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Commentary on "Freedom in Christ"
Day 6: Thursday, August 26, 2010 - Adoption Versus Bondage
Overview
Today’s lesson is centered on this passage:
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 (Rom. 8:15-17 ESV).
Observations
The written words of Paul, the very voice of God, found in Romans 8:15-17 expresses some of the most powerful and reassuring concepts to be found anywhere in Scripture:
- We are declared free from fear, sin’s penalty of death.
- Even though we still live in ‘this body of flesh’, the yoke of slavery to sin has been removed.
- We are now children of God.
- We are heirs of God. All that he has is now also ours.
- Our present suffering “with him” means we will also be glorified with Christ.
Even though the quarterly lesson makes some good statements about a Christian’s freedom from bondage and fear, one has to wonder what is the purpose is for not being clear concerning what Adventist doctrine really teaches on this topic:
- According to Ellen you cannot claim to ‘be saved’ and have eternal life without first passing the Investigative Judgment. So, how can an Adventist not have fear?
- You most likely don’t understand that you have a spirit which is brought to life by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So, where is your freedom from the bondage of sin?
- According to the doctrine, generally known as ‘Soul Sleep’, you face non-existence when your physical body dies instead of being eternally secure together with Jesus Christ. What assurance is there in being called “a child of God when you don’t know if you are one?
- You do not understand that when our Savior declared “it is finished” while on the cross, all our sins were removed forever to “a place unknown” and that Jesus has been seated ever since in the most holy of places at the side of our Holy Father. What about the fear of that ‘one forgotten sin’ you have failed to repent of or the secret addiction that still claims control of your life?
Now, let’s turn to a parallel passage:
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God (Gal. 4:4-7 ESV).
Actually, it would be worthwhile to read and study the whole chapter. Especially notice where Paul points out that Christians are those who are not of “the slave woman”, those born in slavery to the law given from Mount Sinai. Rather, we are children of the free woman.
So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman (Gal. 4:31 ESV).
Summary
- Do as Paul commands in Gal. 4:30 (Gen. 21:10) and cast out the slave woman along with her son.
- Christians, those who are indwelt and have their spirits brought to life by the Holy Spirit, have nothing to fear.
- Those who are declared to be children of God are heirs of all that God has.
- Whenever we suffer for the sake of Christ, it is because we are now in God’s Kingdom and not of the things of this world. Restated, we have a spiritual struggle because we are one of God’s children, not to become a child of God.
- When you do suffer for what you believe, make sure it is not centered on self interests or false doctrines of the world. Who is the foundation of your faith?
Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised August 11, 2010. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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