“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” ~Apostle Paul

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Adoption, Apostle Paul Sayings, Child of God, Father, Good News, Heaven, Heir, Jesus, Romans 8, Slave

The Apostle Paul lays out a basic premise of The Way (της οδου). We are children of God and more importantly, heirs to the new testament (aka covenant, agreement or plan).

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with the Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” ~Apostle Paul | Romans 8:12-17 NASB

It is important to know who I am not. I am not a slave and I don’t naturally have a spirit of fear. I am living by the Spirit of God. God is good. God is in a good mood. God wants the best for me and he has prepared a place for me. I am not a slave.

It is important that I know who I am in God. God has adopted me. I am a child of God. Children are so very different than slaves. Being a child doesn’t mean we sit around eating bon bons while the servants wait on me. I am subject to learning how to work, being disciplined and punished, and growing up. Now this is some very good news.

I am a heir to all that our wonderful Father has stored up for me. I am a heir with Jesus, the Messiah. I am in full-standing with God.

I am not immune from suffering. Jesus, the very Son of God, suffered. God is clear that as a child of God, I will suffer. By enduring the suffering, Jesus proved he was the obedient Son of God. I must admit that I don’t like to suffer. It doesn’t seem fair at all. But that isn’t the way of Jesus. I must get over this “it isn’t fair” attitude.

There is a point to suffering, namely glorification. Jesus is the first fruit of glorification. After his suffering, Jesus was raised from the dead. Jesus ascended to heaven and sits in control at the right hand of God. The end game of suffering is glorification with Jesus. Now that is some good news.

Jesus has been fully glorified. The end game of our inheritance is glorification. The Greek word for glorification is συνδοξάζω. It is only used once in the New Testament. It means to be exalted to the same glory to which Christ has been raised. That is my future that I have great hope for.