THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 19 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)
" . . . by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
It is "by" or "through" the Holy Spirit that we "cry out, Abba. Father." To "cry" conveys the idea of energetic and loud calls. "Cry" is translated from a word that means "cry out, cry aloud, and speak with a loud voice" – exclaiming. It is not a gentle word, and does not convey the idea of a soft and casual plea. This is best explained by the Spirit's reference to our Lord's agony in the garden. In that awful hour, when our Lord struggled with the terrible involvements of His imminent death, He cried, "ABBA, FATHER, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt" (Mk 14:36). The book of Hebrews refers to this prayer as Jesus offering up "prayers and supplications WITH STRONG CRYING AND TEARS" (Heb 5:7). There is certainly nothing casual or childlike about that!
This is a cry of absolute dependence, pushed up to heaven by pressing circumstances and a keen sense of the helplessness of the flesh. It is a call for Divine support, strength, and direction. It is also an insightful call in which the personal relationship to God is known, as well as His Sovereign ability. This is a cry of confidence, where a loud voice is raised toward heaven in expectation of being heard and receiving needed resources. It is expressed with the awareness that our times are God's hands (Psa 31:15).
Galatians 4:6 declares precisely the same thing taught in our text. "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." In both texts, the cry is associated with the influence of Holy Spirit. It is not the personal cry of the Spirit Himself, for God is not His Father. He is a, "eternal Spirit" (Heb 9:14), and thus has not been begotten. The cry "Abba, Father," is expressed by the children of God through the power and direction of the Holy Spirit.
"ABBA, FATHER"
There is a lot of nonsense taught by some regarding this phrase – "Abba, Father." Some affirm "Abba" is a synonym for "Daddy" or "Pappa," expressing a sort of childlike reliance upon the Father. I have found no standard Greek lexicon that suggests this is the case (Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Louw-Nida Greek Lexicon, UBS Greek Dictionary, Friberg Greek Lexicon, Liddell-Scott Greek Lexicon). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia admits to no such meaning. Nelson's Bible Dictionary says the word Abba "corresponds to our ‘Daddy' or ‘Pappa.'" Unger's Bible Dictionary also states "Abba" is an Aramaic word, saying "It answers to our word "Pappa." Robertson, in his Word Pictures, says it is "the Aramaic word for father." Fausset's Bible Dictionary says it corresponds to the Greek word for "father." Smith's Bible Dictionary also defines it as meaning "father."
While there may be an element of truth to the word "Abba" relating to juvenile dependence and fondness, it is certainly minuscule and unworthy of emphasis. To make such associations with the Spirit's use of "Abba" is, in my judgment, an attempt to impose casual Western culture upon the Word of God. The family relations of Western culture were not the manners of the Eastern world. There was a level of respect among the ancient people that is scarcely known in our society.
In all three places where the word "Abba" is used, it is joined with the word "Father." It is never used alone (Mk 14:36; Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6). The word "Abba" is a Syriac, or Chaldean word. It was used, authorities say, by the Jews also. We are told there was a law among the Jews that forbade servants to call their masters "Abba" (Haldane). This is confirmed in the Hebrew canon, Berachoth, vol. 16.2. It appears to me that these views are to be seen in the word "Abba." It was a word intended only for sons, not servants, and depicted a degree of confidence that only comes when the individual is convinced of his sonship.
There is a twofold teaching in this word. First, there is no longer a division between Jew and Gentile in Christ Jesus. Both come to God as their "Father." Second, we do not approach unto God as mere servants, with no inheritance or rights. Rather, we come as sons, with rights and privileges that have been righteously conferred upon us through the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. We have been freed to come to God, and the Spirit assists our coming by enabling us to confidently cry out "Abba!"
The word "Abba" is a transliterated word, with the letters simply being converted to another language, rather than translating the word. That makes the word universal, like "Amen" and "Hallelujah." From this perspective, all believers everywhere call upon the Father with one voice. In this, there an acknowledgment of our oneness in Christ.
I want to emphasize that this is NOT an infantile cry, but one of spiritual maturity. Insight and strong faith characterize it, neither of which is childish. It comes from one engaged in a fierce battle with the flesh. The use of the word "Daddy" in reference to God can only be used when dominated by spiritual ignorance. No person acutely aware of the Almighty God could approach Him in such a casual manner. Such an approach is not found before, during, or after the Law. Nowhere did anyone, including the Son of God Himself, ever approach God with such a frame of spirit. This is a cry evoked by the Holy Spirit of God, and He does not Himself speak as one who is immature, nor does He moves God's children to do so. He traffics in "the deep things of God" (1 Cor 2:10), and does not lisp to us in infant-like speech.
When our text says "we cry out," it does not mean we cry out like a squalling infant. Rather, we cry out as those engaged in the good fight of faith, often oppressed, and dwelling among the "bulls of Bashan" (Psa 22:12). "We cry out" with insight, longing, and a keen sense of our relationship to the Living God, as well as what all of that suggests. Only the Holy Spirit could move us to callout in such a manner.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for the Holy Spirit who moves me to call out to You in times of human helplessness and need. I praise Your name through Jesus Christ for showing me how much I need You.