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). Paul is intent on telling Christians something the Spirit of God does do, and something the Spirit emphatically does not do. Paul insists the Spirit of God does not bring a slavish fear but rather an affectionate crying out to God as our Father.
Father
What Does It Mean For God to Be Our Father?
In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith (Galatians 3:26). At a men’s breakfast some time ago, I shared the following thoughts about what it means for God to be our father. If you are not a father it should bless, humble, and encourage you; if you are a father it should bless, humble, and inspire you to be a better father — a father more like God. Here are at least 15 implications from Scripture to the profound truth that God is our father:
God Is the Ultimate Leadership Role Model
The following content came from a January 2009 men’s breakfast at which I spoke. It is a sobering, awe-inspiring, standard-raising thing for God to say to us: “Be holy like I am holy.” The outline below includes just some of the many meditations that we might biblically derive from the call to be God-imitators: