Reading for September 2nd

Read Romans 8.12-25

In verses 12-17; living as God's children.

In verses 12-13: Living according to the flesh leads to various forms of self-gratification, deeds of the body.

In verse 14: This is especially true of Christ (8.3; Lk 4.1-13).

In verses 15-17: The ability to cry, "Abba Father!" derives from the spirit of adoption.

The Spirit's co-testimony does not result from the prayer, as it does in the NRSV text.

The prayer preserves the Aramaic language of Jesus (Mk 14.36; Gal 4.6).

In verses 18-25: Present sufferings and future glory.

In verse 18: Sufferings and glory develop 8.17.

Believers share both experiences with Christ.

In verse 19-25: The creation is the whole created order.

In verse 20: Subjected to futility: The creation story is in view, especially Gen 3.17-19.

In verse 22: The whole universe is viewed as a woman in labor, giving birth to new life (Gal 4.19).

In verse 23: First fruits of the Spirit: In the Old testament, what was harvested first were the "first fruits," and indication of more to come (Ex 23.16).

Similarly, the Spirit is understood here as a foretaste of the future glory.

In verse 24: 2 Cor 4.18.

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