“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.” Romans 8:15 NKJV
Have you ever been able to identify a child’s parents just by their looks? Families often have physical features that identify them as belonging together. However, even if a child who is legally adopted into the family does not have these physical features, they still carry the family name and are considered part of the family just as much as those who do have the physical resemblance.
This is the same for us as believers. Although we belong to different earthly families and may not look alike physically, when we believe the Gospel, we receive the same Spirit in Christ, which makes us all children of God (1 Corinthians 12:13). At the moment of salvation, God gives us His Spirit as a seal to identify us as His own (Ephesians 1:13).
As our anchor scripture emphasises, the Holy Spirit removes fear from our relationship with God and grants us the right and boldness to call God our Father. We are no longer strangers, there is no longer a separation between us and God, we are His beloved children.
Jesus approached God like a Father in all His prayers, passionately and personally (John 11:41-42, 12:28). He desires that we have the same relationship with the Father by the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 6:9, John 14:26).
Through adoption by the Holy Spirit, we all belong to the same heavenly family. There is no discrimination by race, age or gender. As Apostle Paul said,
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28 (NKJV).
Furthermore, by adoption, we are now heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17, Ephesians 1:14, Galatians 4:7). We are entitled to the eternal benefits of God’s Kingdom, and the Holy Spirit of assures us of endless life in God.
Listen, as a believer, you can approach God confidently, live joyfully and have rest in the finished works of Christ by the Spirit. No matter how you feel, you are God’s beloved child and He has given you His Spirit as a seal to prove it. God is your Abba, He is never far away.
Bible Reading Plan: Mark 9 : 1-29