Abba, Father: The Inward Cry of the Spirit of Adoption
Fine art poster reproduction with Romans 8:15 Bible text
Depicting a child nestled peacefully in the strong, warm embrace of his loving father, Abba, Father is an 18" X 24" pencil drawing, accented in ink calligraphy, with the Bible text of Romans 8:15 ("We have received a spirit of adoption, which cries 'Abba! Father!'").
This drawing bears testimony to the assurance and comfort of the inward speaking of the Holy Spirit, given to those who are in Christ. But more than this, it speaks to the relationship the believer now has with the Father: that is, in Christ, we are no longer slaves, shut up under the Law; for we have received adoption as sons and serve the Lord in newness of the Spirit, not oldness of the letter.
The problem of sin and God's remedy
The tragic fact of mankind is the Fall: man's choice to sin against his Creator. Since then, death and destruction have followed man, with no escape.
The hope of mankind is redemption: God's promise that He would provide the ultimate remedy for man's tragedy, by providing the Lamb to take away the sins of the world.
From the moment of God's judgment on Adam and Eve, He gave the promise of a Redeemer — One who would bruise the serpent's head. But, before the coming of this Savior, God gave His chosen people the Law. It was given for a dual purpose:
- As a constraint against sin, and
- As a standard by which we might come to know sin and our own sinfulness.
However, whether under the Law or without law, man's experience has shown that there is something inside of him — in his flesh — that drags him down, so that he does the very (sinful) things that he hates. As the anguished cry of Romans 7:24 asks:
"Wretched man that I am!
Who will set me free from the body of this death?"
What is man to do?
Paul, the apostle, answered that question this way: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! … For what the Law could not do, wherein it was weak through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son … in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 7:25, 8:3-4). And, while "those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:8), Paul declares with triumph, "However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you" (Romans 8:9).
As a result, "There is … now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2). How is this accomplished? Again: it's in Christ.
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin [as in Romans 7:24], … if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
So then, brethren, we are not under obligation to the flesh, to live according to the flesh (Romans 8:10-11).
Paul is not referring here to the resurrection; he is saying that the Spirit
- who raised Christ Jesus from the dead,
- who set us free from the law of sin and death, and
- who indwells those who have been baptized into Christ
is to be the dynamic of your life, so that, as you walk according to the Spirit, His indwelling power animates what would otherwise be "the body of this death". As a result, you are not of the flesh, do not live according to the flesh, and are empowered — by the indwelling Spirit — to please God.
Grace: God's ultimate answer to the problem of sin
So, you see, the answer to sin is not the Law — a set of rules that you must follow. Why? Because, despite the fact that "the Law is holy, and the commandment [referring to "You shall not covet" in Romans 7:7] is holy and righteous and good" and that "we know that the Law is spiritual", the problem is that we — in our flesh — are sold under bondage to sin (Romans 7:12, 14). And, because of this, that "which was to result in life, proved to result in death" (Romans 7:10) instead.
Likewise, the answer to sin is not to declare all things good, as if there is no law. God is holy and righteous (which is why His commandments are holy and righteous and good), and He has set requirements for us.
God's answer to sin is to graft us into the death, burial and resurrection of His Son (Romans 6:3-5), so that the old man — the body of sin — might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin, but that, as those who are alive from the dead, we might walk in newness of life.
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under Law, but under grace (Romans6:14). … [And] if, by the Spirit, you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:13-16).
Grace is more than just "undeserved mercy"
To many believers, grace is all about God's mercy toward us in forgiving our sins. But, while forgiveness is certainly a precious part of grace, in Paul's thinking, it had as much to do with practical righteousness lived out through us. Our forgiveness (what some call the forensics of salvation) is only part of the the problem of sin. God's desire is that we, as His children by adoption, be conformed the the image of His Son.
Abba, Father poster details
Abba, Father is a poster-sized, limited-run art reproduction from the original pencil drawing by award-winning Christian artist, Tom Anson. Printed on heavy paper, this reproduction measures approximately 11" X 14" (image size of 9.5" x 12"). It mattes nicely for framing at 16" x 20".
Though drawn with specifically (Christian) spiritual things in mind, the artist has received warm reviews from non-Christians who had adopted children. The theme of adoption speaks of that special parental love, that opens its heart to receive another, and accept him or her as its own.
Abba, Father is also available hand-colored by the artist.
