You Belong: Embracing Your Adoption in Christ

There’s a big difference between being inspired by Jesus and being transformed by Him. Inspiration fades, but transformation changes everything. Romans 8 reminds us that God doesn’t call us to a surface-level faith. He invites us into the fullness of life as His children—free from fear, filled with His Spirit, and confident of our place in His family.

Many people want just enough Jesus. Enough to feel comforted, enough to wear a cross necklace, enough to show up on Sunday—but not enough to actually change their lives. Paul’s words challenge that shallow view of faith. He says bluntly: if you live for the flesh, it leads to death. But when you hand your life over to the Spirit, the things that were killing you lose their power.

That’s not about trying harder—it’s about surrender. Sin doesn’t just disappear because you want it gone. It loses its grip when you finally hand it over to God.

Think about it: the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. That’s not theory—that’s reality. When you believed the gospel, God’s Spirit entered your life and declared, “This one is mine.” Paul calls this adoption. You are no longer a slave to fear but a child who gets to cry out, “Abba, Father!”

“Abba” isn’t a stiff title—it’s the word of a child running into their dad’s arms. It’s trust without calculation, love without hesitation. God didn’t save you reluctantly. He saw your whole life, past and future, and still chose you.

Being God’s child means more than identity—it means inheritance. Paul says we are coheirs with Christ. Imagine sitting at the family table, not as an outsider or a guest, but as someone with a seat reserved in your name. Everything that belongs to Christ is shared with you.

Of course, Paul also points out that if we share in Christ’s glory, we share in His suffering. That may sound heavy, but suffering isn’t the focus—it’s the backdrop. Whatever hardship we face, it’s nothing compared to the glory waiting for us.

So how do we actually live like children of God? Not by gritting our teeth and trying to produce better behavior. That’s like stapling fake fruit onto a tree—it looks good for a while, but it isn’t alive. Real spiritual fruit comes from abiding in Christ.

Stay connected to Him through prayer, worship, and community, and the Spirit will grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in your life. When you feel dry, don’t pull away—lean in. The fire isn’t rekindled by distance but by closeness.

At the heart of Romans 8 is this truth: you are not a slave. You are not defined by sin or shame. You are a beloved son or daughter of God, marked by His Spirit, destined for His glory.

So when temptation pulls at you, when suffering tests you, or when fear whispers in your ear—remember who you are. You belong to the Father who has already claimed you. Live today with one prayer on your lips: “God, help me be found faithful.”

This blog is based on a message preached by Student and Family Pastor Steven Scifers on Sunday, August 17, as part of the Romans: The Righteousness of God series. You can watch the full message here.