Session 4.21: May 15, 2026

Study session scripture: Romans 8:15-25

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!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 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. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Study session topics:

• Children of God (vv. 15-17)

• Here Paul fully lays out how profound our new standing with God is

• Paul briefly touched on it in 5:1-5 -Peace with God--we are no longer God's enemies

• This grace in which we stand--we have a new standing before God

• We are not merely slaves or servants of God (though we are those things as well)

• "Adoption"--this word choice is important

• Only Paul uses this word in the New Testament, and it doesn't appear in the Old Testament at all

• How close to God are we as sons? The Holy Spirit allows us to call Him "Abba! Father!"--the same term of address Christ used in Mark 14:36 -Paul says the Holy Spirit bears witness with us that we are children of God--how does the Spirit bear witness?

• Evidence of the Spirit's presence within us--the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

• The Spirit produces in us a willingness to suffer for Christ

• Persecution--we will be mistreated by the world for our allegiance to God (Matthew 5:11-12, John 15:18-20)

• Purification--God will give us difficult circumstances to further sanctify us (Hebrews 12:7-11)

• As part of the full rights of sonship that adoption entails, Paul declares us to be heirs of God with Christ

• What does it mean to be an heir of God?

• Our final future state--glorified in heaven

• Our present circumstances--God lavishes His love and blessings on us

• In both cases, the true inheritance is God Himself

• Hope of future glory

• Paul transitions to this topic by declaring that our suffering in this life is insignificant compared to the indescribable glory we will one day experience -Paul restates this idea in II Corinthians 4:16-17

• Paul is speaking from experience

• Paul broadens the principle of suffering giving way to glory and applies it to all of creation, specifically non-rational creation

• The picture Paul paints of the cosmos is distinct from the way an atheist would describe it--Paul talks about a universe that has a purpose, has lost that purpose, and looks forward to the restoration of that purpose

• The imagery and words Paul uses point to the fall in Genesis 3 and the frustration of the teacher in Ecclesiastes

• At the same time, creation desires to be set free of the fall and be made new, as God promised He would (Isaiah 11:6-9)

• At the end of the passage , Paul again narrows his focus to his audience to address the dissonance we feel and our hope for its resolution

• The "first fruits of the Spirit" does not refer to the fruit of the Spirit, but rather the first portion of the Christian's inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14) -Earlier Paul treats our adoption as something that has already occurred--here he speaks of it as something yet to happen

• We have become part of God's family, but we do not yet have full rights and inheritance because we are not yet who we ought to be

• Paul finishes this point by reminding us that these glorious things are still to come, and we anticipate them in hope that "does not put us to shame" (5:5)

Study session audio: