Your May 26th Expository Sermon

The Spirit of Adoption and Inheritance (Romans 8:12-17)

Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

Sermon Outline: The Spirit of Adoption and Inheritance (Romans 8:12-17)

Introduction:

In Romans 8:12-17, Paul unveils the stark transformation from living under the flesh's dominance to embracing life in the Spirit, marking believers as God's children. This passage reassures us of our new identity and prompts us to embody the virtues of this profound spiritual reality.

I. Spirit's Summons to Life (Romans 8:12-13)

• Debt to the Spirit: "So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh" (Romans 8:12, ESV). Paul starts by asserting our obligation is to the Spirit, not our sinful past. This is not a burdensome debt but a joyful duty to forsake old, destructive habits.

• Living through the Spirit: "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13, ESV). Paul contrasts the outcomes of succumbing to the flesh versus thriving through the Spirit. Active denial of sin and pursuit of righteousness under the Spirit’s influence results in true, vibrant life.

II. Spirit's Seal of Sonship (Romans 8:14-15)

• Guidance of the Spirit: "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:14, ESV). Being led by the Spirit is a defining trait of God’s children, signaling a relational rather than coercive guidance.

• Adopted by the Spirit: "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’" (Romans 8:15, ESV). The Spirit of adoption replaces fear with intimate familial bonds, allowing us to address God with the deep affection and confidence of a child to a loving father.

III. Spirit’s Assurance of Inheritance (Romans 8:16-17)

• Witness of the Spirit: "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16, ESV). This internal testimony of the Holy Spirit provides unshakeable assurance of our identity as God’s children.

• Inheritance as Heirs: "And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him" (Romans 8:17, ESV). Our status as God’s heirs is both a privilege and a calling to embrace Christ’s sufferings as part of our journey toward glorification.

Conclusion:

Romans 8:12-17 compellingly recasts our understanding of what it means to live as God’s children, influenced by His Spirit and destined for glory. Let these truths about the Spirit’s role in our lives—summoning us to true life, sealing us in sonship, and assuring our inheritance—motivate us to live in a manner worthy of the calling we have received. Embrace this identity daily, let it shape your interactions, and hold fast to the hope it provides, for as children of the Most High, we are called to reflect His light in a world in need of His love.

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