Peter Barnes | Romans 8:15-16
SERMON NOTES
THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION
(Romans 8:15-16)
– Martyn Lloyd-Jones spends over 200 pages on these two verses!
1. We have not received a spirit of bondage.
– 8:15; Lloyd-Jones, Derek Thomas, and Origen see it as the Spirit of bondage who convicts of sin e.g. Acts 2:37; 16:29
– But it is probably the spirit of bondage in Judaism and in paganism (see Gal.4:1-7, 8-11)
2. We have received the Spirit of adoption.
– 8:15; note Jesus’ use of ‘Abba’ in Mark 14:36
– adoption is now (Rom.8:15) and fulfilled in the second coming (Rom.8:23)
3. The Spirit assures our spirits of our adoption.
– 8:16; three ways of assurance – by believing the promises (e.g. Heb.6:19-20); testing the graces (e.g. 1 John 2:3; 3:14); and the testimony of the Spirit (Rom.8:16).
– Richard Sibbes that it is like a kiss
– Lloyd-Jones says that it comes after conversion but all Christians must experience it to some extent.