Romans 8:9-19
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now 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.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.[1]
______________________
What’s striking in this passage is our identification with Christ in being a son/child/heir of the Father. Think how far this is from the “wretchedness” that Paul lamented yesterday. Instead of being a wretch destined for death, we are children of the Father, heirs of the kingdom, with glory as our destiny.
This identification as a child of the Father is not only about the glory to be revealed but defines the basis for how we live. We saw this also in Romans 6 where Paul placed also points to identity and unity with Christ as the basis for turning away from sin. We do not belong to the realm of death and sin, but to the realm of the Spirit and Christ. Since we are one with Christ, the power of the resurrection is in us to move us to Christ-like living.
It also means that we share in Christ’s suffering. What does this mean? If I am one with Christ, then I will also experience some of the rejection and opposition that He experienced. Jesus also promised that this would be the case. As we seek to live the mission, we will be opposed by spiritual forces and by people who reject Christ. But Paul points out that this suffering isn’t worth comparing to what God has in store for us. Just as Easter overcomes Good Friday, so also what God has prepared for His children will overcome whatever hardship we experience because we are children of God.
I carry with me many labels and identities (husband, father, pastor, friend, etc.) Towering above them all is this primary identity: I am a beloved child of God, one with Christ. My prayer is that today and always, this will be the first and foremost way that I will think of myself.
(And just as an aside, a song that beautifully describes the hope that comes from this identity is Matthew West’s “Hello My Name Is.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJWQzjfU3o) If you have a chance to listen to it today, please do.)
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
To subscribe to Abide Daily Devotion e-mail please click here.
[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Ro 8:9–19). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Leave a Reply