A Note From Quill:
It has been wonderful sharing the keyboard in a sense with Ball. As you all have experienced over the years, time can be short. Since his days are becoming more and more filled with other necessary activities, this will be Ball’s last post for now. Thank you, Ball, for the studies you have brought us. May God bless you as you venture toward the future He has laid before you.
Would you believe me if I said you were a prince or a princess? And not only that, but also that you were royalty of the greatest kingdom imaginable? Perhaps this claim is not as ridiculous as you’d think, as we’ll see today in Romans 8:12-18.
Note that this passage does flow directly from the texts we looked at in our previous four studies of Romans 8, and understanding of this context is important before we can fully understand Romans 8:12-18. In summary, Romans 8:1-11 tells of the new life we have in the Spirit that saves us from the death we had when we lived in the law. What is the result of this new life? Paul tells us in Romans 8:12-18, which reads:
Romans 8:12-18 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.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
English Standard Version
Paul starts by saying that we are no longer bound to our sinful nature (“the flesh”)–the new life Jesus brings frees us from our bondage. If we live our lives trying to be more like Christ, the Holy Spirit will help us to put our sinful nature to death.
Perhaps you struggle with gossip, or perhaps you tell lies to look better to others. Maybe you’re selfish and do your best to escape your responsibilities, or maybe you simply receive things from others without giving back. I’m guilty of all of these. But the good news is that if you follow Christ, this is the worst it’ll be. If you truly seek to live a life worthy of Christ, the Holy Spirit will lead you and work in you to make you more like Him.
Of course, we’ll never be perfect until we reach Heaven; we still live in our sinful flesh and will always fail. However, the even better news is still up ahead–one day soon, Jesus will return to make us new, and we will be with Him in His kingdom forever.
And that brings us to the next amazing truth in our passage–we are adopted as children of God the King of heaven, meaning that we are co-heirs with Christ! How amazing is this? If you are God’s child, then you are an heir in the kingdom of heaven!
Paul is clear in verse 18 that this doesn’t mean that our lives in this world will be easy–John 16:33 says that “In the world you will have tribulation.” However, Paul is equally clear that as difficult as this life is going to be, it doesn’t even warrant being compared to the eternal joy we will have in heaven. How incredible this is!
But with this joy is sadness–for those who refuse God’s Gospel of adoption, the joys of this life aren’t worth comparing to the eternal suffering they will face. Our gift of life and adoption as co-heirs comes with a responsibility–we are to go and spread this Good News, sharing with all who hear the Gospel that they too can be freed to eternal life. My fellow prince or princess, who will you share this Good News with this week?
P.S. Thank you so much for reading my posts–I’ve so enjoyed working through Romans with you. I pray the Lord continues to make you more and more like Him every day!
