September 17, “sons and daughters”
Romans 8:12-17
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 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!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 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.
Today, take a moment as a follower of Christ to focus on your “real” ID: your true identification in Christ. This genuinely defines you.
From Romans 8:12-17, there exists a verification of your identity as one who belongs to God. (This passage instructs us to recognize God’s work in our lives through the Holy Spirit, and our obligation to live according to the Spirit’s leading in our lives.)
The first description of your identity defines you as “spiritual”, verses 12-14 (meaning, not simply religious, but “of the Spirit of God.”) Paul announced, “we are not under obligation to the flesh”, because we are of the Spirit (verse 12). Because of the connection through the term, “so,” the meaning of verse 12 hinges on the previous verses (Romans 8:10-11):
But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because ofHis Spirit who lives in you.
You, dear friend, are not simply a physical being trying to live in the Spirit. You are indeed a spiritual being living in the physical. The Spirit of God resides in you. The physical body is dead because of sin (referencing the “soma” – the literal body), and though our physical bodies decay, there is another power at work: the Spirit that brings life. You have been reborn by a spiritual birth, “children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:13). Therefore, you are “spiritual” not because you are religious, but because “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you.” I pray this becomes for you more than merely a theological utterance. I hope that at this very moment you are truly living in the power of the Holy Spirit. For, your identity reflects the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in you. This is your real identity.
The second description of your identity defines you as adopted, verse 15. Notice that adoption is referenced here as the “Spirit of Adoption,” meaning “the Spirit as evidence of adoption.” So, because of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in you, you can be assured you belong to God. And you are more than simply a spiritual by-product. You have been reborn spiritually, and therefore you are a “son or daughter” of the Most High. You have been spiritually adopted. And by the Spirit, you are enabled to cry out, “Abba Father.” Galatians 4:6 reminds us that God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying, “Abba Father.” Adoption literally means “to place as sons” (Greek: huiothesia). While slaves may fear the masters, sons and daughters do not fear the father. Through your spiritual adoption, you are moved from slavery (fear) to adoption: full status as sons and daughters. John 1:12 announces that through Jesus you “are given the right to become children of God.” You are saved from sin and to your position as sons and daughters of God. And you therefore can cry out, “Abba Father.” In this phrase, “Abba,” the Aramaic and the Greek come together to make this statement one of pure intimacy and closeness, and a statement of extreme endearment. And because of your adoption, you can draw near unto God as children to a loving and perfect Father who is always present. So, you are indeed adopted. You are a child of God. This is your real identity.
Marty Johnson received a letter one day that announced, “welcome to the Ogike Dynasty! You come from a noble and prestigious family.” The letter explained that Johnson was in line to inherit the position of village chief from his biological father, John Ogike, the current chief of the Aboh Village in Nigeria. As a baby, due to a series of unfortunate events, Johnson had been separated from His father and raised in another culture by another family. After much research, the tribe found their long-lost heir. Having received the letter, Johnson flew to Nigeria to meet his family. He went from thinking he had no blood relatives to speak of, to a place of honor with his brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and of course, his father. One letter changed his life.
We have revived an even great letter (a divine announcement). It is known as the Gospel. And, by faith in Jesus, we become sons and daughters of God - forever as children of God. Do you understand the magnitude of this?!
This becomes your true identity forever. What an amazing identity!
Is your faith in Jesus? Have you received God’s gift of salvation through Christ our Lord? If so, you are spiritually born again, and you are a child of God. This represents who you are! This is indeed YOUR REAL ID!
Blessings.