Romans 8:15

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, etc..] By “the spirit of bondage” is meant, not the Spirit of God: for this is just the reverse of his character, who is a “free Spirit”, or hbydn jwr, “a Spirit of liberty”; and is contrary to his work and office, which is to show a soul its state of bondage by nature, and to deliver out of it; and though fear may arise from the convictions of sin, yet this he removes by discoveries of love; moreover, his work is to make application of grace and righteousness to sensible sinners, and to administer comfort to distressed minds, and make them meet for glory; and it is also contrary to the character of the persons in whom he dwells,…”

“For, &c.--"For ye received not (at the time of your conversion) the spirit of bondage," that is, "The spirit ye received was not a spirit of bondage." again--gendering. to fear--as under the law which "worketh wrath," that is, "Such was your condition before ye believed, living in legal bondage, haunted with incessant forebodings under a sense of unpardoned sin. But it was not to perpetuate that wretched state that ye received the Spirit." but ye have received--"ye received." the spirit of adoption, whereby--rather, "wherein." we cry, Abba, Father--The word "cry" is emphatic, expressing the spontaneousness, the strength, and the exuberance of the final emotions. In Gal 4:6 this cry is said…”

“The spirit of bondage - The spirit that binds you; or the spirit of a slave, that produces only fear. The slave is under constant fear and alarm. But the spirit of religion is that of freedom and of confidence; the spirit of children, and not of slaves; compare the note at John 8:32-36. Again to fear - That you should again be afraid, or be subjected to servile fear - This implies that in their former state under the Law, they were in a state of servitude, and that the tendency of it was merely to produce alarm. Every sinner is subject to such fear. He has everything of which to be alarmed. God is angry with him; his conscience will trouble him; and he has everything to apprehend in death…”

“For ye - Who are real Christians. Have not received the spirit of bondage - The Holy Ghost was not properly a spirit of bondage, even in the time of the Old Testament. Yet there was something of bondage remaining even in those who then had received the Spirit. Again - As the Jews did before. We - All and every believer. Cry - The word denotes a vehement speaking, with desire, confidence, constancy. Abba, Father - The latter word explains the former. By using both the Syriac and the Greek word, St. Paul seems to point out the joint cry both of the Jewish and gentile believers. The spirit of bondage here seems directly to mean, those operations of the Holy Spirit by which the soul, on its…”

“8:15 you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children: According to Greco-Roman customs of adoption, a man had the right to adopt a son and to confer on that child all the legal rights and privileges that would be given to a natural child. This practice extended even to the imperial family. The Roman emperor Julius Caesar adopted Octavian as his heir; Octavian, using the name Augustus, later ruled the Roman Empire. Paul’s concept of adoption is also rooted in the Old Testament and Judaism (Exod 4:22; Deut 1:31; Hos 11:1; see also Rom 9:4; Gal 4:5; Eph 1:5). • Abba: This word was used in an intimate family context (“Daddy”). Jesus used this word to address God (Mark 14:36);…”

“the spirit: Exo 20:19; Num 17:12; Luk 8:28, Luk 8:37; Joh 16:8; Act 2:37, Act 16:29; Co1 2:12; Ti2 1:7; Heb 2:15, Heb 12:18-24; Jam 2:19; Jo1 4:18 the Spirit: Rom 8:16; Isa 56:5; Jer 3:19; Co1 2:12; Gal 4:5-7; Eph 1:5, Eph 1:11-14 Abba: Mar 14:36; Luk 11:2, Luk 22:42; Joh 20:17 Romans 8:16”