Spirit of Adoption (Part 3) (Hebrews 2:14-15)
By now in our study it should be apparent that the Spirit of Adoption and the Spirit of Bondage are associated with contrasting purposes; believers in God are either ruled through the laws governed by the Spirit of Bondage, or through faith in Jesus Christ that brings the Spirit of Adoption within the faithful. With that in mind, it is worthy to consider one significant issue that is felt among those governed by the Spirit of Bondage which becomes removed by the Spirit of Adoption; Hebrews 2:14-15 declares this difference perfectly:
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)
1. Flesh and blood are subject to bondage
2. The Lord Jesus Christ took part of the flesh and blood of human beings
3. The Lord became partly human being so he could destroy the devil
4. The devil, before the Lord came, had the power of death
5. After the Lord Jesus Christ died, he destroyed the devils hold upon death
6. The Lord Jesus Christ delivers believers through the Spirit of Adoption that removes the subjection to bondage.
7. Even those Jews whose lifetime was subject to the Laws of God that placed them in bondage were given the chance to remove the fear of death from their lives
8. The Spirit of Adoption removes the fear of death from believers. The Spirit of Bondage continues to create a fear of death, since those of the law do not escape complete death to the grave
9. Those with the Spirit of Adoption are assured of being released from the power of death, the removal of the fear of death, and the interference by the devil in this regard.
How does the Spirit of Adoption remove the fear of death?
It is the Spirit of Adoption that declares believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to receive adoption by the LORD God. They become His children by possessing the Spirit of Adoption. Those that accept Christ as Savior, through faith alone, are saved. They are promised eternal life. If you have eternal life, you do not have death. Thus, if a believer possesses the Spirit of Adoption through belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, death has no effect upon him eternally. All believers are promised to live for eternity with their Lord and Savior.
So, though the Spirit of Adoption does not have an official task to remove fear, it is a natural effect when one leaves bondage to the law and embraces faith in Christ. It just happens. It’s not an official job of the Spirit of Adoption; but, once adoption is assured within a believer, and eternal life guaranteed, why would death be feared? It is only those in bondage that will experience death before they face the judgment seat of Christ to learn their eternal fate following their resurrection from the grave.
Let’s examine some Scripture to prove this summation:
Jesus tells some doubting Jews that He honors His Father and brings glory to Him by overcoming the process of death initiated by the murdering devil. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” (John 8:51)
Jesus is resurrected by the LORD God following his death from crucifixion “because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:24).
Jesus saves believers from the wrath of God through justification and salvation by His shed blood; this reconciliation promises eternal life over death.
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. “(Romans 5:6-21)
Paul explains how the baptism of Jesus Christ takes believers to their grave; upon rising from the baptismal waters believers are raised from the dead in his likeness, freeing them from the control of sin and promising life eternal because of their faith. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:3-11)
Clearly, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’s salvation with belief in His sacrifice through crucifixion, and His Resurrection and the LORD God’s promise of eternal life to all those brought to Him through His only Begotten Son, brings eternal life to believers. It is faith, and faith alone that brings eternal life.
Hebrews 2:14-15 shows us that those of faith no longer should fear death, while those under bondage will always fear death because they do not have the promise of eternal life that believers are given in faith. How are believers that have this faith separated from those under bondage to the law of God? The SPIRIT OF ADOPTION is given to every follower of Jesus Christ, and it is that Spirit that testifies of the believers belonging to Him. So though the Spirit of Adoption does not directly influence eternal life aspects, it does influence confidence. Those that have the Spirit of Adoption within them know without doubt that they will not die again; once believers have experienced the baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ, then they have received resurrection in His likeness, and will not die again. The Spirit of Adoption testifies to God of the status of the believer; it’s a big sign pointing out to God that this indeed is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and freed from dying forevermore.
The appearance of physical death does not show what actually happens to the believers’ spirits during the quickening process in the bridging of the chasm that separates believers from their Lord. One moment believers are physically dwelling within their bodies, and the next, they are ascending to the place of their God and their Lord. They do not go to their graves. They do not die again. And it is the Spirit of Adoption that gives confidence that believers need to release all fears of death that might have developed within them prior to receiving the Holy Spirits of God.
Deep Dish Discussion
When you consider that the Spirit of Adoption removes the fear of death, and analyze it with the full awareness of the disabilities created in people that fear death, then the release from that fear is notable. Our social culture today struggles with a great deal of mental illness, depression, loneliness, and paralyzing worry; often, each of these mental difficulties are associated with the fear of dying. Specifically, human beings fear many different aspects of death. These can include fear in:
a. Process of dying
b. Premature death
c. Effect upon the lives of significant others
d. Conscious death
e. Being destroyed
f. Decomposition effects upon the body
g. Entering into an unknown existence
h. Dimension of death itself. [1]
And, when you consider the wicked ways of the carnal evil ones directed by the devil to commit atrocities against innocent lives that murder in all manner of ways; it is easy to see how “death” becomes the grim reaper of the very souls of very scared people. These scared people are so crippled that they remain under bondage, not through options given to them by God, but through their weaknesses stirred by the fear of death that are rolling around inside them. With such focus upon death, God is seldom searched because it leads the scared into personal reflection at the expense of looking toward God for answers.
1. What are some examples of natural life unbeliever’s natures when they fear death? How does it cripple their day-to-day existence? What faulty life-decisions might be made when fear of death is controlling the unsaved?
2. Share with each other how your faith in Christ, and your assured belonging to God through Christ as testified by the Spirit of Adoption has risen above natural fear of death. What benefits have you gained in your own life experiences as a direct result of surety of eternal life?
3. What are the expectations of a fully-saved Christian at the time of death compared with the specific death fears of the unsaved? (Extremely helpful would be personal sharing as witnesses to deaths of known Christians compared to that of those who are not saved).
a. Process of dying
b. Premature death
c. Effects upon the lives of significant others
d. Conscious death
e. Being destroyed
f. Decomposition effects upon the body
g. Entering into an unknown existence
h. Dimension of death itself. [2]
Conclusion
The Spirit of Adoption confirms followers of Christ as children of the LORD God's with full rights of inheritance bestowed upon them from His graciousness. In our study, we have learned some of the extra benefits that come to believers when they are infused with the Spirit of Adoption as one of the six Spirits given to all Christians through their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the benefits of the Spirit of Adoption dwelling within believers include:
1. Replacement of fear of punishment by God to feelings of belonging to Him (Study of Romans 8:15)
2. Gives right of believers to call the LORD God “Abba, Father” (Study of Romans 8:15)
3. Gives followers of Christ the full inheritance rights of God (Study of Romans 8:15)
4. Removes believers from bondage and servitude of the Law of God (Study of Romans 8:15)
5. Gives glorious liberty and freedom to live the lives chosen by the believers (Study of Romans 8:20-21)
6. Removes restraint of moral corruption from believers; they cannot be enslaved again by the things of immoral depravity that leads to a nothingness of lives. (Study of Romans 8:20-21)
7. Receive full rights under the promised New Covenant made by the LORD God through His Son Jesus Christ that brings salvation to believers by faith alone (Study of Galatians 4:24)
8. Receive freedom from the New Covenant through Christ (Study of Galatians 4:24; Study of Galatians 5:1-6)
9. Gives followers of Christ the right to stand and walk in the Lord’s presence (Study of Galatians 5:1-6; Study of Luke 5:24)
10. Frees believers from the Yoke of Bondage (Study of Galatians 5:1-6)
11. Confirms to believers that it is not what they do, circumcision or uncircumcision, but what they believe that leads toward the love of God (Study of Galatians 5:2-6)
12. Makes the Law of God powerless through the arrival of the Messiah into the lives of human beings through the New Covenant with God (Study of Galatians 5:2-6)
13. Brings believers closer to the LORD God than His original Chosen People were able to come (Study of Galatians 5:2-6)
14. Delivers believers from the hands of the devil, bondage, and death (Study of Hebrews 2:14-15)
15. Removes the fear of death by confirming the belonging to God through the Spirit of Adoption’s presence (Study of Hebrews 2:14-15)
There are no prayers required to move the Spirit of Adoption. It is a permanent Spirit within a living believer that has received Baptism of the Holy Spirit after faith in Christ is expressed and His baptism is received. The Spirit of Adoption dwells within every follower of Jesus Christ, and brings more than just inheritance rights to believers; in final analysis, it is this Spirit that gives all of Christ’s followers a full confidence that they belong to the family of God, and that status will remain unchanged for eternal life.
Bibliography
Hoelter, Jon W., and Rita J. Epley. "Religious Correlates of Fear of Death." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 18, no. 4 (1979): 404-411.