Sonship

Verse 13 says that if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. But what does this living look like? Sunshine and happiness? Paul goes on to explain in verses 14-15 what he means and it's all tied to a contrast between slavery and sonship, fear and prayer.

 

Christians are not slaves, shrinking back in fear of their Master. They are sons, gravitating toward their Father with reverence and awe.

 

Unfortunately, our experience with our earthly fathers taints our understanding of our heavenly Father. But Jesus teaches that even our best dads are evil in comparison to the Father (Luke 11:9-13). God is the perfect father. He loves perfectly. He directs perfectly. He enables perfectly. He forgives perfectly. He corrects perfectly. He understands perfectly. He provides perfectly. Human dads are a mere shadow of the Father. And we get to be his sons like Jesus (John 20:17 and 1 John 3:1)! We get to depend on him and rest in him just like Jesus did. Those who are afraid can cast their anxieties on him, not because he'll give them magic peace lotion; but because he cares for them as a Father (1 Peter 5:7).

 

This is good news, not good advice. Christian, I'm not saying, Try to be God's son this week. I'm saying, In Jesus, you are God's son, whether you act like it or not. The prodigal son remained his father's son even with his head in a pig trough. And when he finally stumbled back home, his father came running.

 

So stumble back to your Father, those who have wandered away. And look, he's running to greet you.

 

1.       What did you find most interesting/challenging about this passage?

2.       If you are a Christian, describe your trajectory since believing in Jesus. When did you become a Christian? What has your path looked like from then to now?

a.       How has fear factored into your life since following Christ?

3.       How has your experience with your earthly father affected your understanding of God as Father?

a.       How has your experience of God as Father affected your understanding of your earthly father?

4.       What specific fears are enslaving you right now? How might living in light of your sonship to God release you from this fear? What would crying, “Abba! Father!” look like in your situation?

5.       How can we serve one another in light of this passage?

6.       How can your group pray for you this week?