1. Follow along at www.armchairtheology.org
Living as Children of God
Follow along at

2. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Adoption in America (as of 2016)
1 out of 25 families have adopted a child.
40% of adoptions come from the foster care system.
14% of adoptions involve children from other countries.
The U. S. adopts more children than any other country.
40% of adoptions involve a different race, culture or
ethnicity.
33% of adoptions are to single parents.

3. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Putting to Death (verses 12-13)
In verse 13, the ESV says “put to death.”
The King James uses the word “mortify.”
Mortification (as used in verse 13) means a ruthless,
full-hearted resistance to sinful practice.
As Christians, we should not play games with sin.

4. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)

5. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Putting to Death (verses 12-13)
Another definition of mortification means changing one’s
motivation to sin by remembering to apply the gospel.
The process of mortification goes much deeper than
just resisting sinful behavior.
Sin can only be cut off at the root if we constantly
expose ourselves to the love of Christ (the Gospel.)

6. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Putting to Death (verses 12-13)
We kill sin in the Spirit when we turn from sinful
practices and turn our hearts from sinful motivations with
a sense of our debt to love and grace, by minding things
of the Spirit.

7. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Preaching Grace ot our Minds (verses 12-13)
Our lives are expressions of our minds.
The way to address sin in our lives is by preaching
the gospel to our minds every day.

8. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Divine Adoption (verses 14-16)

9. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Divine Adoption (verses 14-16)
The moment the adoption was finalized, several things
happened to the new son / heir:
Their old debts and obligations were paid.
2. They received their new father’s name.
3. They became heir of their new father’s property.
4. The father became liable for the actions of the son.
5. The new son had an obligation to honor his new father.

10. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Who God’s Children Are (verses 14-15)
According to verse 14, what makes us a son of God?
Romans 8:14 – “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

11. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Who God’s Children Are (verses 14-15)
According to verse 14, what makes us a son of God?
Romans 8:14 – “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Everyone who is led by the Spirit is a son of God AND

12. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Who God’s Children Are (verses 14-15)
According to verse 14, what makes us a son of God?
Romans 8:14 – “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Everyone who is led by the Spirit is a son of God AND
No one adopted by the Father will fail to be led by the
Holy Spirit.

13. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Privileges of Sonship (verses 15-17)
“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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.” (Romans 8:15-17)

14. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Privileges of Sonship (verses 15-17)
“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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.” (Romans 8:15-17)
Security – (verse 15a)

15. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Privileges of Sonship (verses 15-17)
“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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.” (Romans 8:15-17)
Authority – (verse 15a)

16. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Privileges of Sonship (verses 15-17)
“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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.” (Romans 8:15-17)
Intimacy – (verse 15b)

17. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Privileges of Sonship (verses 15-17)
“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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.” (Romans 8:15-17)
Assurance – (verse 16)

18. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Privileges of Sonship (verses 15-17)
“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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.” (Romans 8:15-17)
Inheritance – (verse 17)

19. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Privileges of Sonship (verses 15-17)
“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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.” (Romans 8:15-17)
Discipline – (verse 17)

20. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Privileges of Sonship (verses 15-17)
“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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.” (Romans 8:15-17)
Family likeness – (verse 17)

21. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Two Spirits (verses 15)
“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!”  (Romans 8:15)
Obedience
Slave – obeys because they have to
Son – obeys out of love and joy for “Daddy”

22. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Two Spirits (verses 15)
“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!”  (Romans 8:15)
Discipline
Slave – works under threat of pain or loss
Son – views discipline as loving instruction

23. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Two Spirits (verses 15)
“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!”  (Romans 8:15)
Security
Slave – if they slip up, they will be punished
Son – if they slip up, they will be forgiven

24. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Two Spirits (verses 15)
“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!”  (Romans 8:15)
Focus
Slave – concentrates on external behavior and rule following
Son – concentrates on relationships and attitudes

25. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Two Spirits (verses 15)
“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!”  (Romans 8:15)
Honor
Slave – must work and receives no honor
Son – is honored, and is invited to join the work

26. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Is It Really Worth It? (verses 17-22)
We will suffer with Christ in order that we may be
glorified with him.

27. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Is It Really Worth It? (verses 17-22)
Is the inheritance that we will receive worth it?
Instead of futility, creation will experience freedom
from futility.
Instead of decay, there will be strength and newness.
Instead of pain, there will be only joy.
The world is giving birth to a new version of itself.

28. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Labor Pangs and Firstfruits (verse 23)
Present pain and future glory explain why the Christian
will “groan inwardly” as we “wait eagerly” as creation
does, and as a woman in labor does.

29. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Labor Pangs and Firstfruits (verse 23)
“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who
have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we
wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies.” (Romans 8:23)
Paul points out one thing we have and one thing we don’t:

30. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Labor Pangs and Firstfruits (verse 23)
“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who
have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we
wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies.” (Romans 8:23)
Paul points out one thing we have and one thing we don’t:
We have the first fruits of the Spirit.

31. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Labor Pangs and Firstfruits (verse 23)
“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who
have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we
wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies.” (Romans 8:23)
Paul points out one thing we have and one thing we don’t:
We have the first fruits of the Spirit.
We do not have (and eagerly await) our adoption as
sons, the redemption of our bodies.

32. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)
Labor Pangs and Firstfruits (verse 23)
We wait eagerly and patiently, knowing that the pain of
this world will pass, and that this life is not all there is.

33. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)

34. Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-27)