A New Way of Living
Romans 8:12–17
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
Galatians 3:23–29
Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Genesis 12:1–3
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Reflection
In this new family, we have a new life of freedom. When Jesus ascended, he sent the Holy Spirit to be his presence among us. He did not leave us alone, but instead gave us something far more powerful than just him alone. Now, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ resurrection power lives among his followers. The Holy Spirit is not contained to a physical body like Jesus was; instead, he lives in and through all believers. Now, we do not have to live like we once did, trapped in our sinful ways. Although we still battle our sin nature, we can live freely, doing the will of God in our lives so that he may be glorified. The law was once what guided people towards obedience and right standing with him. Now, we are in right standing because of our faith in Jesus. It was nothing we could earn, but instead, it is something that we receive that gives us freedom. This is what our inheritance is when we are adopted into God’s family!
- Based on the passages above, name some things that God has freed you from.
- Romans 8 tells us that we have no obligation to our sinful nature. What would it look like for you to “put to death the deeds of your sinful nature” and begin walking in freedom?