ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD

4/8/01

 

Ezek 16:3-7

3 and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Jerusalem: Your ancestry and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father  was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4 On the day you were born

your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. 5 No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these

things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. 6 "'Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, "Live!"  7 I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels.

 

   THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE IN EZEK. WAS A PROPHESY SPOKEN TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL DESCRIBING HER BEGINNING AND IT MADE ME THINK OF OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION BEFORE WE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR.  WE WERE POLLUTED IN OUR OWN SIN AND NO ONE CARED FOR OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION.  EVERY INFANT IS BORN INTO SIN AND POSSESSES A SINFUL NATURE, THAT IS, THEY HAVE A NATURAL TENDENCY TOWARDS SIN.  IN FACT THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT BEFORE WE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR WE WERE ALL THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE, THE CHILDREN OF WRATH AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL.  WE WERE ALL IN DESPERATE NEED OF GOD’S LOVE TO REDEEM US, RESCUE US AND ADOPT US INTO HIS FAMILY.

 

Eph 2:3

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

 

Eph 5:6

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

 

Col 3:6

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

 

   OUR NATURAL EXISTENCE WAS ONE OF OPPOSITION AND HOSTILITY TOWARDS GOD. BUT GOD COMMENED HIS LOVE TOWARDS US IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US.  JESUS SATISFIED ALL THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GOD TO REDEEM US AND BRING US INTO HIS FAMILY AS HIS ADOPTED CHILDREN.  AND SO WE READ IN:

 

Rom 8:13-23

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. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

 

   GOD, IN HIS INFINITE LOVE, SAW OUR DESPERATE SITUATION AND PROVIDED A MEANS BY WHICH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM COULD BE RESTORED.  IT WAS BOTH LEGAL AND PERSONAL.  BUT GOD IN HIS GREAT MERCY WHERE WITH HE HAS LOVED US AND MADE US ACCEPTABLE TO GOD BY THE DEATH, RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST.  IT WAS LOVE THAT SENT JESUS TO CALVARY.  IT WAS LOVE THAT PURCHASED OUR SALVATION.  IT WAS LOVE THAT RESCUED US AND ADOPTED US INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.  GOD LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.  

  

Gal 4:4-7

4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because

ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 

   GOD HAS INITIATED HIS PLAN OF RESTORING MAN'S BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.  ONCE JESUS HAD SATISFIED THE LEGAL REQUIRMENT TO REDEEM US BY LEGALLY PAYING THE PENALTY FOR OUR PERSONAL SIN, HE OPENED THE WAY FOR GOD TO ADOPT US INTO HIS FAMILY. 

 

Eph 3:14-19

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 

   YES, GOD HAS POURED OUT HIS IMMEASURABLE LOVE TOWARDS US AND HAS ADOPTED US INTO HIS FAMILY.  YOU SEE, GOD HAS A SPIRITUAL FAMILY, BUT NOT EVERYONE BELONGS TO IT.  REMEMBER WE WERE BY NATURE OR BY OUR NATURAL BIRTH THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE, THE CHILDREN OF WRATH AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL.  THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO BELONGED TO THE FAMILY OF GOD ARE THOSE WHO ARE BORN OF THE SPIRIT AND HAVE BEEN ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.  THE ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITE FOR BEING A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD IS RECEIVING JESUS CHRIST BY FAITH.  THAT MEANS RECOGNIZING THAT WE CAN NEVER GET RIGHT WITH GOD ON OUR OWN, BUT SINCE JESUS, THE PERFECT SON OF GOD, DIED TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR OUR SIN WE CAN GET RIGHT WITH GOD IF WE RETAIN JESUS AS OUR ATTORNEY.  YOU SEE, THERE’S ONLY ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN MAN AND GOD AND THAT IS THE MAN JESUS CHRIST. 

 

1 John 2:1-2

2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

 

   ENTRANCE INTO GOD’S SPIRITUAL FAMILY IS BY ADOPTION.  Webster's Dictionary defines adoption FROM THE LATIN adapature which lit. means to choose and hence to bring into a specific relationship; to take unto ones own family by legal process and raise as ones own child.  The greek word  for adoption is: huiothesia THE Placing as a son, TO LEGALLY PLACE AS A SON TO ONE IN WHOM IT DOES NOT NATURALLY BELONG.  By New Testament times, Roman customs exercised a great deal of influence on Jewish family life. One ROMAN custom is particularly significant in relation to adoption.   FROM THE ROMAN LAW A STRANGER BY BLOOD COULD BECOME A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY AS IF HE HAD BEEN BORN INTO IT.  Roman law required that the adopter be a male and childless; the one to be adopted had to be an independent adult, able to agree to be adopted. In the eyes of the law, the adopted one became a new creature; he was regarded as being born again into the new family which is an illustration of what happens to the believer at conversion. this Roman law of adoption required a due legal form which resulted in that the adopted child was entitled to the father's name, possessions, and family sacred rights, as his heir at law. The father also was entitled to his son's property, and was his absolute owner. Generally Gratuitous love was the ground of the selection and Often times it was a slave who was adopted as a son.   LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE CORRELATING PRINCIPLES OF ADOPTION.

 

1.      the one to be adopted had to be an independent adult, able to agree to be adopted.  SALVATION MUST BE THE DELIBERATE CHOISE OF THE INDIVIDUAL.  PARENTS CAN’T MAKE THAT CHOICE AT INFANT BAPTISM.  EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST BE AT AN AGE WHEN THEY CAN PERSONALLY RECEIVE CHRIST AS SAVIOR.  AT WHICH POINT THE INDIVIDUAL IS ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.

 

John 1:12-13

12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

 

2.      the adopted one became a new creature; he was regarded as being born again into the new family.  JESUS SPOKE TO NICODEMUS ABOUT BEING BORN AGAIN AND THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID THAT IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST HE IS A NEW CREATURE.  THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS AT CONVERSION.  WE WERE ALL BORN WITH A SINFUL NATURE BUT AFTER SALVATION WE ARE BORN AGAIN WITH A DIVINE NATURE THAT PROPELS US UPWARD AND ONWARD TOWARDS GOD. 2Cor.5:17

 

3.      this Roman law of adoption required a due legal form which resulted in that the adopted child was entitled to the father's name, possessions, and family sacred rights, as his heir at law.  THE FATHER OF SOMETHING IS SAID TO BE THE SOURCE OF SOMETHING AND THEREBY THE PROVIDER.  GOD IS OBSCURELY SEEN AS FATHER IN THE O.T. BUT IS CLEARLY SEEN AS FATHER IN THE N.T. AS A RESULT OF ADOPTION.  HE GIVES US HIS NAME, CHRISTIANS AND IDENTIFIES US AS EQUAL JUDICIAL HEIRS WITH CHRIST.

 

Rom 8:17

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

 

4.      THE FATHER OF AN ADOPTED SON was his absolute owner. THIS SUGGESTS THAT CHRIST MUsT NOT ONLY BECOME SAVIOR HE MUST ALSO BE RECEIVED AS LORD.  THE POINT OF SALVATION IS TRULY REALIZED WHEN WE SURRENDER OUR WHOLE LIFE TO GOD, AT WHICH TIME HE TAKES EVEYTHING, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY AND REDEEMS IT AND TRANSFORMS IT IN THE REORGANIZATION OF OUR NEW BEING.

 

Rom 12:1-2

12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

5.      Generally Gratuitous love was the ground of the selection IN ADOPTION and Often times it was a slave who was adopted as a son.  I THINK ITS INTERESTING THAT THE BIBLE IDENTIFIES SINNERS AS SLAVES TO SIN IN ROM. 6.  AS A SLAVE TO SIN AND A CHILD OF DISOBEDIENCE we were UNDESERVING OF RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD but HE NEVERTHELESS ACCEPTS US INTO HIS FAMILY ON THE BASIS OF HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, ACCEPTANCE AND FORGIVENESS.

 

Rom 5:6-8

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

   SO ADOPTION IS A LEGAL TERM WHICH PAUL BORROWED FROM THE ROMAN LAW TO EXPRESS THE SOCIAL PHASE OF CONVERSION, NAMELY, THAT A SAVED SINNER IS NOT ONLY JUSTIFIED AND REGENERATED, BUT ACTUALLY INCORPORATED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD TO ENJOY ITS FELLOWSHIP AND TO SHARE IT DESTINY.

 

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.

 

   LET ME READ SOMETHING FROM CHARLES Spurgeon's Sermon: “The spirit of bondage made us fear, but the Spirit of adoption gives us full assurance.Thus it is clear that the Spirit of adoption is a spirit of liberty, and a spirit of confidence. As a child is sure that its father will love him, feed him, clothe him, teach him, and do all that is good for him, so are we sure that "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" Ps 84:11; but he will make all things to "work together for good to them that love God" Rom 8:28.  YES, The spirit of bondage made us fear, but the Spirit of adoption gives us full assurance. That fear which distrusts God-that fear which doubts whether He will remain a loving and merciful God-that fear which makes us think that all his love will come to an end-that is gone, for we cry, "Abba, Father," and that cry is the death of doubting and fearing.

 

1 John 4:16-20

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because he first loved us.

 

   you see, we have not received the SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AGAIN TO FEAR.  CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ABOUT TRYING TO KEEP ALL THE RULES IN ORDER TO BE ACCEPTED BY GOD.  WE ARE UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED IN ADOPTION BASED ON GOD’S IMMEASURABLE LOVE.  WHEN WE BECOME SECURE AND STABLE IN HIS LOVE FOR US THEN WE WILL BE MATURE ENOUGH TO WALK IN HIS LOVE TOWARDS OTHERS NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO.  ADOPTION HELPS US TO BE NUTURED BY GOD’S LOVE.

 

Eph 1:3-7

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

 

   GOD’S ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO HAVE A FAMILY OF OBEDIENT SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO WOULD DELIGHT IN HIS LOVE AND DESIRE TO SEE HIS FAMILY AND HIS DOMINION INCREASE.  THERE IS A CERTAIN PRIVILEGE THAT BELONGS EXCLUSIVELY TO FAMILY AND GOD IN HIS GREAT LOVE HAS GIVEN US THAT PRIVILEGE, THAT RANK AND HONOR TO BE CALLED THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD. 

John 1:12

12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

 

   YES, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE LEGALLY ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.  ADOPTION IS A LEGAL PROCESS BUT IT MUST ALSO HAVE A PERSONAL APPLICATION SO THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE BONAFIDE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD.  THAT’S WHY PAUL CALLS IT THE “SPIRIT OF ADOPTION” IN:

 

ROM. 8:15-16

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;

 

   THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD’S ADOPTION AGENT.  A PARAPHRASE OF THIS VERSE WOULD SOUND SOMETHING LIKE THIS: “ WHEN WE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE DID NOT RECEIVE A SPIRIT WHOSE GOAL WAS TO ENSLAVE US, BUT RATHER WHOSE JOB IT WAS TO ADOPT US INTO GOD’S FAMILY.”  WE NEED TO KNOW FOR SURE THAT ADOPTION IS A LEGAL ACTION WITH EXPERIENTIAL RESULTS.  THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY WHO ARE LEGALLY ADOPTED BUT THEY DON’T FEEL LIKE THEY REALLY BELONG.  BUT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS ABOUT ADOPTION INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD, HE ALSO GOES BEYOND THE LEGAL AND DOES SOMETHING EXPERIENTIAL FOR US.  HE HELPS US SUBSTITUTE THE OLD FEELINGS OF FEAR WITH A QUIET CONFIDENCE THAT THINGS ARE “ALL RIGHT” BETWEEN US AND GOD.  THAT OLD SPIRIT OF BONDAGE LEADING TO FEAR IS WHAT WE ALL EXPERIENCED BEFORE WE RECEIVED CHRIST.  THERE WAS A BONDAGE TO SIN AND A PARALYZING FEAR OF CONDEMNATION.  BUT THERE IS NO NEED FOR THAT KNOW, BECAUSE IN THE PLACE OF THAT FEAR THE HOLY SPIRIT IMPARTS IN OUR HEARTS A SENSE OF SECURITY LIKE THAT OF A FAVORITE SON, TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CRY OUT TO GOD AS “ABBA FATHER” OR DADDY.

 

   WHAT TAKES PLACE IN ADOPTION IS ESSENTIALLY THIS: THE MOMENT THE HOLY SPIRIT BEGINS THE REORGANIZATION OF A MAN HE BEGINS TO HELP THE PERSON TO RECOVER THE FILIAL (FAMILY LOVE) SENSE WHICH MAN LOST IN THE FALL.  THE HOLY SPIRIT BEARS WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT SO THAT WE HAVE AN INTUITIVE SENSE OF BEING GOD’S LEGITIMATE CHILDREN.  ITS ONE THING TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN LEGALLY ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD AND QUITE ANOTHER THING TO FEEL IT.  THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES THOSE “FEELINGS” TO US IN OUR SPIRIT.  AND THEN:

 

  THE NEXT THING I SEE IN PAULS NARRATIVE IN ROM.8:16 IS THAT 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.  YOU SEE, IT’S THE HOLY SPIRIT’S JOB TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ACTUALLY THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD.  THE SPIRIT HIMSELF TESTIFIES WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE IN FACT GOD’S CHILDREN.  I THINK THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACET OF ADOPTION.  IT IS ONE THING FOR US TO HAVE A LEGAL CONTRACT WITH GOD BUT ITS QUITE ANOTHER THING TO RECEIVE THE LOVE OF GOD AND FEEL LIKE WE BELONG TO THE FAMILY OF GOD.  THAT FEELING OF BELONGING HAS THE POWER TO HEAL US FROM THE WORLD’S REJECTION AND GIVE US A SENSE OF BOLDNESS AND CONFIDENCE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GOD IS OUR FATHER AND THAT ALL OF HIS RESOURCES BECOMES LEGALLY OURS BY VIRTUE OF ADOPTION. 

1 Peter 1:13-16

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 

 

   DID YOU KNOW THAT A CHILD’S BEHAVIOR IS LARGELY DICTATED BY HIS PERCEPTION OF WHETHER HE “BELONGS” IN THE FAMILY.  IF A CHILD IS NOT SECURE IN HIS PARENTS LOVE HE WILL SHOW IT IN HIS BEHAVIOR, IN HIS ATTITUDES AND IN HIS ACHIEVEMENTS.  SO LIKEWISE A CHRISTIAN’S VICTORY OVER SIN IN HIS LIFE IS LARGELY RELATED TO HIS ASSURANCE OF “BELONG” TO GOD’S FAMILY.  YOU SEE, THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS EVERY BELIEVER: HE LEADS US; HE HAS ADOPTED US ENABLING US TO REPLACE FEAR WITH WARMTH, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND HE WITNESSES WITH OUR SPIRIT AS TO THE REALITY OF OUR STATUS AS GOD’S CHILDREN.  BY SO DOING WE HAVE A DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD AND WALK IN HIS COMMANDS... IT’S LOVE THAT IS MOTIVATING US, NOT FEAR:

 

John 14:20-21

 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

 

   OUR FOCUS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAS BEEN THE IMMEASURABLE LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US.  WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.  LOVE RECEIVED HAS AN IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCE, A DESIRE TO LOVE IN RETURN.  JESUS STATED IN THIS VERSE THAT OUR LOVE FOR GOD WILL BE THE DIRECT RESULT OF OUR OBEYING HIS WILL AND FULFILLING HIS DESTINY FOR OUR LIVES.  DO YOU SEE THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY FEAR BUT ONLY BY GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.  WON’T YOU OPEN YOUR HEART TO GOD’S LOVE TODAY AND RECEIVE THAT SPIRIT OF ADOPTION WHEREBY WE CRY OUT TO GOD, ABBA FATHER.