Sunday Re Cap (18th Jan 2009)

WE ARE SONS!

Rom 8:12-17

Here is one of the most famous and beloved accounts of Paul to the Romans. He explains to them the importance of living in the Spirit as opposed to living by the flesh with reference to the new life that is available to us as Christians as a result of being believers of Christ. However around the beginning of the 2nd third of the chapter, Paul suddenly introduces a new word or concept as we may call it that brings in an entirely new dimension for the readers. That word is “Sonship”.

In verse 12, Paul is speaking about living by the flesh and living by the Spirit which is referring to living by the law (the commandments) which accuses our flesh day and night and condemns us; and living by the Spirit of life in Christ which sets us free from ALL condemnation.

In V14, Paul starts this whole new chapter in the believer's life. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God these are the sons of God.

• We are called to not just to live a new covenant life and receive the promises of Abraham by faith (Gal 3:13-14) but we are called to be sons!
• To be spirit led is not just being believers, it is to be sons!
• But we say, “we still have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We can either continue to look at this scripture as slaves and WORK or we can really look at this scripture as sons and WORK OUT...
  

Php 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Paul is saying work it OUT! Not work it IN. From the truth that we know from the inside out and not the other way around. God is at work IN us both to will and do His own good pleasure; not ours. A spirit led live leads to us to an true understanding of who we really are as sons.
For as as many are led by the Spirit of God; this gives us a description of those who are increasingly being led. We start as sons. Who teaches us and patterns us increasingly as sons? The Holy Spirit. Be patient when we fall and don't behave like sons. We are not there yet but are a work in progress. Be patient with ourselves and one another.

It does not mean that if we fail or fall, we are not sons. Just because we fall down and injure ourselves, does not mean our DNA has changed! We are still sons.

Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,"Abba, Father."

There is a key that is found in this verse and it's so simple that we may find it hard to believe; but not so hard for sons! How? We cry ABBA Father. ABBA is THE MOST intimate term we can use to call God. When we fall, we call ABBA, When we are sick, ABBA, financial distress, ABBA; under accusation ABBA; when we feel hopeless and like failures, ABBA, when we cannot understand, ABBA.

We are privileged to call HIM, ABBA FATHER, because we are Sons!

Ps Samuel Hari