Day 1 - Lord's Day - Sunday | Daily Devotions | The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2025-2026 |
December 28
Lesson 4 (KJV)
The Holy Spirit
Devotional Reading: Ephesians 3:14–21
Background Scripture: John 3:5–8; 14:16–17, 26; 15:26–27; 16:7–15; Acts 2:1–21, 32–33; 1 Corinthians 12:1–13
Romans 8:12–17, 26–27
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
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 itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Key Text
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.—Romans 8:16
Enduring Beliefs of the Church
Unit 1: Our God and the Holy Scriptures
Lessons 1–4
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Describe the Spirit’s work as an “advocate” in the lives of believers.
2. Give reasons to trust the Spirit’s witness about believers’ standing before God.
3. Make a plan to deal with fear in favor of living confidently as God’s Spirit-led children.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. Real Brother
B. Lesson Context
I. Flesh and Spirit (Romans 8:12–14)
A. Owe the Flesh (v. 12)
B. What Leads to Death (v. 13a)
C. What Leads to Life (v. 13b)
D. What Results (v. 14)
II. God’s Children (Romans 8:15–17)
A. Not Slaves (v. 15a)
B. Adopted (v. 15b)
C. Confirmed (v. 16)
Welcome to the Family
D. Heirs with Jesus (v. 17)
III. Helped by the Spirit (Romans 8:26–27)
A. To Pray (v. 26)
Advocating for a Friend
B. Through Intercession (v. 27)
Conclusion
A. God’s Real Children
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
How to Say It
|
Abba |
Ab-buh. |
|
Colossians |
Kuh-losh-unz. |
|
Corinthians |
Ko-rin-thee-unz (th as in thin). |
|
Deuteronomy |
Due-ter-ahn-uh-me. |
|
Ephesians |
Ee-fee-zhunz. |
|
Galatians |
Guh-lay-shunz. |
Introduction
A. Real Brother
When my friend Chris was 10, his family adopted a 5-year-old boy named Mark. At first, Mark was afraid that his new parents would send him away. He tried to behave perfectly so they would keep him.
A few weeks after becoming part of Chris’s family, Mark broke one of Chris’s toys. Mark started to shake and cry. Chris gave him a big hug and asked why he was trembling. Mark replied, “Because Daddy will be mad that I broke your toy.” Chris assured Mark that their dad wouldn’t be angry. Mark replied, “But you’re the real son.” Chris pulled Mark closer and whispered, “You’re his real son now, too. You’re my real brother.” Chris still remembers the tension in his brother’s arms melting away. The barrier was broken. Mark finally knew that he was part of the family.
B. Lesson Context
The context for last week’s lesson on Romans 5 applies to this lesson as well, so that information need not be repeated here.
Romans 6–8 is Paul’s rebuttal against false applications of the gospel message he has been preaching. Believers cannot continue in sin because Jesus’ death released them from sin’s dominion. Believers are united with Christ in His death (Romans 6:3–11), which frees them from slavery to sin, death, and the law (6:11; 7:1–6; 8:1–2; Galatians 2:19). They also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Since God has freed believers from sin’s mastery, they are to see themselves instead as God’s servants (6:12–23). This is crucial because a conflict rages in every believer (7:21–23).
The Holy Spirit lives inside of believers (Romans 8:9–11), and His will stands in opposition to the will of sin (8:5–7; Galatians 5:16–17). There is no neutral ground: one either sides with the Holy Spirit and follows His orders, or one submits again to sin’s desires. Those sinful desires lead only to death (Romans 8:6a; Galatians 5:19–21). However, the Spirit guides believers to “life and peace” (Romans 8:6b), and God will raise them from the dead, just as Jesus (8:10–11).
The apostle Paul wrote about 25 percent of the New Testament. But nearly half of the New Testament references to the (Holy) Spirit occur in his letters. Clearly, the person and work of the Holy Spirit is a vital doctrine for him—and should be so for us.
I. Flesh and Spirit
(Romans 8:12–14)
A. Owe the Flesh (v. 12)
|
Sense: |
Positive |
Neutral |
Negative |
|
Flesh: |
Galatians 2:20 |
1 Corinthians 15:39 |
Ephesians 2:3 |
|
Body: |
Romans 7:4 |
Romans 6:12 |
Romans 8:13 |
|
World: |
Romans 1:20 |
Romans 1:8 |
Colossians 2:20 |
B. What Leads to Death (v. 13a)
C. What Leads to Life (v. 13b)
|
What Do You Think? What do you think it looks like to live by the Spirit and not according to the flesh? Digging Deeper How does Galatians 5:16–18 contribute to your previous response? |
D. What Results (v. 14)
II. God’s Children
(Romans 8:15–17)
A. Not Slaves (v. 15a)
|
What Do You Think? What is it like to know that you are no longer bound to fear? Digging Deeper In what ways do you struggle to believe that you are freed from fear? |
B. Adopted (v. 15b)
C. Confirmed (v. 16)
|
What Do You Think? How should our lives look different, knowing we are children of God? Digging Deeper How does 1 John 3:1–2 contribute to your consideration of this? |
Welcome to the Family
My brother and his wife spent years preparing to adopt children who were in the foster care system in the United States. Finally, they received a call about a sibling group of three children. The soon-to-be parents quickly made plans to visit. Before long, the kids had made the trip across several states to live with their new parents.
Almost a year went by before adoption day finally arrived. Everyone was somewhat nervous with excitement when a judge publicly declared the news: the children were officially adopted! They were no longer “in the system.” They were given new surnames and were legally welcomed into the family they were already emotionally part of.
Just as a judge, with authority, “bore witness” to the official adoption of my nieces and nephews, the Holy Spirit “bears witness” to our adoption as children in the family of God. We have a new title as heirs, and we can truly call Him “Father.” What promises are now yours because of your adoption into His family?
—B. R.
D. Heirs with Jesus (v. 17)
|
What Do You Think? What does it mean to share in Christ’s sufferings? Digging Deeper How do Philippians 3:1–7 and 1 Peter 4:12–19 inform your understanding of suffering with Christ? |
III. Helped by the Spirit
(Romans 8:26–27)
A. To Pray (v. 26)
|
What Do You Think? In what ways might your prayers change, recognizing that the Spirit intercedes for you? Digging Deeper What weaknesses or infirmities do you desire the Spirit’s help with? |
Advocating for a Friend
In a volunteer role, I have the privilege of teaching English to asylum seekers. My work involves teaching them the basics of English communication so that they may seek employment, find housing, and access additional assistance.
One day, a student stayed after class to ask me about a letter he received from the state. He didn’t understand the letter’s contents and needed to call the helpline mentioned in the letter. He asked if I would be willing to make the call for him.
I spent several minutes on the phone as an advocate between my student and the state representative. She explained what he needed to know and do; I then broke the information down in terms he could understand.
We might say that we can’t speak the language of heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2–4), so the Holy Spirit does so for us as an intermediary. When you pray, do you acknowledge the Spirit’s role in that regard?
—B. R.
B. Through Intercession (v. 27)
Conclusion
A. God’s Real Children
Unfortunately, some cultures view adopted children as having a kind of second-class status. While most parents love their adopted children as full members of their families, one can find accounts on social media of parents treating adopted children as inferior to their biological children.
When we have a faulty view of adoption, we can easily miss the radical nature of Paul’s claim that God has given us the Spirit of adoption. Believers are not second-class children. Instead, we are fully integrated into God’s family, given both His name and His Spirit. God begrudges us nothing; instead, He makes us joint heirs with Christ, promising us a share in His inheritance. Nor does Christ begrudge our inclusion in His family. On the contrary, He joyfully calls us His brothers and sisters and willingly shares His rightful inheritance with us. Adoption into God’s family is not a legal fiction but a spiritual reality.
God also shows His love for His adopted children by sending us His Spirit as our advocate. He changes us so that we look more like Jesus, and one day He will resurrect our bodies just like He resurrected Jesus. We are never alone, never inferior or illegitimate children in God’s eyes. We are God’s real sons and daughters.
B. Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for making us Your children and giving us Your Spirit to intercede for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
We are God’s real children!
Involvement Learning
Enhance your lesson with KJV Bible Student (from your curriculum supplier) and the reproducible activity page (at www.standardlesson.com or in the back of the KJV Standard Lesson Commentary Deluxe Edition).
Doug Hoffer, Becki Rogers, and Connie Chandler, “The Holy Spirit,” in The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2025–2026, ed. Taylor Z. Stamps et al., vol. 73, The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary (Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2025), 151–152.
Comments