BIG IDEA:
A STUDY OF THE 3 MAJOR NT PASSAGES REGARDING SPIRITUAL ADOPTION REVEALS FOUR COMMON POINTS OF EMPHASIS /
GOD DETERMINED THOSE HE CHOSE WOULD BE LIKE HIS SON
INTRODUCTION:
Our relationship to God can be pictured in a number of ways: (cf. MacArthur here)
1) Servants — subjects of His kingdom
Christ is our Lord, giving us the direction we need and we are His servants carrying out his will. What a privilege to serve the King of Kings.
2) Friends — John 15:15 goes beyond the relationship as servants to describe us as friends — true companionship — the sharing of intimate knowledge — insight into the mind of God; so that we don’t act out of just blind obedience
3) Our passage goes way beyond this to speak of adopotion as sons
cf. Hebrews 2:11
Background:
Adoption is a simple concept. The Roman practice of legally adopting a child would be similar to ours. In addition to all of the family privileges and the righ tof inheritance, there was the new civil status of all the rights of a Roman citizen.
Human parents can adopt children and come to love them every bit as much as they love their natural children. They can give an adopted child complete equality in the family life, resources, and inheritance. But no human parent can impart his own distinct nature to an adopted chld. yet that is what God miraculously does to every person whom He has elected. He makes them sons just like His divine Son. Christians not only have all of the Son’s riches and blessings but partake of the Son’s nature.
Illustration: Adopting a cabbage patch kid
I. (Galatians 4:5-7) — ADOPTION — THE GOAL OF REDEMPTION
Background: a little different picture here: not entrance into the family of Gode, but the distinction between the OT position as a child under the tutelage of the Law and the position in this Age of Grace as mature sons
A. Accomplished by Redemption — costly, expensive (:5)
1 Pet. 1:18-19
“in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
B. Involves some sort of Freedom and Liberty
In this context: freedom from “the elemental things of the world,” from “under the law” — no need to fear earning blessing
C. The Consciousness of Sonship is Created in the Heart by the Holy Spirit (:6)
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!'”
Significance of the expression “Abba, Father” — the Aramaic and the Greek equivalent; the everyday Jewish family term used in the intimacy of the family; signifies tenderness, trust, love
cf. small children crying out “Daddy” — connotes delight and total security — this is the expression in seed form; weheras “Abba, Father” is a more mature expression
used by Christ — Mark 14:36
seems to have become a formula for addressing God in the early church
we should have assurance we are in God’s Family — should be able to feel that relationship and intimacy
D. Associated with our Inheritance (:7)
“Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
entitled to all that their Father’s resources can give them
II. (Romans 8:15 — whole chapter) — ADOPTION — THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM
Those who are being led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God by adoption and have been freed from the spirit of slavery which leads to fear and given new confidence. We are under obligation not to live according to the flesh, but the Spirit.
A. (:3) Accomplished by Redemption
B. (:2, etc.) Involves some sort of Freedom and Liberty
C. (:15-16) The Consciousness of Sonship is Created in the Heart by the Holy Spirit
same cry of “Abba, Father”
D. (:17, 23) Associated With Our Inheritance
Involves suffering with Him now knowing that we will be glorified with Him
v. 23 — shows that there still is a future aspect of this adoption = the redemption of our bodies
III. (Ephesians 1:5-7) — ADOPTION — THE OUTWORKING OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN AND BENEFICENT PLAN
(Concentrate on the Application of these same 4 points)
A. (:7) Accomplished by Redemption
“forgiveness of our trespasses” — we will look at this in depth next message
Costly and therefore precious
Already accomplished and therefore certain — Nothing that we can add to it;
Our obligation is to live for the one who died for us (2 Cor. 5:15)
B. (:7) Involves some sort of Freedom and Liberty and Confidence
freedom from the guilt and penalty of sins
no awkwardness or fear in our relationship with our Father, but boldness and access
C. (:15-16) The Consciousness of Sonship is Created in the Heart by the Holy Spirit
The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are His children; there is no need to ask God for external signs or confirmation.
We need to expect and cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit — Holiness especially — this leads to greater assurance (on a different track) of our sonship.
We should spend time crying out, “Abba, Father”.
D. (:17, 23) Associated With Our Inheritance
Keep the sufferings of this life in perspective — Plan and live accordingly (we can afford to risk all).
CONCLUSION:
It’s great to live as God’s servants and even enjoy companionship as friends of God — but the highest calling is to enjoy our relationship as adopted sons of God.