Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. I am so glad to see each of you here today, gathered together in the spirit of fellowship and unity, ready to immerse ourselves in the Word of God. It's a beautiful day, isn't it? A day filled with promise and possibility, a day where we can take a moment to pause, reflect, and draw closer to our heavenly Father.

Today, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of Romans 8:12-17, a passage that is rich with meaning and profound in its implications for our lives. Let's read it together:

"So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Isn't it wonderful to know that we are not slaves, but sons and daughters of the Most High God? That we are heirs of His kingdom, destined for glory? Oh, what a joy it is to be called a child of God!

As we stand on the precipice of this passage, I am reminded of the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon who once said, "The child of God works not for life, but from life; he does not work to be saved, but works because he is saved." Yes, dear friends, we are His children, always and forever, in every season of life, in every circumstance, in every high and low.

Today, we will be looking at three main points: Breaking the Bonds of Sin, Becoming Children of God, and Belonging to a New Family. These are not just theological ideas, but transformative truths that can and should shape our lives.

But before we step into these truths, let's bow our heads and hearts in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today with humble hearts, eager to hear Your Word and learn from You. We thank You for the privilege of being called Your children, and we pray that as we study Your Word today, You would open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to understand and receive the truths You have for us. May Your Holy Spirit guide us and illuminate our understanding. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Breaking the Bonds of Sin

In the passage we've just read, we're confronted with a stark truth. We're told that if we live according to the flesh, we will die. But what does it mean to live according to the flesh? It's about being bound by sin, about living a life that is dominated by our sinful nature. It's about being a slave to our desires, our passions, our selfish ambitions. It's about living a life that is centered on ourselves, rather than on God.

We don't have to live this way: We don't have to be bound by sin. We don't have to be slaves to our flesh. We can break free. We can live a life that is led by the Spirit, a life that is centered on God, a life that is filled with freedom and joy.

Recognize our need for God: We need to acknowledge that we are sinners, that we have fallen short of God's glory, that we are in need of His grace and mercy. We need to come to Him in humility and repentance, confessing our sins and asking for His forgiveness. We need to turn away from our sinful ways and turn to God, putting our trust in Him and surrendering our lives to Him.

Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit, who comes to live within us. The Holy Spirit is our helper, our guide, our comforter. He helps us to understand God's Word, to discern His will, to live a life that is pleasing to Him. He gives us the power to overcome sin, to resist temptation, to live a life of righteousness and holiness.

Cultivate a relationship with God: This involves spending time in His Word, in prayer, in worship. It involves seeking His face, desiring His presence, longing for His touch. It involves listening to His voice, obeying His commands, following His lead. It involves loving Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, with all our strength.

Live a life of love: Love is the fulfillment of the law. Love is the evidence of our faith. Love is the mark of a true disciple. We are called to love God, to love our neighbors, to love our enemies. We are called to love in word and in deed, in truth and in action. We are called to love as Christ loved us, sacrificially, unconditionally, selflessly.

Becoming Children of God

In the light of our scripture, Romans 8:12-17, we find ourselves in the midst of a divine transformation ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO