Romans 8:15
There are only two ways to relate to God. As a slave relates to a master. Or as a child relates to a father.
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.'”
Romans 8:15 · NKJV
How You Pray Tells the Truth
Paul says you didn’t receive the spirit of slavery. You received the Spirit of adoption. And the proof is in how you pray. Slaves beg. Children cry out. Slaves approach with fear. Children approach with confidence. Slaves worry about being fired. Children know they belong.
How do you pray? That question will tell you which spirit you’re living under.
The Word
The Greek word for adoption is huiothesia — literally “son-placement.” In Roman law, adoption was a formal, legal, irreversible act. A father would take a child — often a slave or a foreigner — and publicly declare, “This is my son.” The moment that declaration was made, three things happened: all the child’s old debts were cancelled, the child’s old identity was erased, and the child became a full heir, with the same rights as a biological son.
And here’s the weight of it: under Roman law, a father could sell his biological son into slavery. But he could never disown an adopted son. Adoption was more permanent than biology. This is the gospel. You were a slave. You were in debt. You had no rights. The Father took you, placed you as His son, and declared it publicly. Your debts are cancelled. Your old identity is erased. You are a full heir. And you can never be disowned.
The Cry
“Abba, Father.” Abba is Aramaic — the intimate, familial word. It’s what a child calls his father at the dinner table. Not “Your Excellency.” Not “Sir.” Not “Master.” Abba. Dad.
Slaves don’t call their masters “Dad.” Only sons do. And the Spirit of adoption is the one who makes that cry possible. You don’t work your way into that intimacy. You receive it. It’s given. It’s the Spirit Himself crying out through you.
The Slavery
“You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear.” Paul is warning them — and us — against going back. Against living like slaves when we’ve been made sons.
The spirit of slavery shows up in how we relate to God. We perform. We beg. We worry. We wonder if we’ve done enough. We fear we’ll be rejected. We approach God like employees approaching a boss — hoping for approval, dreading disapproval. This is not the gospel. This is the spirit of bondage. And Paul says you did not receive it. You received something else entirely.
His Slavery Purchased Your Sonship
Jesus is the only begotten Son. The natural heir. The one who had every right to the Father’s house. And He went to the cross so that slaves could be made sons. He was treated as a slave — stripped, beaten, rejected, killed — so that we could be treated as sons — clothed, welcomed, seated at the table, made heirs.
Galatians 4:4–5 puts it this way: “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” The cross is the transaction. His slavery purchased your sonship.
Sit With It
- How do you pray? Like a slave begging a master, or like a child crying to a father?
- Where in your life are you performing for God instead of resting in His adoption?
- Do you live like someone who can be disowned, or like someone who has been permanently placed?
Prayer
Abba, I’ve been living like a slave. Performing. Begging. Worrying. Wondering if I’ve done enough. Forgive me. You adopted me. You placed me as Your son. My debts are cancelled. My old identity is erased. I am a full heir. I cannot be disowned. Teach me to pray like a child. Teach me to cry “Abba.” Amen.