SN - May 12, 2013

May 12, 2013

Heirs of God

Romans 8:12-17

“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  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.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  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!’  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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."

Debt free

Debt is bad because it controls you, binds you, makes you change your priorities and etc. I feel like here, he is referring to sin!  How it controls you, binds you and makes your change your priorites and etc!

The flesh kills us…We can’t pay back the debt.

Things we are passionate for…should be for the word and our Savior

By flesh, you die

The Spirit gives life!

By the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body! – Debt free

Okay, so here’s a contrast! – Flesh kills, Spirit gives life!!  And essentially, we have a choice! Whether we choose the flesh or Spirit, we sort of have a choice and should choose the Spirit!! Seeking God and stuff!

Romans 6 – we are slaves to something – Either righteousness or death! We choose! Yes, God chooses us, but if you look here, you can see that we are given a choice, as we are not robots! But it’s interesting here!! How when you are slaves to one, you are also free from the other!! So it’s like, you are slaves to one thing and free from the other!!  In a sense, it’s freedom for all! Because if you are slaves to sin, you are free from righteousness!  Interesting perspective here!  But yeah, going back to the main point is that we should choose Righteousness and seek God!!

Romans 8

We are sons – adopted!

“my name is”…Going from nothing to all the legal rights they didn’t have before!

When you trusted Christ, you are adopted as a child of Christ! – Sonship! Okay, I’m not sexist or anything but for those that might get offended by “sonship”, realize that back then, this was important!  Back then, if you were a son you would get all the rights and stuff!  Because of the culture, receiving “sonship” was extremely significant!! It was more than just being a child of someone!

Old is gone, the new is here...When you are adopted…and this is what God as done for us!

God says that we will never leave or forsake you!

We have a loving father!!

“Abba father” – honoring term! God loves hearing from us!

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears! God is for us!  Doubt free when I call out to my father!

Not my will but your will

When you need help, cry out to God for help! – Our assurance in Christ!  We can be doubt free! Confident of our eternal life! “No one is able to snatch them out of my father’s hand”

John 10:29

“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”

Powerful eh?? Take assurance in these words!! If God is God, then whatever he says is truee! And this is so comforting to know!  Assurance in Christ through out faith!! Not by our works…or we would for sure fail!  Once we are in His hands, we are safe! And it’s so nice thinking about that! Like…so much peace man!

That we may know that we have eternal life!

He has given us His spirit! – How do we know? – Works in our lives! – Leading to repentance and his spirit convicts us and we are moved – being led by the word in us!!

I really do believe God convicts us and speaks to us through His Spirit and His Word!! Sometimes, we forget that the Bible is God-breathed! (2 Timothy 3:16)…and that it’s God’s word!!! Like, I was at Men’s Ministry for Harvest this one time and this guy was talking to me how when he reads the bible, he sees Jesus!! And it’s so interesting when you think of it that way!!! Like you literally look at the bible as if you are looking at Jesus’ face!! And when you read it, it’s like he’s talking to you!  I always find it cool how sometimes you are going through moments in your life and God will use His word to remind you of things/convict you and things! It’s super amazing!  Sometimes, the scripture might be taken out of context, but at the same time, still it helps you realize something you wouldn’t have realized if you didn’t read it!!! The Spirit moves!! Haha

Assurance is through the Spirit!

If children, then heirs of God and coheirs with Christ!

Okay, when I first heard this…I was super baffled! “fellow heirs with Christ”…isn’t that so amazing! Just think about it! I cannot even use words!! But yeah!! Like...he’s your brother! Or something!

Oh yeah! When I first heard this concept, it was cool because the pastor was talking about God’s love for us! And how when someone chooses to adopt someone, they can’t abandon him or her!! Because they CHOSE them.  But it’s interesting how you can abandon your own kid…it was super mind blowing cos Christ died for us! Then it reminded me of the prodigal son and this is getting too unrelated! We can talk in person if you want to know more! haha

So what?

·      Suffer with him that we will be glorified with him! We are all getting it!

·      Learning how to suffer! Our inheritance is later!! But while we are here we will be suffering!

·      That we can be glorified with him! Looking forward! This is our hope! For what is coming for us!

·      Are we living day to day knowing we are heirs and will be glorified? We need to trust God in our sufferings and fix our eyes on God!

·      Forward looking people!!

What popped out to me

1.     God is our father and we can have assurance through Christ!

2.     We are coheirs with Christ

a.     Suffering is temporary! We will suffer with Christ AND be glorified with Him!