Life Group Study Guide
Abba! Father!
Introduction and Review
In Romans 8:14-17, we come to one of the most precious assurances of our
relationship with God—the work of God’s Spirit by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”.
It is important to understand how these verses fit with the rest of the chapter. In the
first section of Romans 8, Paul has been showing why there is no condemnation for
those in Christ Jesus: it is because the Spirit indwells us, setting us free from sin and
death and giving us new life (8:1-8). The indwelling Spirit guarantees that we will
have eternal life (8:9-11) and that we are under no obligation to obey sin (8:12-13).
But this new life in the Spirit points to another reality, another assurance of our
relationship with God—we are adopted as God’s children. But how do we know this?
On an objective level, we know this because God declares it to be so in his Word. But
on a personal, experiential level, we know it because the Spirit speaks directly to our
hearts: “You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba!
Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”
(8:15-16).
The central focus of our message is that as children of God, we have assurance
and an inheritance.
Discussion & Application
1. In 8:15, Paul presents a contrast to the assurance that we enjoy in the Holy
Spirit. Here’s the contrast: “You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back
into fear.” Compare this verse with 5:20-23. With this in mind, what were we
enslaved to? What were we afraid of? How does fear affect relationships? How
would this kind of negative fear impact our motivation to love and obey God?
2. Paul says that “Abba! Father!” is something we cry. The word means to shout
from the heart something we feel passionate about. It might not even involve
words (See Matthew 14:26, 30; 20:30-31; 27:50; Galatians 4:6). What does this tell
us about our cry to God as our Father?
3. What kinds of things come into our lives that tend to make us forget, or make
us feel unworthy to cry, “Abba! Father!”? In what circumstances are we most
eager to cry, “Abba! Father!”
4. In verse 17, Paul explains the inference of being a child of God: “If children,
then heirs.” Perhaps the most astounding thing about this passage is the
promise that we are heirs of God. This means that God himself is our
inheritance! This means that as a believer, I can call God my God! What
aspects of God’s character makes this truth so comforting? For ideas, see
Psalm 16:11; 18:1-3.
5. Suppose you are counseling a believer who struggles with feeling distant from
God? How would you use this passage to encourage him or her?
