Romans 8: 15

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father””

Romans 8: 15

Know that “sons” here is an inclusive term, we are all welcome and adopted. The use of sonship speaks of the status conferred, it is not exclusionary in meaning. Rather, in a context and culture where the son was the most important, where males were of higher societal standing, Paul uses this image, this terminology to communicate the power and force of love God has for us. We receive a status that comes with standing and inheritance as we are adopted into His family.

In ancient Rome the practice of adoption was a public declaration of love, of honour, of inheritance. We read at Jesus’ baptism God speaking those words over Jesus. In this verse Paul is telling us that God speaks words of adoption over us.

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“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father””

Romans 8: 15

The contrasting ideas here show the difference, where we have come from, and where we are now in Jesus. We have been brought out of slavery and into the best relationship possible with the Father. Tom Wright in his Paul For Everyone, Romans commentary draws the parallel with the Exodus story. This verse calls for us to be aware of the desire to return to slavery, much like the Israelites wanting to return to Egypt. Unlike the Israelites we do not have pillars of cloud or fire, rather we have the Spirit living within us, strengthening us, and leading us.

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“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father””

Romans 8: 15

The use of the word “again” shows us that Paul sees our life before Jesus as one of slavery to fear. In Jesus, by His Spirit, we are adopted as sons.

As this verse starts with “For…”, we should read the chapter that leads to this point, after all Paul is summarising it for us here in verse 15. Paul is making a clear statement that in God, in following Him, and obeying His laws and commands we are not enslaved. Rather, we are adopted. We receive the Holy Spirit that testifies to this adoption and enables and empowers us to live for God. We are not slaves, we are beloved children.

Where once there was fear, now there is life and peace (verse 6).

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“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father””

Romans 8: 15

According to a preach I heard from Andrew Wilson some years ago, “Abba” is much like “Dada”. A name shouted in joy and excitement, with much enthusiasm. The sort of cry made by toddlers or small children seeing their Dad again. It speaks of a relationship of love and trust, a relationship of delight. When my kids were little and would run up to me in this way my response was always to sweep them up in my arms, hug them, kiss them, and swing them around in my own delight over them. How much more does God delight in us when we come to Him with the joy of just being with Him.

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“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father””

Romans 8: 15

God seeks and provides a way for us to have a relationship with Him. Here we have ‘not slave’, ‘sonship’, and ‘fatherhood’. We see the Spirit as a person, ‘by him’. God is looking for, and providing a way for the relationship to exist and flourish. This relationship is a gift - we received ‘the Spirit of sonship’, this is held in contrast to slavery. No-one paid to become a slave, people may have been able to buy themselves out of slavery, though that was rare. Here God is giving sonship as a gift - free to the receiver because Jesus has paid the price to redeem us from slavery to fear. This is what we see in the story of the prodigal son. The wayward son wants to become a slave, or servant, the father has a gift of forgiveness and sonship in store for him.

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“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father””

Romans 8: 15

The Spirit is given, we have received it. We have not earned it, or bought it. Our sonship, our adoption is at God’s expense not ours. Ephesians 2 speaks clearly of us being brought near and made members of God’s household - not servants but members. Paul is making the same point here in Romans.

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“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father””

Romans 8: 15

In Roman culture adoption was more common, and it was common at the highest levels of society (Moore, P Straight to the Heart of Romans, 2011, p.139). This adoption speaks more of the choice made by the adopting parent, and that is the choice we must allow to speak to us. God chose us, He is the one adopting and He looks at us and say “Yes, I choose you”

Sonship is also a daily reality. It is true every day. We don’t wake up one day and find it is not true. This was certainly true in Roman culture where adoption was a public declaration which could not be undone. Let’s come before our Abba, Father as sons everyday knowing that He chose us.