February 1, 2026
”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.“- Romans 8:15 (NIV)
Romans 8 NIV centers on the massive shift from being a “slave” to becoming a “child” of the Living God. It is the ultimate biblical description of the “pull-out”-going from the pit of despair into the security of a family.
Our Permanent Adoption:Breakdown of Romans 8:15 NIV
”The Spirit you received”. Also described in Romans 8 as the Spirit of Adoption, is another name for the Holy Spirit-the Spirit of God who was sent to be our Helper. The job of this “Internal Witness” is to “testify” to our heart that we belong to God and to be the “legal seal” on our adoption papers. In the context of Romans 8:15, the Greek word for testify (summartureo) means to “bear witness together or to corroborate by concurrent evidence.”
Legal terms can be confusing. So, essentially, to testify is the act of someone giving evidence to confirm or prove a fact. The Holy Spirit’s job is to give evidence to and remind us/our hearts that we have been adopted by God. We have gone through the process and have legally been adopted by the Father-we are co-heirs with Christ.
The “Double Witness” in Our Hearts
We, actually, have two witnesses telling our hearts that we are children of God.
- Our own spirit: Our spirit, that we’ve had since conception, is confirming the adoption. Our spirit, that has been renewed with the acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Savior is telling our heart that we love and belong to Him. This spirit isn’t as reliable as the Holy Spirit, who never waivers. Our spirit gets caught up in the “stuff” of life and sometimes begins to doubt. Deep down, once we get past all the “stuff”, it knows who we belong to.
- The Holy Spirit: This Spirit, who came to dwell within us, is reconfirming what our spirit knows deep down. He is saying “Yes! What you know is true: you are a beloved child of God.” This Spirit never waivers or doubts the fact of the adoption.
The testifying in our hearts is not a feeling-a come-and-go emotion; it’s an “inner conviction” in the deepest part of our soul. The testifying to our heart isn’t a one-and-done thing either. It is a lifelong conversation that continues whenever we slip or doubt and fear threatens to overtake us. So, the testifying happens whenever we need to be reminded.
Rejection of Fear
”Does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again”: Before the “rescue” or “pull-out” the totality of our lives consisted of a “backlog” of fear, guilt, shame, and anxiety. We were slaves to sin and the fear of never being good enough to please a holy God. Paul is saying, in Romans 8, that once we are in Christ, the old spirit of slavery to sin is permanently evicted or kicked out. We are no longer anchored to the fear of failure or that God is a distant, angry judge. God didn’t rescue us from one master only to put us under another.
The Spirit of Adoption
“Rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption into sonship”: In ancient Roman culture, when a father adopted a child, it was a legal act that gave the child full rights as a natural-born heir. The adopted child was legally “pulled-out” of their old life. All debts were canceled and they were given full legal rights and “sovereign authority” . This allows/authorizes us to use and act with the authority of the Father’s name. The “sovereign authority” means a lot for us, being children of God. By being adopted by God, we have the right to:
- Use God’s name as a shield. We can use the Name of Jesus to fend off the “evil ones” or the “fog” of depression and anxiety. We aren’t using our own power; we are using God’s identity. It’s like saying, “You aren’t dealing with a slave anymore (Satan, depression,stress); you’re dealing with a son/daughter of the Creator of the universe.” Luke 10:17-18 (NIV)says that “…Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- As discussed in the January 31st post, we have “Landlord Rights to Evict”. The authority of His name allows us to “evict” the lies the enemy tries to tell us. We use the Name of Jesus to tell those thoughts, “No! I am not permitting you here. In the Name of Jesus I command you to leave!”
- A slave has to beg for help. A slave generally gets no help and has nothing that belongs to them. A child with the Father’s name, simply has to claim what already belongs to them. We have the authorized right to peace, joy, and a sound mind.
Our adoption into the family of God was His “intentional act” to bring us in closer relationship with Him.
The Intimacy of “Abba”
”And by him we cry, “Abba, Father””: “Abba” is an Aramaic word that translates most closely to “Papa” or “Daddy”. It is the most tender, and intimate way to address God. It shows a close, secure relationship where we can approach God with childlike trust rather than trembling fear.
The Hebrew word for “cry” (krazomen) speaks of a “loud, emotional shout”. It’s the cry of a child who knows that when they call out, their Father will immediately come to help them. We can “cry” out to our Father and “know” that He will come. He will hold our right hand (Isaiah 41:13 NIV)and (January 29th post).
No Longer a Slave to Fear:Romans 8 Devotional
When we are experiencing a season of depression or anxiety from the growing mountains of “stuff” or fear about the future, the attitude of our heart often shifts to one of slavery.We feel like a servant, fearfully waiting for the Master to walk in and find fault. We feel like everything we’re doing is wrong and everyone can see it. But Romans 8:15 NIV tells us that the Spirit we received did not make us a slave to fear. God has legally changed our status to one of a child.
Slave Spirit vs. Son Spirit
- The Slave Spirit: Lives in constant despair. The slave is always looking for the next mistake or the next punishment. If the slave gets “behind” in their work, they become filled with fear. They fear discipline, being cast aside, or what the future holds for them. The slave spirit has the belief that their worth is based solely on performance, leaving them in a constant place of anxiety over potential failure. In this mindset, we view God as a distant judge waiting for us to “screw up”; instead of the tender, loving Father that He is.
- The Son Spirit: Lives in constant”Abba” security. A son/daughter knows that even if they ”mess up”, are weak, or overwhelmed, their place in the home is permanent. They don’t work for love; they work from love. For us, that means we have been pulled out of the “mess” or “pit” we’ve gotten ourselves into. With the Son Spirit we are no longer defined by past mistakes, but in the fact that God delights in us. It is an intentional mindset of belonging. The sense of belonging that, no matter what, takes the place of the fear and anxiety felt by the Slave Spirit. We have the security of an heir, knowing we can never be “evicted” from the Father’s love.
It is a tender confidence that let’s us cry out “Abba” in the middle of our storm and the knowledge that He will take hold of our right hand.
“Sovereign Authority”:Using the Father’s Name According to Romans 8
Because we have received the Spirit of Adoption, we have been given full legal rights as a child of God. We are also “fully authorized” to use the Father’s name. This is our “Power of Attorney” over the enemy. When the “evil ones” or the lies of depression and fear try to move into our mind, we don’t have to fight them with our own strength. We have the full power of God behind us. We are issuing an eviction notice when we present the “Adoption Papers” of Romans 8:15 NIV and use the name of Jesus. As we see in James 4:7 (NIV), when we resist the enemy under the Father’s authority, they are legally required to flee.
Application:Listening for the Testimony
Applying this message today means “choosing” to listen to the Testimony of the Spirit over the noise of your anxiety and fear. When the “Slave Spirit” whispers that you aren’t doing enough, talk back to it:
- Identify the Voices: “Is this voice making me feel like a slave or a son?”
- Claim Your Place: Say out loud, “I am an adopted child of God. I have the final say over this space.”
- Call on Abba: Simply whisper, “Abba, Father, help me.” He is the “Supreme Guardian” who holds your right hand.
A Final Charge:Walk in Your True Identity
You must stop allowing the “slave spirit” to dictate the atmosphere of your home and heart. When the enemy tries to tell you that you are alone or failing, you must show him your adoption papers. You are not a servant waiting for a performance review, you are a child of the Living God, who has been given sovereign authority over every lie of the enemy. Stand up in your “legal authority” today. Use the Father’s Name to evict the darkness and take your rightful place as a beloved heir of the Almighty.
Stick Note Minute: “I have adoption papers!”
Glory Be to the Supreme Guardian
All glory belongs to the Father, our Supreme Guardian, who saw us in our slavery and chose to make us His own. We praise You, Abba, for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who testifies to our hearts that we are Yours. We give You honor for a love that doesn’t just rescue us from the pit but brings us all the way to the family table. Thank You for the authorized Name of Jesus, the Name that makes the enemy flee and gives us peace that never fails.
AMEN
Abba, Father, I thank You that I am no longer a slave to fear. Thank You for the Spirit of Adoption that lives inside of me, reminding me every day that I belong to You. When the “fog” and “waves” roll in, help me to remember my true identity and the authority I have in Your Name. I choose to rest in Your supreme guardianship today. In Jesus’ precious Name I pray, Amen.
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