Romans 8:15 (NIVUK)
15 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.’
I was talking to someone this week who shared with me words from the writer of Ecclesiastes, often held to be King Solomon, son of King David, who said:
‘13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.‘ (Eccl. 12:13-15)
This, they insisted was the message of the Bible. On one level they are right, God is god and we shouldn’t forget that, and yes, of course we should obey him. But is this God’s final word? Is this the whole story? I’m not convinced; it doesn’t feel like the God I’ve come to know through Jesus. Surely the message of the Bible is that Jesus has kept God’s commands on our behalf, something we cannot do, and has been faithful in our name. Through his faithfulness we are brought into a different relationship, a relationship based not on fear and trembling obedience, but on family love. Through Jesus, we are welcomed as God’s children! We still seek to be obedient, but not because we need to earn God’s favour – we already have that – but in response to his grace and compassion. As Dzifa said yesterday, we are not saved by good deeds but for good deeds.
Father, thank you for the Spirit’s assurance that we are welcomed by you as your children!
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