12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Main Points and Discussion Questions
1. The Holy Spirit empowers us to move closer toward eternal life by giving us the ability to “kill” our sins (vv. 12-13).
- The Puritans called this “mortification”.
- Many such instructions are given throughout the New Testament, including Mt 5:29-30; Rom 13:10-14; 2 Co 6:14-7:1; Eph 4:17-25; Col 3:4-11; Heb 12:1-2; Jas 1:21; and Jas 4:7-10
- Verse 13 sounds like a conditional promise of eternal life. What do we do with this?
a) eternal life, like “salvation”, is an "already/not yet" proposition (compare Jn 5:24 to Tit 1:1-4 and Tit 3:4-7)
b) God uses conditions and warnings as the means to keep us on the right path (Jer 32:40)
Discussion Question 1a: Read Ps 119:11, Rom 10:17 and Eph 6:16-18. What does it mean to “put our sins to death” by the power of the Holy Spirit?
Discussion Question 1b: What are some ways we can learn Scripture and prayer so well that they can be powerful weapons for us to fight sin and Satan?
2. God has “adopted” us as His children, and the Holy Spirit reveals this to us (vv. 14-16)
- The word translated “sonship” can also be translated “adoption”
- Paul uses the image of a Greco-Roman practice where a man could confer all the legal rights of a birth child upon one who is not naturally his child
-This is one way of expressing what God has bestowed upon us!
Discussion Question 2a: Can you give examples of what it means for us to have God as our Father?
3. God has made us heirs with Christ, provided that we are willing to suffer for Him while in this world (v.17).
- to be an heir is to be reminded that “we do not yet possess all the benefits” of our “new status” (Douglas Moo, NIV Application Commentary: Romans, p. 261) (see also Eph 2:4-7)
- God has ordained suffering as a way of preparing us to receive our inheritance in Christ.
Discussion Question 3: Read these passages: Rom 5:3-5; 2 Co 1:8-10; Heb 12:7-11; and 1 Pe 1:3-7. According to these Scriptures, how does God use suffering to make us fit for life in His future Kingdom?
