14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
- P102
15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
- P103
16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
- P103
Believers have an obligation not to live according to the flesh but to put todeath its deeds by the Spirit. Those led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
- P103
The Spirit does not make them slaves to fear but brings about their adoption.
By the Spirit, they cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit testifies that they are God‘schildren and co-heirs with Christ. - P103
Paul uses active verbs when instructing the believers on how they are to live. Those who believe in Christ receive life from the Holy Spirit and no longer depend on their flesh to find life, hope, and satisfaction. Therefore, they no longer have any obligation to obey the desires of the flesh. To choose to obey the flesh results in death, but to battle the flesh through the Spirit leads to life. - P104
God’s Spirit calls us to put to death sinful behaviors and practices. He is available to empower us, but we must actively choose to do our part. Jesus promises full and abundant lives for those who choose to trust Him and rely on His Spirit as they leave the ways of the flesh behind. - P104
This passage is packed with promises for those who become God‘s childrenthrough faith in Christ. We are set free from our slavery to sin and fromthe fear of death. God is no longer a fearsome judge, but a loving father.
And together with our elder brother, Jesus, we look forward to a spiritualinheritance better than anything we can imagine! Another implicit promiseconcerns our suffering as followers of Christ. - P104
To follow Jesus means that wewill inevitably share in His sufferings. As we reject the world‘s ways, we willdiscover just how quickly those sufferings will come. At the same time, wewill experience the joy that comes from sharing in Christ‘s glory. - P104
Lord, You call me to exercise my will to depend on Your grace and promises every day. Give me the perseverance I need to continually abide in Your Word and commit to Your plans. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P104
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