. It is not a life lived in fear of God’s condemnation or judgment. It’s a life in which we have been adopted by God and can approach him as easily as a child calling out “daddy” to their father. (“Abba” is of Aramaic origin and is the equivalent of “dada” or “daddy”.) (v.15)
As Christians spend more time with God and learning from the Bible, God’s Spirit will make this reality more and more clear to them individually. (v.16)
Another mind-blowing part of this truth is that Christians become “heirs” of God in the same way that Christ himself is an “heir” of God. Everything (as in, EVERYTHING) belongs to Christ, and Christians are co-heirs with Christ and will enjoy and possess all that God creates forever!
Before then, however, there will be suffering in our lives. Jesus lived a perfect life and the world brought him tremendous pain in reaction to it. As we aim to live lives like his, pain is a natural result of sin existing in the world. But even the pain and suffering we experience will be recognized, honored and compensated for. This is what is meant by being “glorified” with Christ. (v.17)
Next Week- The Best Life Now Means Looking Toward The Future
Coffee House Question- What are the benefits of being God’s son or daughter instead of just his housekeeper?
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