Some Key Words (9/24/00-9/25/00)

Under obligation (opheiletes [3781]):

a debtor, an offender, trespasser, one who is obliged to repay or be punished; one who owes another, one bound by some duty or obligation, one who has not yet made amends, one who owes God a penalty; a person indebted, a delinquent, a transgressor against God

Flesh (sarx [4561]):

flesh, human body, man, the infirmity of human nature, the corrupt nature of man with his appetites and passions, temporal advantages; the sensuous, animal nature of man with its incitement to sin, the earthly nature of man apart from God's influence, and opposed to God; the body as opposed to the soul or spirit, human nature with its physical and moral weaknesses and passions

Live (zao [2198]):

to live, to be alive naturally , spiritually, and / or eternally, a particular manner of living; to be among the living, to enjoy real life that is worthy of being called life, to be active and blessed in the kingdom of God, a manner of living and behaving, to be fresh, strong, and efficient; to live

Die (apothnesko [599]):

to die away, to die a natural death, to be as one dead with regard to something; to die a violent death, to perish by means of something, to be subject to eternal misery in hell; to die off

Spirit (pneuma [4151]):

breath, wind, spirit, the immaterial part of man, the seat of perception, reflection, and feeling, the character, the moral quality, the Holy Spirit, the new life; a wind, a breath, the vital principal of life, the rational spirit, the power of feeling and thinking, the soul, the Spirit of God or Christ, the Holy Spirit, the efficient source of our power, affection, emotion, and such; a spirit, a rational soul, mental disposition, a divine spirit, the Holy Spirit

Deeds (praxis [4234]):

a mode of acting, a deal, the doings of the apostles, a wicked deed, a thing to be done; practice or act, a function

Led (ago [71]):

to lead along, lead gently and without violence, to carry, to drag away by force, to lead, rule, govern, to entice; to take with one, to lead by laying hold of, to lead as an animal is led, to lead by accompanying, to bring, to lead away to a court of justice, to guide and direct, to lead through to something, to impel and move the mind by influence; to lead, bring, drive, go, pass time, induce

Sons (huios [5207]):

son, as one related to the parent, displaying the moral characteristics of the parent, legitimate offspring, those who show their maturity by acting as sons should act; a son, a descendant, of the posterity of any one, a dependant, follower, or pupil, one whom God esteems as a son, whom He protects and benefits, those whose character God the Father has shaped by His loving chastisements, those who revere God as father, who trust in Him as their Father, united to Him in affectionate intimacy and privy to His saving councils, obedient to the Father's will in all one's acts; a son

Received (lambano [2983]):

to take, to receive; to lay hold of in order to use, to take upon oneself, to remove, take away, to make one's own, to claim, to seize, to catch, to take possession of, to strive to obtain, to collect, to admit, to not reject, to choose, select, to receive what is given, to get, obtain; to take, get hold of

Slavery (douleia [1397]):

servitude, dependence, the state of being prevented from freely possessing and enjoying life; the condition of a slave, bondage; slavery

Fear (phobos [5401]):

fear; dread, terror, reverence and respect for one's husband; alarm or fright

Adoption (huiothesia [5206]):

receiving into the relationship of a child, to place as a son; the relationship God established with the Israelites, the condition of Christ's true disciples; the placing as a son, adoption

Bears witness with (summartureo [4828]):

to bear joint witness; to testify jointly, corroborate by evidence

Children (teknon [5043]):

child, one begotten; offspring, children, one sharing in a relationship with equivalent bonds of love, friendship, and trust such as is found between parent and child, pupil or disciple of a particular teacher, one possessed by a desire for someone or something, one liable to a particular fate, ones who have wisdom, ones cursed by God's anger; a child as produced (as opposed to a child by character trait)

Heirs (kleronomos [2818]):

one who holds a lot in his power, the legal heir or inheritor; one who receives by lot, one who receives his possession by right of sonship, one who has acquired the portion allotted to him; a sharer by lot, an inheritor, a possessor

Fellow heirs (sugkleronomos [4789]):

one who participates in the same lot, a joint heir, a personal equality based on the equality of possession; one who obtains what is assigned to himself with others; a co-heir, a participant in common

Suffer with (sumpascho [4841]):

to suffer together with; to feel pain together, to suffer persecutions in the like manner with another; to experience pain jointly, or of the same kind

Be glorified with (sundoxazo [4888]):

to glorify together; to approve together, to join in approving; to exalt to dignity in company with, or in a similar fashion to another

 

Paraphrase: (9/24/00)

12 We are no longer required to live as the flesh desires, 13 for such living must lead to dying. By contrast, if you are led by the Spirit, the body's desires are dying, and you will live. 14 All who are so led are sons of God. 15 For the Spirit does not lead you by enslaving fear, but by empowering adoption, such that we cry out "Daddy!" to our Father as true sons. 16 To this sonship, the Holy Spirit testifies to our spirit, 17 and knowing that we are His children, we know we are also His heirs along with Christ, if we suffer as He did, so that we may be glorified as He is.

Key Verse: (9/24/00)

8:16 - God, in the Holy Spirit, confirms to us that we are His children. What greater confidence can there be?

People Mentioned: (9/24/00)

N/A

Some Parallel Verses (9/25/00)

8:12
8:13

Col 3:5 - We ought to react as dead men to the lures of immorality, passion, greed, and other idolatrous pursuits.

8:14

Gal 5:18 - Those who follow the Spirit's lead are no longer bound by the curse of the Law. Hos 1:10 - God promises increase in Israel, and promises that a people not known as His will become known as His sons. Mt 5:9 - The sons of God are peacemakers. Jn 1:12 - By belief in Jesus' office as Christ and as Son of God, we were given rights to become children of God. Ro 9:8 - God's children come not according to fleshly lineage, but rather according to the lineage of His promise. Ro 9:26 - echoes of Hos 1:10. 2Co 6:18 - God promises His fatherhood to us as He declares us His sons and daughters. Gal 3:26 - Our sonship comes through faith in Christ. 1Jn 3:1 - In declaring us His children, the Father shows the greatness of His love for us. Rev 21:7 - His sons are overcomers, and in overcoming are inheritors.

8:15

2Ti 1:7 - God's spirit imparts power, love, and discipline, rather than fear and timidity. Heb 2:15 - Christ, in defeating Satan, has broken the power of death to hold us subject to sin's slavery by fear. Gal 4:5-6 - Christ redeemed us from the penalty of the Law to be adopted as sons of God, led by His Spirit. Mk 14:36 - Jesus cried out to His Father in praying in the garden, declaring that all things are possible to God, and submitting to His will fully. Gal 4:6 - The Spirit of God within us enables us to cry out to God as Father, as Daddy.

8:16

Ac 5:32 - The Holy Spirit is given to those faithful to God to witness to them in accord with the apostles. Hos 1:10 - The prophets attest that we who were not known as God's people will be known as sons of the living God. Mt 5:9, Jn 1:12, Ro 9:8, Ro 9:26, 2Co 6:18, Gal 3:26, 1Jn 3:1, Rev 21:8 - see 8:14.

8:17

Ac 20:32 - God's grace gives us an inheritance with the sanctified. Gal 3:29 - Those who belong to Christ are children of promise, and thus heirs according to Abraham's lineage. Gal 4:7 - We are no longer slaves, but rather sons and heirs of God. Eph 3:6 - The Gentiles are heirs along with the Jews - both joint heirs through the gospel of Christ. Ti 3:7 - We have been made heirs in hope of eternal life by the justification given us by His grace. Heb 1:14 - The angels are sent out to serve in ministering to those who will inherit salvation. Rev 21:7 - God's children are overcomers, and overcomers obtain the inheritance He gives. 2Co 1:5 - Suffering and comfort are both ours abundantly in Christ. 2Co 1:7 - As we share in the former, so we are assured of sharing in the latter. Php 3:10 - Paul prays to know Christ through the power of resurrection, the fellowship of suffering, and conformity to His death. Col 1:24 - In fact, he rejoiced in his sufferings, knowing that they would produce fruit for the kingdom. 2Ti 2:12 - As joint heirs, we will reign with Him if we endure. 1Pe 4:13 - We are to rejoice in being allowed to share in some degree of Christ's sufferings, knowing that we will be able to rejoice exceedingly when His glory is revealed.

 

New Thoughts (9/26/00)

What is it to be God's child? There's a pretty good description of His children in the combination of verses we have here. Ro 8:14, Gal 4:6 - We are led by His Spirit. Hos 1:10 - We are known as His sons (we don't hide it away.) Mt 5:9 - We are peacemakers. Ro 9:8 - We are children of promise, lineage is of no account. 2Co 6:18 - Our Father is a father of promise, Dad by His own unbreakable word. Rev 21:7 - We are overcomers. Gal 4:7, Eph 3:6, Ti 3:7, Rev 21:7 - We are heirs of God. It is by the Holy Spirit that we can have confidence in who we are. It is His testimony to our spirit that informs us of the truth of our estate. It is His testimony that corroborates the teachings of the apostles, confirming to us that Scripture is true. It is His testimony to our spirit that ought to guide, to lead us in our studies, in our prayers, in our actions. We are to be known as peacemakers, as those who bring God's truth to bear on the situations we face. That this is our heritage pretty well ensures that we will have to face trials and sufferings, such as Christ did. We are to overcome. How shall we overcome if we never face a challenge? Of what meaning is overcoming without the suffering required in its course? How impressive is it to watch a trained athlete win a footrace against a bunch of six year olds? It isn't, because we know there was no challenge and no contest. But the athlete who can pull out ahead in a strong lead from a field of equally well-trained and fit athletes…now we recognize that some effort has been required. We know in some degree the training that such an effort has required. We understand that much sweat and pain had to be endured in the training for this athlete to so surpass his peers in the end. This is the object of overcoming. It is our training. It is our sweating out, our hurting, that produces perseverance in us. There can be no perseverance without something to be endured. As we persevere, as we come to be consistent in bringing peace to the situation rather than furthering frustration, we will make evident to those around us who our Father is. We will move from being mere children and offspring to being sons by character, trained up in and displaying the ways of our Father.

We are heirs of God. We are told so here and elsewhere. I asked what that meant, and I would like now to put some definitions back into verse 17, because I see some insight developing there:

And if we are possessed by a desire for God, we have acquired our allotted portion, received our possession by right of sonship to God, and we have obtained what is assigned to us with Christ, if indeed we experience pain jointly with Him in order that we may also be exalted to dignity in company with Him.

Now, the particular definitions I have chosen for the words may not be the most precise fit for this particular verse, but I see something of significance emerging when I view the passage with these shades of meaning on. As His children, we are possessed by an unquenchable desire for God. I need look no further than my daughter to see what this means. Whenever I have to depart the house, there's a small breaking of her heart. She's ever there waving as I drive off to work, she's there tugging the car door open when I return. She just wants to be with me in whatever I happen to be doing. She just wants more of my attention. This is how God's children see Him. They can't stand the thought of His leaving to go somewhere without them. This was Moses' cry in the desert. This is the heart of God's people. "Daddy, don't go without me. Stay here with me. Can we do something together? Anything, I don't care. What do You want to do Daddy?" And, if we have felt Him depart from us, if we have lost our grasp on His presence, oh the joy when we sense His return! "You're home! Oh, I've missed You." God, I'm not there yet, but I feel it coming. I'm coming to that hunger, oh Lord, and I pray that You fan it to a higher flame, that You build it to a higher hunger that can never get enough of You, can never tire of Your presence. I know You are always with me, for You have promised me this. But it hurts so when I realize I've forgotten You there beside me. It hurts to realize that I've let You go again, and I just want to reach out and hold You the more.

Now, there's a promise put forth here. When we come to that place of desire, when our love of God so possesses us that nothing else really matters, we are promised that we will acquire our portion in Him, we are promised that we will obtain what is assigned to us with Christ, we are promised that our share in the presence of God, in His dwelling with us will be obtained. There was a note in one of the definitions of heir that pointed out that the heir was the one who had already acquired his inheritance. We, as heirs of God, as His children, have already acquired the inheritance of His abiding presence. We have already acquired the inheritance of His salvation, His grace, His promise. All that Scripture has laid out in promise, from the promise to Abraham to the promises of Revelation. These are ours! We have acquired them. They cannot be taken from us, for we already have them in possession with Christ! Our share is His share, and His share is ours. If we are in joint possession of our inheritance, and we know that nothing that God gave Jesus was or is lost, we can be confident that we will remain in possession of what God has given us! Father, Daddy, help me to remember this confidence when trials come. Help me to remember my rights as Your child, to remember who I am in Your eyes. Help me to remember who occupies this property of Yours with me, that You are here with me, standing my ground beside me. Oh God, help me to stand firm, knowing You are there beside me at every step. How quickly and easily I seem to forget. How often I lay down my arms and just allow things to run over me. And yet You are there, feet planted to either side of me, protecting me in my weakness. Lord, You've given me the weapons and the armor to stand. I thank You that You've watched over me when I failed to do so, but I pray that You would empower me to stand as ordered, to fight on when the battle rages and not run, to overcome! It is Your desire and Your promise, help me to hold on to it.