Reflecting on the Church as Family
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
Romans 8:12–17 – The Power of Love in Christian Community
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany – January 31, 2021 (am)
Last Sunday we finished our study of 2Th. We heard a call there in that closing chapter toward living in such a way, as the church, that we might not be a burden to [each other] (2Th.3:8). Now, the aim there is not self-sufficiency. In fact, it’s nothing like that. Paul is calling this young church to take good care of one another, to live in such a way that each one contributes to the community by living diligently and responsibly day to day. Together they direct [their] hearts to the love of God as the means enabling their diligence and the steadfastness of Christ as their model (2Th.3:5).
These folk were so attentive to one another that even their distancing from one another was based on spiritual principle and was intended for one another’s good. They were to [step back] from any brother [or sister] who [was] walking in idleness and not in accord with [gospel] tradition (2Th3:6). They would do this so that he [or she] may be ashamed, yet not as though [this brother or sister were] an enemy, but only to warn him [or her] as a [dearly loved family member] (2Th.3:14-15). They loved each other so much that they were watching out for one another’s genuine good, not just their immediate comfort. And Paul urged them not to grow weary in doing good (2Th.3:13).
This is genuine and loving, Christian community. And it has me thinking and praying more deeply on that central biblical expression once again—to the point where I’d like to linger on that topic a little while longer. So, this time I’m going to do the mini-series that follows our finishing of a book! It’ll be a topical series: The Power of Love in Christian Community. This text then 2Jo. and 3Jo. over these next three Sundays. Today: The Church as Family
Let’s address two questions this morning.
What Do We Learn about the Church Here? – 12-17
As is the case throughout Rom., the opening words of a new paragraph make it clear that we’re in the midst of a carefully progressing argument. Even so here (12): so then—an implication is at hand, some ideological total or subtotal. Previous paragraph (9), however; prior to that (1), therefore; before that, so (7:21); in 7:13, then; Paul is making an argument.
By this stage in a study in Rom., we’d know that his intent in this letter is to make the gospel clear to this church whom he’s not yet met (1:10ff.). And we’ll find out in 15:24 that his hope is to have them serve as his sending church for his intended mission to Spain.
So, what we know of the gospel is that we human beings, Jew and Gentile alike, are irreversibly bent on sinning, on living for self, gratifying our flesh (1:18-3:20). Rom.3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood (a full solution for our sin that includes fully appeasing God’s just wrath), to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
There’s the gospel, for both Jew and Gentile. Abraham is the unique example (ch.4)—father of the Jews by flesh and blood, but of all believers (of the church) by faith.
Rom.5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. So, by faith in Christ we’re justified (declared not guilty before God). We’re set at peace with God. And we’re enabled to stand firm in grace and certain hope even while we’re suffering!
We still battle sin while we remain in the flesh, but we do so knowing that where sin abounds, grace superabounds! (5:20)
Still, [sinning] more to receive more grace is not the goal. Living in freedom from sin and death is the goal! Rom.6:5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. …—Phi.1:21 … to die is gain.
Rom.6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Paul has more to say about life under the law (c.7), but this flow of thought sets us up well for today’s text.
It’s because we’ve been set free from sin and become slaves of righteousness (6:18) that we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh (12). We owe nothing to the flesh! That’s good news! It’s amazing how many of us think we do. How often have you heard someone say: You owe it to yourself, or even, I owe it to myself? We owe nothing to the flesh! We’re not enslaved to our desires and passions any longer, as though our happiness comes from there! Now, apart from Christ it does—we have no ability to deny the flesh apart from faith in Him. Our best efforts at self-denial or self-restraint are selfishly motivated, so they don’t work. That’s still [living] according to the flesh! And 13 … if you live according to the flesh you will die—that’s where [living] for the flesh ends—but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. All true sons receive, and so are led by, the Spirit.
So, what does it mean to be led by the Spirit? (14) For one, it means that we put to death the deeds of the body (13). These are synonymous. Jesus said: Luk.9:23 If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Let him [die to self]. We follow the Spirit’s prompting. We yield to His leading, with our minds set on him. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Why? Right here: 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. … 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Just as Jesus did the will of the Father, then, His Spirit enables us increasingly to do the will of the Father—not our will but his be done! That’s being led by the Spirit: we act like true sons!
We don’t pursue God’s will because we’re slaves (15) who cower before Him in fear—2Ti.1:10 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Indeed, 1Co.2:12 … we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
So, 15 … 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!” In Scripture, adoption is a public act, a legal act, establishing a covenant relationship, a true and legal family. The OC people Israel were formally (legally, ceremonially) adopted as God’s son (note Exod 4:23) in the exodus from Egypt through the public acts of passing through blood (Passover) and water (Red Sea) and what could be called the legalizing of the adoption in the covenant ceremony at Sinai. So similarly, the NC people of God are covenantally adopted by way of public acts of blood and water (perhaps at the cross from Jesus’ side, perhaps in the ceremonies of baptism and the Supper; I’d say both-and)—for Paul to speak of adoption in Rom 8 is for him to be thinking in these exodus, covenantal/corporate, and public terms (Brendsel).
So then, … we [owe nothing] to the flesh (12) for [we] are led by the Spirit [as adopted children] of God (14). F. F. Bruce (156) reflects on the contrasts that come one after another (13-15). Here is a beautiful chain of [experiential] verses, all cast in the same mould, all built upon the same pattern, with the negative first and the positive second; on one side bondage, worldliness, and fear; on the other sonship, spiritual gifts, power, love and sanctified common-sense. This is what happens as the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, family, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs, brothers, with Christ, provided, once again, we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
We’re heirs of God—we’re His true, legal children.
We’re fellow heirs with Christ—we inherit God’s glory through [suffering] just like Jesus (cf. Joh.17:4-5; Phi.2:6-11; Col.1:24-27). This is the path and privilege of sonship.
So, by God’s Spirit we’re actually incorporated into the fellowship of the Trinity, as family. We become participants in the glory of the one true God who will give His glory to no other! (Isa.42:8; cf. 2Co.3:18; 2Pe.1:3-4)
So, this is Paul’s message: We’re God’s family, children of God, siblings with Christ, partakers in the divine nature (2Pe.1:4). We’re participants in His glory who live out his will.
What Should Be Our Take-Away Today?
Implications: adoption into this new family gives us…
… a whole new personal identity—a new understanding of who we are, of why we’re here. It gives us new incentive to kill competing passions—our family doesn’t act that way!
… a whole new group identity— a community of belonging that includes motivation to suffer well. We’re all in this together, with Christ, growing in [glory] along the way! This is so much grander an identity than our pitiful, selfish one!
… a whole new legacy—we belong to something that has a purpose, and a payoff, a future inheritance [from] God and… with Christ, that that is so great it will nullify the sting of [suffering] in this life. 18 For… the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
… a present Father, with all that implies—intimacy: deep, satisfying, bonded relationship, facilitated by the Holy Spirit. This is freedom from all loneliness and lack of belonging! It means security, protection and provision, freedom from fear and worry (just another form of fear). Dad’s home!
Russell Moore wrote (Adopted for Life 51): The Abba cry just might be the most easily misunderstood and misinterpreted aspect of the biblical revelation of our adoption. This cry… in the context of the Scriptures, is not an infantile cooing. [This] is a scream. It’s less the sound of a baby giggling up into the father's face, and more the sound of a child screaming, “Daddy!” [when (s)he is in danger].
The Jews never used the term, Abba. But then, they never used His reveled name either, Yahweh. No, Abba comes first to us from the lips of Jesus Himself, in prayer, in the Garden of Gethsemane, as He labored over the Father’s will and confessed to Peter, James, and John [that His] soul [was] very sorrowful, even to death (Mar.14:34). He then moved away and prayed: Mar.14:36 … Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. Then Jesus took up his cross, and followed, with his eye fixed on the joy that was set before him (Heb.12:2)—the joy of providing our redemption and returning to his proper place of glory at the Father’s right hand.
Does the joy of this image of sweet of fellowship with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ (1Jo.1:3) freshen the joy of your obedience, your walk as His children?
Finally, … a place to belong—to relate, to work and play, to strategize and mobilize and serve and achieve a satisfying purpose! This is the place where our gifts are made to plug in and work together with our bothers [and sisters] as though we’re each just appendages of the same physical body! We’re unique but we belong. No one else brings to the game what we uniquely bring so no one can take our place when we’re absent. And yet, this isn’t a job or some sort of special project. This is a family united in Christ by the ministry of the Spirit, living, loving, serving together.
Conclusion
Are you here, present with this family? Is being with this body like being at home—a reliable foretaste of the only true home you’ll ever have? Do you long for the next opportunity to be together—for worship, service, fellowship? The church is (eternal) family in Christ.
Next Sunday: And This Is Love, 2 John 1–13