Romans 8:14-17
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 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.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
The great Christian reformer and theologian, Martin Luther, uses these great verses as evidence for what he calls the, “paradox of freedom.” You see through our adoption as God’s children, we are set free but at the same time we are bound to God’s work in the world through Jesus Christ. This means that in response to our freedom we become servants of Christ in the world. This is an interesting thought that we are free yet freed to be servants. How have you seen this paradox play out in your walk of faith?
