Pastor's Sunday School Blog
Sunday School Lesson
“Once Slaves, Now Children”
April 22, 2018
Romans 8:12-17
Pastor’s Notes (Some additional thoughts for your Sunday school lesson):
If you are a child of God, then why, after being set free, live as a slave to sin
Sometimes believers use as a crutch the inevitability of sin to excuse their sinning.
While it is true, “If we say we have no sin we lie,” the reality is, while we will sin, we are no longer a slave to sin; we sin because we chose to, not because we have to.
*Verse 18 is a great verse to share with someone suffering sickness or facing death … whatever you are going through doesn’t compare to what awaits you in heaven.
Romans 8:28 is often misunderstood to mean God will replace you bad with good (external good); if something bad happens to you God will turn it to good. This is not the meaning of the passage … God will use adversity to shape your character (intrinsic good) and increase your confidence in Him to insure your future victories.
Sometimes, because of adversity, we are prone to questions God’s love and our relationship with Him; however, God assures His children of His unfailing love confirming that nothing will ever separate us from His love. If we are, we will always be …
From Slaves to Sons (Romans 8:12-17).
This passage hints to the problem of legalism … having to do in order to receive … We are not in bondage to God to serve Him, we are His children, and as such have the privilege to serve Him. We serve not out of obligation but motivation.
“not obligated” – no longer in bondage to the flesh. The believer has been set free from the penalty of sin and the POWER of sin.
Operating in the flesh leads to failure, while living by the Spirit leads to victory. Trusting what YOU can do and not the Holy Spirit will lead to disappointment and disaster.
See Ephesians 5:18 “Be filled with the Spirit” and explain its relationship to the Sunday school lesson.
What does it mean to be “filled with the Spirit?”
As the children of God we are set free to live victorious lives … and not only do we, through the Spirit, and by right of our relationship with the Father, have power over sin, it is God’s expectation for us to no longer live as subject to sin but victorious over sin.
The witness of the Spirit referred to in verse 16 speaks of the evidence of the power of the Spirit to live in victory over sin … living lives characterized by holiness bears witness to who we are; Whose we are.
Adopted by God, we are His children and as such we are His heirs, along with Jesus Christ… what is His is ours by right of adoption. Slaves have no inheritance…
Adoption … God chose us. He did so knowing who we were, rather what we were.
Don’t be confused by your suffering … Christianity doesn’t exempt you from adversity … since Christ suffered we should expect to suffer BUT if we will be rewarded for our suffering …glory awaits.
Prayer … “Father, by Your Spirit, help me to live in victory over sin; to live a life pleasing to You, that represents who I am, a child of God. And when I do sin, I know I have no one to blame but myself; it was a choice, I chose to sin.”
From Groaning to Glory (Romans 8:18-30).
Suffering is consistent with Christianity …. Just because are saved doesn’t exempt you from suffering.
We persevere through our suffering knowing the glory that awaits us.
Sin’s entrance into the world affected ALL of creation … all creation suffers from the effects of sin.
“groaning together with labor pains” – suffering will ultimately yield to something more wonderful.
Because we walk by faith and not by sight we live with the hope of our future glorification … we groan for that which will be … we are willing to suffer now (our separation) for our inheritance
The Holy Spirit Who knows our “groaning” intercedes for us
What is the promise of Romans 8:28 (see Pastor’s notes)?
We may not see the good, but God does. His vantage point is better than ours …
Verse 29-30 flow out of the promise of verse 28 … God, Who started in the process in your life will finish what He has started (He cannot fail). Important to note how Paul uses the past tense “Predestined”, “called”, “justified”, and “glorified.” For the believer everything is past tense except glorification; however, it is so certain that Paul speaks of the final process as if it has already been done (truthfully, in the mind of God glorification has been completed).
How does these verses provide the assurance of salvation/eternal security?
From Death to Life (Romans 8:31-39).
Nothing or no one can change your status with God. For our relationship with God to change God would have to cease to love us and according to Paul that won’t happen.
Don’t look at you circumstances and question God’s love.
Don’t listen to what others say about you and question God’s love.
There is no one or no thing that can undo what God has done!!!
The God Who loved you unconditionally will not suddenly change and place conditions on His continued love.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH GOD LOVES YOU!
Theological Theme: God delivers us from the bondage of sin, and gives us life and liberty through the Spirit.
Christological/Christ Connection: Because of Christ’s work on the cross, we are welcomed into God’s family and are now coheirs with Christ, eagerly awaiting the glorious future He has promised.
Missional Application: God calls us and expects us to rely on the power of the Spirit to live in victory over sin while living in obedience to His commands.