"And forget not ALL His benefits"
Adoption is one of the greatest and exciting truths about our relationship with our Father and each other. Even though it isn't preached much in our day, I believe now more then ever people need to hear and accept the truth about who we really are, and what being 'Born Again' really entails.
What is adoption?
Adoption isn't a new concept. For example Moses was adopted into pharaoh's family (Exodus 2:10), Abraham asked God because of his lack of child, as it were, to adopt his servant Eliezer of Damascus, as his son/heir (Gen 15:2). Or when Abraham decided to go with his servant Hagar (Gen 16:1-3) and adopt her son to be his heir. Mordecai adopted Ester the child of his cousin as his own (Ester 2:7). And let us not forget the nation Israel itself was considered adopted, or grafted in to the true olive, given great privileges, "Who are Israelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory" (Rom 9:4).
Adoption isn't anything new, BUT we need to know that there is a big difference between mans adoption and Gods adoption. When men adopt they "look to the outward appearance" going to an orphanage, observing the children, looking for one that they like, and then they make the choice of adoption. The wonderful truth about God's adoption is He makes no such judgments on our outward appearance. NONE. Man wants to imprint his DNA but can't. Man wants the adopted child to act and look like him, but man has no such power. God however, No matter what we were before, what we have been through, No matter what stain is on us, or what sin we have committed, what habit we have, what parents we have, what childhood we have had, God accepts EVERYONE and God's adoption is final and from within, NO ONE can take His sheep away from Him. He can DOES put His DNA in us. His children bear His Likeness. Because from the inside out we have been reborn into a new famliy.
What happens next?
1. Because of our adoption we become, "Fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Eph. 2:19)
2. We are no longer slaves to fear (Rom 8:15)
3. We become Heirs (Rom 8:17)
4. We have responsibilities to be loyal to the family rules. ( Rom 8:29. 8:5)
5. We become free from Anxiety and Worry about our life. (Matt 6:25-24, 10:29-31)
6. Trained and Corrected by our Parent (Heb 12:5-11)
7. Inherit future glory (Rom 8:17, 1Pet 1:4)
8. Become separate and strangers to the World (1 John 3:1)
9. We become family with other believers (John 13:34)
Our Adoption doesn't come without signs.
When we are Adopted as I said things inside us change. We are a new creation (2 Cor 5) and in that new creation we now have completely new functions then before.
For example, the Spirit will be with us to guide us in all things (Rom 8:14), we have the Spirit as a Seal of Adoption (Rom 8:14, Gal 4:6). Man's adoption can only give us a new name. God's adoption gives us a new name AND a new nature (2 pet 1:4). God gives this gift freely to all races all people all genders, some countries you can only be adopted if you are a male. But God extends his hand to everyone (2 Cor 6:18). Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty (2 Cor) and we get Liberty in Gods family (Gal 4:7).
Another sign of adoption is that we can finally raise our chin high and feel dignity. We become heirs of Gods promises and he puts his approval and dignity in us (Is 43:4) We are made His treasure, His first born, (Ex 19:5, Malachi 3:17, Heb 12:23). Angels become our helpers (heb 1:14) We have the Royal blood of heaven (1John 3:9). Protection from the evil one (luke 10:19, Ps 91:10). Not to say that no affliction will come, but no evil. We are cured from the poison, but He will still refine His gold (Heb 12:10). And condemnation is completely out of the question (Rom 8:1).
And that leads to the WHY?
Why would God want to adopt us?
I mean doesn't he have is own Son already?
Christ is called "Gods dear Son" (matt 3:17)
He is "Better then the angels" (Heb 1:4)
Yet God calls US his sons... 1 John 3:1 How great the Love the Father would Lavish on us by caling us Sons...
I can understand Man's adoption.. Choosing the fit, or the hansom... Mordicai adopted Ester because she was fair...we wouldn't adopt someone who was black with sin, diseased, polluted (ezekiel 16:6)
YET HE STILL CHOSE YOU!
Chose you to become a Son, chose your to be an Heir, chose you to be His Child. All these are names given to someone close to you. Son's as our standing with him now, heirs as our future promise, and Children as our unique oneness with eachother. Angels are referred to as 'sons' but never Children. We have a father son relationship with God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and earth! God chose me as His child, I did not chose Him! "Before the Foundation of the World" God chose us! Adoption is permanent, it is once and for all. And it is according to "His good pleasure" that we should be "predestined to the adoption of children"
The indwelling of the Spirit gives us the realization of this in the believer's present experience"- Dr. C I Scofield. But the full manifestation of the believer's sonship awaits the resurrection, change and translation of saints which is called "The redemption of the body"(rom 8:23)- H. Lockyer.
We are to be Co-heirs with Christ (Rom8, 1 cor 3, Heb 6, Rev 21) and we as adopted children will reflect Gods glory and beauty, so that all the world may see and be attracted to Him!
Anyway..
this may be alot of info.. but... well its just alot of info.. sorry.
Rom 8/Eph 1 The spirit of adoption is a pledge or deposit.
Rom 8 we are WAITING for it.
Gal 4, we WILL receive our adoption and sonship.
because of Eph. 1, we are predestined to adoption.
In Bringing Many Many Many Sons to Glory......
The one who makes me perfect and those being made perfect are of the same family. Heb 2
Embrace the transforming privilege of your identity, as a favored son of God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and earth. And when we find that we have always belonged in this family, we will behave as dignified sons, and will throw off the sin that so easily entangles us.
-D. Thompson
