Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells us of a great problem, “It is nothing less than the problem of living the Christian life, the problem, if you like, of dealing with sin.”
For this problem Lloyd Jones shares this verse from the epistle of Paul to the Romans:
“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.” Romans 8:15
God’s answer for the bondage that fear brings is simply adoption.
Two spirits are revealed in the verse. one of bondage, one of adoption — these diametrically oppose one another, but,
“The (Holy) Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” ESV
Adoption is the antidote and Paul again speaks of the Adoption in his epistle to the Ephesians : “According as he hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-5
So, according to this segment,
- We are chosen, in Him
- Chosen before the foundation of the world.
- We are set apart and without blame before Him. (a status given, not a task to be attained).
- We have entered the sphere of God’s love.
- Our adoption places us in Christ, gives us a new family name, places us in the will of God.
- All of this is to the praise of the glory of His grace.
- We are accepted in this grace in the beloved.
Now let’s review the Greek tenses in the verses to be sure:
- from verse 4 “He has chosen us” is an aorist middle indicative meaning — done for real at a point in time past, for Himself.
- We were chosen, in Christ, for God Himself — before the foundation of the world.
- That we should exist holy and without blame. The verb here is a present active infinitive meaning simply “to be.”
- We can exist, because of His choosing, holy and without blame before Him. God sees us holy and blame-free, in Agape love. (the love that sees value in us, because of our identity in Christ.)
There’s more:
We also were predestinated, Aorist active participle, meaning prior action at a point in time.
God “marked out boundaries” or “set limits beforehand.” unto “the adoption of children,” by Jesus Christ unto Himself (The Father). What does it mean?
“God had one, only-begotten Son, and He was pleased for His own glory to choose out of a lost world many to become His adopted sons.” Robertson’s Word Pictures.
What else? Ephesians 1:11 tells us:
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
Friends, God has already blessed us with all “Spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
Colossians 2:3 tells us “In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
In closing Romans 8:16 goes on, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
We have the amazing truths that surround adoption, but in addition, we have been given the precious Holy Spirit who witnesses to our spirit,
You are a child of God.
So, the problem of fear, bondage to fear and all that is attached to it — is the problem that we all have, the problem of how to live the Christian life.
We have at our disposal all that pertain to life and godliness, see 2 Peter 1:3.
We have “perfect love that casts out all fear.” See 1 John 4:18
O,beloved, just draw nigh to God, His perfect redemption, His forgiveness of sins, His adoption, and your Sonship. We are the blessed of God love ya
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