The Crescendo Pt. 2
12 So then, brothers,[a] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons [b] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, bywhom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.
Prayer: Father thank you for this opportunity to gather with your people The Dream Church. Father as we exalt the scripture, posture our hearts to receive your gospel the good news of Jesus Christ. Transform us from the inside out, empowering us to live on mission to perpetuate the gospel and love our neighbors in Jesus Christ Name Amen!
cre·scen·do
the highest point reached in a progressive increase of intensity.
The orchestra of your heart...
Faith, Righteousness, and Praise
Paul begins chapter 8 with a gospel encouragement in verse 1
8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, [a] 2 because the law[b] of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you[c] free from the law[d] of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, [e] 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
A. No condemnation
B. Jesus set you free from the law and death.
C. God sent His son as a sin offering so you can live.
D. Christ fulfilled the law so we can live according to the spirit.
Romans 8:12-17
Paul gave us 4 scripture apps.... according to the text.
App 1: Do not live according to yourself!
12 So then, brothers,[a] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
Let me say it another way...
12-14 So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. Let me say it another way...
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, [a] you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.
This is a conclusion from the previous verses of scripture, since Christians live in the spirit, they are no longer captive to the flesh and should no longer live according to the flesh.
There is an obvious tension between flesh (self) and spirit. Do not live according to yourself! As your flesh pulls you back... it is the spirit that pushes you forward...
• *You're not obligated to yourself*
App 2: It is going to take the Holy Spirit!
13 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.
There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give your flesh a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!
*It is going to take the Holy Spirit! *
13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the
Spirit, you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, [b] you will live. *What is your choice death or life? *
Col.3:5 CSB Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
At the point of realization that its nothing in it for you. You must bury the old life and start a new life by His Spirit.
App 3: The spirit leads us to discover our identity in God and our intimacy with God.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons [b] of God. 15 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!”
If we walk according to the spirit as God desires, we prove ourselves to be God’s sons. Not only are we sons and (daughters), but we are adopted children. This is the place where you discover your identity.
If a person was adopted in Paul's time, that individual immediately received all the rights of an adult heir. The chief right that Paul mentions here is intimacy with God. We all need intimacy with the father, depth, and that come from abiding in Christ. Strengthening our faith and righteousness'.
This laced with the father giving us an identity.
We can pray Abba Father. Abba is a term of intimacy meaning Papa or Daddy.” We can say it with complete assurance that God is listening.
Daddy story...
*This is a crescendo...*
*God is listening... to the person who feels alone... to the person who is insecure... to the person who doesn’t know who you are...
App 4: You belong to God so you can't lose!
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God
has given to those who obey him.”
17 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.
Being adopted as God’s Children may come with extreme benefits, but it also carries with it intense responsibility.
Benefits with Responsibilities.
In this moment you see the benefits of being a child of God... you are an heir of the father...
Yes, we are already heirs of God, but we can only become coheirs with Christ if (responsibility) we suffer with him. If we do suffer, we will be glorified with Him.
If we shrink back in the day of trial, we’ll lose something valuable. We cannot lose our salvation, but we can certainly lose some reward God intends to give.
The call to this mentality: When one suffers, we all suffer... one has pain we all have pain... Cross like behavior...
The catechist asked a question... What is man’s chief end? To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever...
15-17 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!