“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery, again to fear; but you received the spirit of sonship, in which we cry aloud. Abba, Father! – The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Rom 8:15-16

Taken in the family

God’s Spirit works in us. The apostle describes it like this: We received the Spirit of the Son state, whereby we cry out loud: Abba, Father! This is reality, but it is a reality that we do not see. It is just “spiritual.” This spirit speaks of a “position as a son.

The son is the one who continues the “house of the family” into that time. The father “builds” his house through the son. This understanding is reflected in these expressions. In Hebrew, the word for “son” is related to the word for “build”.

Now when we receive the “spirit of sonship,” the apostle is expressing that we have been placed in a privileged situation. We received a position, which is linked with value, with future, with construction. So not only do we belong to the family, but we receive the position of a son in it. This is linked to tasks and the future of the house.

Of course, these expressions are linked to a patriarchal value system. This worldview belongs to the world of that time. They are examples. This is not about the consolidation of patriarchal relations, but about using the image to express something far more precious. It is about the “son state” as something special. The position is at the center of consideration. Linked to this is the outlook on the establishment and continuation of the family. We may read the Bible with the purpose of the statements in mind. So it’s not about excluding the daughters, for example, but about expressing the construction of the family’s future with a visual language, according to the customs of the time.

God’s Spirit

Earlier, Paul wrote that we are “in the Spirit, if indeed God’s Spirit dwells in us” (Rom 8:9). He elaborates on this here by emphasizing that God’s Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Spirit of God enlightens us about the relationship in which we have been received. We have been adopted into the family of God.

This reality affects our situation today. We walk by faith here, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). So there is a difference between what we have and experience now and what is yet to come in the future. It is the tension within us between the present time and the fulfillment of all promises in the future. This is the real subject of the rest of the chapter.

Heinz Schuhmacher writes in his book “Der Römerbrief” about this passage:

“Living in two worlds, in two quite different realities and spheres of existence brings with it tension, longing and groaning (Rom 8:23). Even the received firstfruit gift, the Holy Spirit, does not remove this tension, but intensifies it. For now the following fact is given: We have the Holy Spirit – but not yet the corresponding spiritual body. We carry the spirit of sonship in us (Rom 8:15) – but we are still waiting for the state of completed sonship. We have redemption through His blood (Eph 1:7) – but not yet the redemption of our bodies (Rom 8:23). God has begun a good work in us – but not yet finished (Phil 1:6). We already possess in the spirit the new, according to Christ – and at the same time in our flesh nature still the old, Adamitic.”

This book uses old expressions and phrases that are no longer common today. What becomes clear, however, are the differences between what we “have” spiritually and what will once “become” palpable. It is the difference between “now” and “future”. The many Bible verses quoted explain the differences. They are mentioned directly in the text. The Bible is sober and the writers do not conjure up a sham piety, but stand in the often painful reality. From there, however, there is also a view, sustained by faith.

A spiritual treasure

Now Paul comes to anchor this spiritual treasure in a much larger context. We have a “treasure in earthen vessels” (1 Cor. 4:7). Fragility is the daily experience of our outer shell. But it is about the content, about what we carry within us, what we have received in the spirit. Faith is not visible. However, God’s grace can be experienced and lived out in the same way. The message of the risen Christ is first of all a message. He who recognizes wealth carries that wealth within himself.

Not only is our own experience in the here and now important, but there is much more at stake. Modesty is also appropriate. We are only a part of God’s work. The first step the apostle takes, however, is to link our present reality with our future reality:

“But if children, then also lot-part holders, and lot-part holders of God; but lot-part holders together with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified with Him.”
Rom 8:17

Today we are witnessed to by God’s Spirit that we are children of God. But if this is so, then it goes further, then we are also “lot-share holders” (Gr. kleronomos, someone who received something not by his own merit, but by assignment). We were given a seat, a view as well. We are taken into the family of God, and thus placed in the promises and blessings of God.

God has allotted blessings of a spiritual nature to us (Eph. 1:3). We also received promises of future blessings. It is He who assigns these things to us (“lot parts”). We are lot-share holders with Christ because our life is linked to Him and we once entered this lot-share through and with Him.

Paul also mentions suffering with Christ in the same breath as blessing. This should not come as a surprise. Probably he will not mean here that we must suffer in order to be glorified (Paul is not promoting a pious self-mortification here), but rather it is a matter of giving meaning to the actual experience of suffering.

In other words: When we feel suffering, that is not the last thing that is said. Suffering in this world is not the final word. Promise and expectation look beyond the current experience and anticipate a future reality.

The state of a son

Now let us read again these words of Paul:

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery, again to fear; but you received the spirit of sonship, in which we cry aloud. Abba, Father! – The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Rom 8:15-16

Those who are allowed to recognize God’s grace do not thereby receive any new conditions for fulfillment, no “spirit of slavery, so that one lives again out of fear, whether one might live pleasing to God.” Quite the opposite! We received the “Spirit of the Son standing, in which we cry aloud: Abba, Father!”. Shout loudly! There is no need for false timidity, no hesitation, no “pious cowering” before a vengeful God, but a joyful and confident affirmation of the new reality. “Abba!” we may shout, which means “Father!”.

We are part of the family by His grace. We were even given the position of a son. God’s Spirit works in us and testifies together with our spirit that we are “children of God.” It is the consequence of the Good News, the Gospel of grace in Christ Jesus.