Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Two spirits , one of bondage, the other of adoption, oppose one another in the passage in Romans. We can choose for the weak and beggarly elemental spirit of slavery to fear, or, enter the sphere of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which frees us from the law of sin and death, see Roman’s 8:2
In another place, in Timothy, “power, love and a sound mind” oppose the same spirit of bondage 2Timothy 1:7.
Romans 8:21 teaches us, “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Liberty in this passage, manifests itself as the opposite of the bondage to corruption. The same is spoken of in Galatians chapter 5 and verse one is an exhortation to stand fast in the liberty that we have in Christ Jesus and avoid the entanglement in a yoke. see Galatians 2:4
Weak and beggarly elements are the cause of bondage in Galatians 4 and verse 9. The Greek word denotes ” a voluntary, consecrated life of poverty.” “They are called “weak” because they had no power to save the soul; no power to justify the sinner before God. They are called “beggarly” (Greek πτωχὰ ptōcha, poor), because they could not impart spiritual riches. They really could confer few benefits on man. Or it may be, as Locke supposes, because the Law kept people in the poor estate of pupils from the full enjoyment of the inheritance.” Galatians 4:1-3. Barnes
Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:20. and Galatians 4:9, refer again to the elements of the world.
Hebrews 2:15 Refers to “them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
“Anxiety (fear) is, at its deepest root, a broken tie, an estranged relationship. “”Love is a restored friendship.” Thielicke “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. “1John 4:18
Chambers makes this observation, “The greatest fear in life is not personal fear. for myself, but the fear that, after all, Jesus will be worsted.” … The fear that in the end Jesus will not come out triumphant, that evil and wrong will triumph.”
For this reason “Adoption” is God’s answer.
- Adoption is “the act of legally taking a child to be taken care of as your own”
- 2. (STARTING TO USE) accepting or starting to use something new:–
- 3. Choosing or taking something as your own.” Cambridge
The spirit of adoption is ” The feeling of affection, love, and confidence which pertains to children.” Barnes. ” Pulpit commentary adds, ” …the felt sonship to God of those who have so received his Spirit as to be led by it. We say “felt” because, though in this verse the sonship is alleged as a fact, yet, in the following verses (15,16)
the inward experience of true Christians is appealed to as evidence of such sonship.
Then, in Rom 8:17, the thought is carried out, that sonship implies inheritance, and hence a share in the glorified eternal life of Christ.”
In closing, “Power, love and a sound mind,” a good technical portrait, demonstrates the act of adoption. Three years ago my family adopted a pet. Monty barked at us and snapped at times in the beginning. He was afraid. We fed him and gave him special attention. We took him on our lap and stroked his fur. We made an effort to play tug-of-war with him, walked him outdoors. We gave him special treats and rewards for good behavior.
Essentially, we taught him that he needn’t be afraid. He began to trust us more and this greatly helps with bathing, hair cuts, and getting in the car for transport to the Vet for shots. Monty still has a tendency to be afraid, but sometimes a little reassurance goes a long way. We adopted Monty, he knows where home is at.
We are getting the same love from our Father, including a bloody cross, a token of acceptance, a legal and binding agreement that He will never change. A personal love, a personal interest and care, and much more, builds our freedom to live. Love ya
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