THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 16 of 30 – Tomorrow:
"Therefore, brethren, 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 as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 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." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)
"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear . . . "
Other versions read as follows. "For you have NOT received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again" (NASB). "For you did NOT receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear" (NIV). "For you did NOT receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear" (NRSV). "For you did NOT get the spirit of servants again to put you in fear" (BBE). "So you should NOT be like cowering, fearful slaves" (NLT). "For what you received was NOT the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear" (NJB).
This verse confirms the truth declared in Second Timothy. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear . . . " (1:7). By this, the Spirit means that in Christ, we have not been brought into a condition that strikes fear into the heart, like Israel when they received the Law at Sinai. Salvation is not a circumstance where we are dominated by torment and anxiety, fearful of being rejected by the Lord we have embraced. Many believers live under the cloud of doubt, unable to rest confidently in the Lord. They daily wonder if they have done anything that may have excluded them from the Lord's favor, even though they desire only to please Him. Their fears have been produced by a Law-approach to God. This is an approach that relies on human effort alone, and it generates much fear – fear that debilitates and induces weakness of heart.
YOU DID NOT RECEIVE
Salvation does involve RECEIVING. It is not a program that requires achievement before reception. Rather, in Christ achieving follows receiving. Because of the warfare inside of the believer, it is first stated that we have NOT received the spirit of bondage again to fear. The conflict with the flesh is apt to produce bondage within the believer, particularly if it is not understood. Immediately, therefore, the Spirit assures our hearts that what we have been given in Christ in no way enslaves the believer. "It was for freedom that Christ set us free," not for bondage (Gal 5:1).
THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE
The "spirit of bondage" is the result of being under the Law. Paul has already described this bondage. "But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died" (7:8-9). Rather than the Law liberated men from sin, it actually resulted in their enslavement to sin. This was because their nature was not changed. As a result, the Law enhanced the conflict between men and God, offering no resolution for the dilemma.
But there is more to this liberty. The bondage that is NOT brought on by salvation is also that of being a "slave" to fear itself (NIV), or a bondage that "leads to fear" (NASB). This is a fear that pushes one away from he Lord, making one afraid to approach Him. Dominated by such fear, men learn to live at a distance from God, which posture necessarily makes them a slave to sin.
When sinners are told the truth about sin and its alienating effects, yet are provided no remedy for their condition, they are even more enslaved to sin. Cast upon their own resources, they are dashed upon the rocks of despair. Fear then enters with great power, driving the guilty from the presence of the Lord, and destroying any hope of recovery.
The "spirit of bondage" compels men to view themselves as enemies of God, alienated from Him, and dominated by the law of sin. This is precisely what moves men to say Christians are just like the Israelites of old, recalcitrant and wayward. It is what causes men to immerse themselves in religious activities, all the while remaining aloof from God, fearful to come into His presence.
This fearfulness has to do with being in the presence of the Lord. It does not mean being afraid of men, or of circumstances. Rather, it has to do with drawing back from the Lord (Heb 10:38-39), because of the misconception that He is austere, and looking for a reason to condemn. This is accentuated by the inner conflict believers experience. The fearful suppose the presence of the "law of sin" with them (Rom 7:23) causes them to be condemned, or at least judged harshly, by the Lord. They are unable to distinguish between "the law of sin" and sin itself. As a result, they are afraid of being in the presence of the Lord.
AGAIN
The word "again" reminds us of our former state under the Law. The Law condemned us for the very thoughts with which we now struggle. When we were under the Law, we did not hate those thoughts as we do now. However, the Law condemned us because they were present in our persons: i.e., "Thou shalt not covet!"
This is not the kind of spirit we have received in Christ Jesus. To put it another way, we have not simply received a new set of rules – a new law that is to be executed in the energy of the flesh. The New Covenant is "not according" to the covenant made with Israel (Heb 8:9). It is of another order. It is another kind of covenant. We were not simply given a new set of rules, and a new start with a clean slate. Rather, we received a new nature, and, by the Holy Spirit, the power to maintain it. THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH IS TO BE FOUGHT!
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank you through Jesus Christ for deliverance from enslavement to fear. Multiply grace and peace to me in order that I may honor You by remaining free.