Fellowship with God

The flow of words in Romans 8:14-17 reveal much about our relationship with God and how he communicates to us, especially verse 16. I used to think when God talked to people, He thundered or spoke with a voice that sounded like He was in an echo chamber. Those were the days I thought He was pretty scary.  God is spirit and it is through spirit that He can impress or lead anyone in an uncomplicated way.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit (God) itself beareth witness with (summarturei) our spirit (gift of holy spirit), that we are the children of God:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with (sunklēronomoi) Christ; if so be that we suffer with (sumpaschomen) him, that we may be also glorified together (sundoxasthōmen).

Notice the Greek words in parentheses. They start with the same root word 'sun'( 'sum') which means: with, in association with , intimate relation with, or a fellowship with. There is another more common word used for 'with' in the New Testament. It is the greek word 'meta', but 'meta' is not as tight a relationship as 'sun'.  I have heard the word 'sun' described as 'two rivers that flow into one'.

The beauty of spirit of God in tight relation to our own spirit is thrilling. It is followed by 'heir, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ'! When a word is repeated like this it places added emphasis on the word.

 John relates a similar message in I John 1:3.

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. I John 1:3

Because we are joint-heirs with Christ, we can also be subject to the persecution suffered by Christ as anyone who has stood for God and His son has readily experienced, but that also means the glory is to be shared too. We can joyfully work through pressure and opposition knowing that we are strengthened by the His spirit in connection with our spirit. All of chapter 8 of Romans reflects this. It is a great chapter to read in its entirety, but verses 32-37 sum it up beautifully.

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8-32-37

It is simple to apply this as there are so many opportunities every day that call for its application. Everyday there is pressure and we can decide to give in to it or trust God as He works in our hearts.
There is great joy experienced when decide to trust God (I John 1:4).

Non-Conformist

In Romans 12:2 the Word says to not be conformed to this world. The word ‘conformed’ means molded or fashioned. We shouldn’t let the world mold our patterns of living. Instead be are to be changed by putting on the thoughts of God. Does this mean we run around acting pious and poor, flipping peace signs.  No! Emphatically No!

Someone who does not conform to this world has his thoughts well arranged.  He/she is secure in the love of God and does not enlist the tricks and tools of the fearful striving that goes on everywhere today.  There's no need to pressure, gossip, envy, suspect or compete with to become an achiever and insure his position in the world (II Corinthians 10:12). He is one who has God as the wind in his sails and enjoys the complete incredible freedom to live life to the fullest.

In Romans 8, the magna carta of freedom for the believer (our constitutional protection plan from God) , we can read that we are more than conquers in a number of situations, starting with mental pressure (tribulation). That is where everything starts. Ever feel like you are being pushed in a corner mentally? Or how about when things that seem to follow you around and push at you? (like the economy for example?)  Are there things that seem to hang over your head? Have you ever felt that like you are being carved up in little pieces (Romans 8:35)?  All the more reason to be persuaded to turn to God for answers. He is well aware of what’s going on and He provides excellent avenues of escape (I Corinthians 10:13).

Romans 8 feeds into Romans 12 (Romans 9-11 is a parenthesis dealing with Israel) In the understanding of what it means to be more than conqueror, we break out of the world's mold. Getting ‘born again’ (which  is a term much bandied about these days) gets us to the right place spiritually.  The location in which we are born determines our citizenship.  To be ‘born again’ changes our citizenship and our world. We have citizenship from someplace else. We are asked to become ambassadors from above. It is from this vantage point we can truly help others. Our heavenly culture is in our hearts and we share it with others who earnestly seek the freedom that we have.