“15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
In the previous verses, Paul called those who are led by God’s Spirit, God’s Sons:
“For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.” — Romans 8:14
In verse 15, Paul wishes to draw a distinction between that of a slave and that of a son, both of which Paul has used as analogies for how Christians relate to God. For those of us in Christ, we no longer have to be fearful. We do not need to fear death. We should not fear sin or its consequences. Sin and death have no claim over those who are redeemed in Christ Jesus! This is not to say that when we do wrong, God will not punish us. He may choose to discipline us when we rebel against him, and rightly so. There is a vast difference, though, in God’s action towards those who are saved in Christ and those who are not. Those who are saved in Christ will face the loving, corrective discipline of God for their sin. Those who are not saved will face the full wrath of God for their sin on the day of judgment.
In these verses, Paul uses words like “adoption” and “Father” to describe our relationship to God. He says in verse 15a that we are not as slaves, but rather, as sons! Yet, in Romans 6:16, Paul told us we are slaves of the one whom we obey, which now in Christ we are slaves to righteousness and slaves to God.
“Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey — either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.” — Romans 6:16-19
How is it possible to reconcile these two statements? Is it possible to be both a slave and a son? Yes! The difference between the two is not as great as we might think. A slave or a son, especially at the time of Paul’s writings, would both be responsible to their master/father, having been delegated certain tasks and watching over the household in various ways. Both are subject to consequences from their master/father when their responsibilities are not met. Both are cared/provided for by their master/father. The biggest difference is in their inheritance. The son inherits what his father has passed down, but the slave does not. So it is a fact that we are both slaves and adopted sons of God. We are slaves in that God demands obedience and responsibility and we are obligated to give that to him. However, we are not merely slaves, but sons also! We are sons in that we have an inheritance with Christ, which is eternal life to all who believe in Christ and repent of their sins. Why is it important to articulate it in this way? If it were any different, the illustration would error. If we are only God’s sons, but not His slaves, then we are owed an inheritance from God. It would be our birthright to accept what God has given us. If we are only slaves, then we have no inheritance from God. We would obey our master simply because we have to. However, since we are both slaves and adopted sons, we serve God as obedient slaves, we care for His kingdom with our time, talents, and resources, and we know that we are deeply loved by God, as a father loves his children. Not only that, we know that we have an inheritance with Him, which is a gift given to us in our adoption, which is perfect righteousness and eternal life through Christ Jesus for all who repent and believe.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians speaks of being a slave, and yet a son and heir of God.
“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise. Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.” — Galatians 3:29-4:1-7
These verses solidify the idea that being both a son of God and a slave of God are not at odds with each other. These verses also indicate that it is our status as sons that allows us to receive the Holy Spirit, who helps us to better worship and honor God.