Adoption and Redemption I. Prayer II. Base Text: Romans 8:12-23 III. Context and Interpretation A. Context: Romans 8:1-11 1. No condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) 2. Jesus as means of redemption from law of sin and death (Romans 8:2-4) 3. Walking by Spirit, not by flesh (Romans 8:5-8) 4. Having the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:9-11) B. Living by the Spirit (Romans 8:12-13) 1. Debtors not to walk by flesh 2. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: bought with a price 3. Contrast: walk by flesh and die, walk by Spirit and live 4. Speaking spiritually C. Adoption as Sons (Romans 8:14-18) 1. Those led by the Spirit also considered sons of God 2. Sonship here by adoption 3. Not the spirit of slavery, but spirit of adoption 4. cf. Romans 6:13-18 5. Cry of “Abba, Father!” 6. “Abba” as very personal term for one’s father, indicates closeness of relationship we should have with God 7. Spirit bearing witness with our own spirit that we are God’s children 8. If children, then heirs, if we suffer (cf. 1 Peter 2:20-24) 9. Suffering not comparable to what we will obtain (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18) D. Redemption of the Body and Creation (Romans 8:19-23) 1. Creation as subjected to futility 2. Genesis 3:17-19 3. Looks forward to being unshackled from futility 4. 2 Peter 3:9-12 5. “Groaning as in childbirth” 6. 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 7. Groan inwardly as we await adoption, redemption of our bodies 8. 1 Corinthians 15:1-55 IV. Application A. Great encouragement for the believer in these passages B. Importance of Righteous Living (Romans 8:12-13) 1. We have these promises of no condemnation if we walk by the Spirit 2. But we must walk by the Spirit! 3. Romans 6:13-18 4. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Galatians 5:17-24 C. Sonship Through Adoption (Romans 8:14-15) 1. Parable of prodigal son sees a believer as a wayward son who returns (Luke 15) 2. Different images for different purposes! 3. Adoption: act of grace, unmerited, places one in legitimate family relationship 4. Better future than past 5. Sense in which adoption as future: resurrected body always with the Lord (cf. Romans 8:23) 6. Thanks be to God! D. Abba Father (Romans 8:16) 1. Taken to extreme by some, calling God “Daddy” 2. Yet the idea remains that God is not to be considered distant and cantankerous! 3. He represents the devoted and loving Father who desires a strong and close relationship with His children! 4. Consider Hebrews 12:5-11 E. Suffering and Glory (Romans 8:17-18) 1. Suffering as necessary for the Christian life 2. What is that doing in an encouraging passage? 3. Recognition of reality 4. Yet look at the next verse: reward greater than suffering 5. Something to hold on to! F. Subjection and Redemption (Romans 8:19-23) 1. A very puzzling passage for many reasons 2. What could it mean? 3. Creation subjected to futility in the Fall 4. With the cleansing of fire, possibility of new heavens and earth, renewal of creation (cf. 2 Peter 3:9-11, Revelation 21-22) 5. This “redemption” refers to the resurrection, since redemption from sin has already been accomplished in Jesus 6. In the resurrection, body no longer subjected to futility: transformed (cf. 1 Corinthians 15) 7. An encouraging message: all the futility and misery will end in redemption and eternity! G. May we all find adoption in Christ to obtain the redemption of the body on the final day! H. Invitation Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Romans 8:14). Paul used the imagery of adoption to explain how Christians inherit life in Christ. In the Roman world adoption meant to share in the inheritance of the estate of the adopter. Thus, even though we were alienated from God because of our sin, in Christ we are adopted into God's household. This adoption allows us to be reckoned as children of God, and thus inheritors of His eternal estate. We can know we are sons and daughters of God if we prove to be led by His Spirit. May we prove ever thankful for adoption in God through Christ in the Spirit! 2: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him (Romans 8:17). The Spirit of God testifies that we are sons of God, and heirs of God. The spirit of the Evil One would testify that we are broken failures, unworthy, incapable of standing before God. Thus we are to heed the Spirit of God, and not the spirit of the Evil One. We are reckoned as joint-heirs with Christ if we suffer in His name. The way of Jesus is the way of the cross; we cannot bypass Calvary on the road to Zion. May we endure suffering for the sake of Jesus so that we may obtain a share of His exaltation! 3: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward (Romans 8:18). The Christians in Rome were no doubt enduring trials and difficulties in their faith, as all faithful Christians do. Suffering in faith often leads to doubt. The most encouraging passages of Scripture are all written in the context of such suffering to provide appropriate perspective. Yes, Christians suffer in this life; yet those sufferings cannot be compared with the glory God will reveal to us. Such is not meant to minimize our suffering; instead, it maximizes the glory of God which He will bestow upon His people. Let us endure whatever trials may come confidently in faith, trusting in the greater beauty of God's glory which will be revealed to us! 4: And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23). Paul's meaning in Romans 8:19-23 is often contested and disputed, yet we can make sense of the general tenor of his message. He connects suffering with the groaning of the creation, subjected to futility and corruption on account of sin and death. Paul envisions the redemption not only of God's holy ones but also of the material creation on the final day. Christians may have adoption in God in Christ now, yet also yearn for the fullness of the adoption, the redemption of the body in the resurrection. This is our hope; it is the way. May we obtain the fullness of redemption on the day of resurrection through our commitment to the Lord Jesus and His Way!