Romans 8:15 – Deep Dive

I enjoy reading different versions of the Bible to obtain a clearer understanding of God’s word.  Romans 8:15 is a verse that I dove into for understanding in multiple versions

New International Version (NIV)
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.”

New Living Translation (NLT)
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

New King James Version (NKJV)
For you did not receive the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Before we are Children of God, we are enslaved to sin.  Everyone’s sin is different, no sin greater than the last.  But in Romans 8:15, we understand that our sin before becoming Children of God (see the post I am a Child of God, 1/13/21) kept us from a relationship with God.  Let’s break down the verse, piece by piece.

The Spirit:

·         The Holy Spirit, Advocate

·         Gift of God, sent when Jesus departed (John 16:7, 20:7)

·         Guide for us (Romans 8:28)

You received:

·         As a gift from God (John 14:16; Romans 5:5)

·         Given to God’s people (Luke 11:13; Romans 5:5)

Slaves:

·         Without our relationship with God, we are enslaved to sin

·         We are in bondage, tied to our sin, separated from God

Fear:

·         The bondage and enslavement create fear

o   Fear of God, fear of judgment, fear of our enslavement to sin

o   Both words evoke imagery of tied, restrainment, fear

·         By receiving the Spirit, we are released from this fear

Received the Spirit:

·         Were given as a gift; see above

Adoption:

·         By becoming Children of God, we are adopted

·         We are God’s children

·         We are loved by God, cared for

Abba! Father!

By turning to God, accepting Him as Lord and Father, and knowing His son died for our sins, God removes fear of enslavement and bondage to sin that separated us.  We are His beloved children.