NL 146: Pentecost
image: “Veni Sancte Spiritus” Detail from a mosaic in the Catholic church of St Aloysius in Somers Town, London. photo by Lawrence OP (Flickr)
Romans 8:14-39
Acts 2:1-21 (see RCL notes)
Romans 8:14-17
Initial Thoughts
The Spirit of Adoption, by Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner was one of my favorite books from seminary.
She makes the argument that adoption is the primary function of God, and that the adoption process should be lifted up as the model of family-making in Christian community.
The power of adoption is one of choice and grace on the part of God, who unites all people. An adoptive family is one that is bonded by something higher than genetics and biology. This makes it a strong metaphor for the Church.
Bible Study
Literary Context
Chapter 8 is an important piece of writing. It is the summary point after Paul argues for Freedom from the Law.
This is the “so what” of the first half of Paul’s letter to the Romans
8:1 “So now there isn’t any condemnation for those who are in Christ.
8:12 “So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it isn’t an obligation to ourselves to live our lives on a the basis of selfishness.”
Freedom from the Law means freedom to live fully
Salvation from also implies salvation for
Next verse after this passage is a “Greatest Hit”: “I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us.”
Kind of surprising this isn’t included, but it does introduce another idea bout the waiting and yearning of all Creation.
Historic notes (From Spirit of Adoption)
During the time of [this letter’s] writing, Nero ruled the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. Nero was both Claudius’s stepson, through Claudius’ fourth marriage to Julia Agrippina, and Claudius’s nephew. Although Claudius had a biological son by Julia Agrippina, he adopted Nero at age 12 and made him heir to the dynasty… Adoption was an accepted and high-profile method of perpetuating a lineage. Paul would have been keenly aware of the role of adoption in the Roman world at the time… and he used this widely understood cultural process to illustrate the formation of a spiritual family. (Stevenson-Moessner p. 111)
Spirit of Slavery vs Spirit of Adoption
Spirit of Slavery: Obey, follow rules, fear punishment
Many of those who are Christian for fear of going to hell are probably in the Spirit of Slavery.
Spirit of Adoption: Welcomed, accepted, given an inheritance
Suffering and Glory
To suffer with is to have compassion. This is not about undergoing physical torment, it is about having a heart that aches for the same thing Christ aches for.
One of the most important characteristics of Jesus was his compassion (literally, suffer with).
One of the most important for Messiah is “Emmanuel” or God is with
The with-ness of Jesus is what unites us to God
Relationship with Christ leads to a relationship with God that is so intimate we can call God “Abba.”
“The word “Abba” is an Aramaic term for father. It is less formal than “Ab,” which also means father. But Abba was usually the word used in the home, as children addressed their fathers. It is easier for a child to use a two-syllable word ending in a vowel than to use a single syllable word ending with a consonant. (So “Daddy” is easier to say than “Dad,” “Mommy” is easier than “Mom,” and so on.) But of interest here also is that “Abba” is the word used by Jesus in the crucifixion scene in the Gospel of Mark (14:36, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible … ”). The use of “Abba” must also have been characteristic of Jesus’ prayers, as in the use of “Father” in the Lord’s Prayer “ (Arland Halgren, Working Preacher)
God’s Spirit Family (Paul Achtemeier, Interpretation: Romans, p. 137)
To be adopted into a family means that the adopted gains all rights, responsibilities, and privileges of being in the family. There is no differentiation between adopted and born sons and daughters.
The metaphor of adoption into God’s family is multi-faceted, and one which allows the family of Abraham to grow into the Gentile world.
“The letter to the Romans offers a contrast between the children of the Spirit and the children of the flesh. Children of the Spirit are adopted as sons and daughters and become heirs with Christ. Children of the flesh resist adoption. As in the legal process of today, there is a waiting period, according to Romans, before full adoption is completed. Suffering is to be expected with adoption, as those adopted become heirs with Christ who suffers. Yet the suffering is outweighed by the glory of the finalization of the adoption.” (Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, The Spirit of Adoption, p. 110.)
“Abba, Father,” is a term of close endearment, read “Daddy.” Only use in the Gospel is in Mark at Jesus’ final prayer before the passion. It is not translated into the other gospels, perhaps because it is such an intimate expression it made those authors uncomfortable.
Metaphor of Family of God is different than the metaphor of Body of Christ, yet that is often a popular use in congregations. Many congregations like to describe themselves as “family.” All too often, this means that they really like each other, but really don’t need anyone else. The metaphor of an actively adopting family opens up the love to all, and includes the possibility of the other because at one time we were all ‘other.’
To be adopted means to be let go of one set of parents, and adopted by another.
What we need to relinquish is self-centeredness.
Selfishness is the way of the flesh.
When selfishness is relinquished, it allows for Divine adoption.
“Those who by calling God “Father” enter his family are transformed in such a way that their former world is no longer their home. Ruled by flesh and its rebellion against God, that world cannot understand those who are at peace with God through Christ” (Achtemeier, p. 13)
“Family of God”
“Belonging to the family of God directs the character of our lives. Most of us grew up knowing key family values: things like never showing weakness in public, excelling in academics or sports, caring for those who could not care for themselves, and so forth. These guiding principles helped us know how to live and relate in the world. They reminded us of who we were and how we ought to be.” (Abingdon Preaching Annual, p. 74)
Family Values is now a politically fraught term, but perhaps it can be reclaimed. What are the values of God’s family?
“If we are children of the king, then our lives are meant to reflect God’s kingdom values.” (Abingdon Preaching Annual, p. 74)
Thoughts and Questions
Passage is a lot about identity: Who and whose are you? You are God’s child. Adopted into God and an heir to all that is God’s. Being God’s child does not prevent suffering but changes our outlook on the past, present and future. We are no longer bound by the past. We groan in the present seeing that the Kingdom is not here (having seen the first fruits as presented in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus) and we are inspired to work with God toward a better future.
Romans 8:12-25
Initial Thoughts
Interesting text as my sister-in-law is in the midst of her own labor pains
The passage continues from last week
Bible Study
Debtors?
Debtors to the Spirit
Historical Theology: Our debt has been paid to the Devil or God by Jesus death on the cross- thereby making Christians debt free.
Debt is usually bad- depending on who you owe
You owe the Spirit- your debt is to the Spirit
What does it mean to owe the Spirit?
The Spirit gives life and grace to live into the future and not be bound by the past.
Gift of love, given to liberate not obligate
Parents paying for a child’s education. “Parents do not lend to their children as a bank does, because it is love, not law, that does it. Parents lend to open the debtor to the future, not to bind him or her to the past.” - Steven Paulson, Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year A, Volume 3:
Life and Death
The way of flesh- selfishness leads to death, bound by the fear of and temptation to overcome death, death becomes your master
The way of the Spirit means to no longer be ruled by fear and death but by life.
The way of the Spirit recognizes that we are children of God- so even when things are horrific we need not succumb to selfishness and fear but to cry out to God as a child to a parent.
Hope
Being a child of God does NOT mean freedom from suffering- Christ was God’s son and Christ died and suffered. Being a child of God means we do not suffer alone or suffer needlessly, but live in hope of redemption and liberation
Hope is for the foolish- it is a belief against all belief
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Desmond Tutu
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” MLK Jr.
Hope is born out the disconnect between what is and what should be
The dis-ease and pain of the current suffering is expressed in groaning: Pain acknowledged, experienced, lived through, not denied.
The glory of resurrection doesn’t erase the agony of crucifixion - nor does it justify it. Nevertheless- resurrection, life, light is coming
Faith does not draw us out of our sufferings into a pollyannic escape, rather hope gives us the strength and courage to endure and work for a better future
Hope keeps us from falling into despair or apathetic acceptance.
Patient hope is not acquiescence.
A better future
Hope is born out of living in the Spirit and being inspired to work for a better future
Inspired = literally In-Spirit
We have seen the first fruits of the Spirit in Jesus Christ- his love, forgiveness, welcome, and grace are a glimpse of the kingdom to come
Now but not yet = First fruits but still groaning, suffering and hoping
Thoughts and Questions
What does it mean to owe a debt to God? How do we pay such a debt? Does God care if we pay it? Can we be indebted to someone (like God) for an extravagant gift given (like Grace)?
Passage is a lot about identity: Who and whose are you? You are God’s child. Adopted into God and an heir to all that is God’s. Being God’s child does not prevent suffering but changes our outlook on the past, present and future. We are no longer bound by the past. We groan in the present seeing that the Kingdom is not here (having seen the first fruits as presented in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus) and we are inspired to work with God toward a better future.
Romans 8:26-39
Initial Thoughts
Primary funeral text
One of those texts a lot of people “know”
Bible Study
Predestination
This text forms the biblical foundation for predestination- especially vs. 29-30: We know this because God knew them in advance, and he decided in advance that they would be conformed to the image of his Son. That way his Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters. Those who God decided in advance would be conformed to his Son, he also called. Those whom he called, he also made righteous. Those whom he made righteous, he also glorified.
Attempt to understand why if we are justified by faith we still suffer
Augustine - we suffer because we do not have present salvation, rather we will receive salvation at a later time.
We intentionally do not know our state of salvation to keep us faithful and keep us from being prideful.
Because salvation is something we are kept hoping for - we must suffer in order to prevent our knowledge of suffering
The Christian life therefore is a delicate balance between faith and doubt
Calvin takes this a step further by united an inward call with an assurance of salvation. “The reality of a present moment of faith is certainty of my predestined, eternal salvation.” Steven Paulson
Paul is advocating the opposite - not an internal dwelling on predestination and the unknown mind of God, but rather reliance on the Spirit of God in suffering
Christians suffer and do not know how to pray- we lose our connection with God
The Spirit gives us the words to pray and lifts our laments to God
“What is needed for faith to persevere [through suffering] is someone outside you, your own personal groaner, who gives the lament of your heart to the One who made the promise, not to the one who trusts it.” Paulson
We are predestined for God’s love, even in the midst of suffering
Suffering does not pull us from God, but rather should pull us toward God - deeper in relationship with God
Otis Moss III - Reclaiming the Blues in our Faith, “If you want to have a real relationship with someone, you need to be willing to share all your emotions: anger, joy, sorrow, despair - to have an argument”
Luke Powery- Reclaiming Lament
Good News:
What will separate us from God? Nothing
But we are being killed - nothing
But we are being persecuted - nothing
But we are suffering - nothing
Nothing separates us from God
Stan Mitchell talking about the problem with traditional evangelicalism: we made a prescription (substitutionary atonement) for a diagnosis (original sin) which was a misdiagnosis. Genesis is not a story about divine separation but about divine union! Nothing can separate us!
V. 36 is from Psalm 44:22- crying out - lament and anger toward God
Thoughts and Questions
How can we reclaim and proclaim the good news that nothing can separate us from God? So many need to hear this message: those who have been marginalized and many of us who marginalize ourselves.
How often do we look for reason why God has abandoned or rejected us?
Linda Flynn - Where did I experience God today? Instead of why has God left me - where is God around me? Where did I experience something Good, True and Beautiful today?
Are we giving ourselves and others permission to be angry with God? Are we giving voice to that? How many who are living in fear of deportation, losing healthcare, losing their jobs, fear of law enforcement, fear of neighborhood violence are feeling like they are being slaughtered like sheep and God is asleep at the switch? (Psalm 44) C
Can we give voice to the anger and reassure of God’s presence? Yes!
Good opportunity to explore the many things that threaten to separate us from God:
trouble, distress, harassment, famine, nakedness, danger, sword, death, life, angels, rulers, present things, future things, powers, height, depth
Jim Wallis - the three major things that keep from God that Christians have always responded to: Money(poverty/simplicity) - Sex(chastity/covenental) - Power(obediance/congregational)
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Thanks to our Psalms correspondent, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com,@pomopsalmist). Thank you to Scott Fletcher for our voice bumpers, Dick Dale and the Del Tones for our Theme music (“Miserlou”), Nicolai Heidlas (“Sunday Morning”,"Real Ride"and“Summertime”) and Bryan Odeen for our closing music.