Adoption

Evidence For Adoption

Adoption is when God makes us a part of His family.

John 1:12 NASB95

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior we gave us the right to be called children of God. What does that mean to you that you are a child of God?

Ephesians 2:2 NASB95

in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Ephesians 5:5 NASB95

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Those who have not received Christ as their Savor are sons of disobedience. They walk according to the way of Satan.

John 8:41–44 NASB95

“You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

When we are children of God our desires change. Our actions dictate what we believe. How have your desires changed?

Romans 8:14–17 NASB95

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Those that are led by the Spirit are sons of God

We experience God as the perfect Father.

The Holy Spirit testifies with our Spirit that we are children of God

We are heirs with Christ.

1 John 3:1–2 NASB95

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

Our adoption is based on God’s love for us.

Adoption Is Different than Justification.

Justification deals with our legal standing before God. Justification changes us from guilty to not guilty in God’s eyes. All our sin past, present , and future are forgiven. Our legal standing never changes

Adoption is relational. This is why we must confess our sins to the Father. Though our legal standing does not change before God because of our sin, our relational standing does. For example, we love our kids and that will never change. However when they disappoint us our relationship changes. When they confess and apologize for their wrong doing our relationship is restored. This is the same with the Lord.

Privileges of Adoption

The first privilege is that we can relate to God as a Father.

Matthew 6:9 NASB95

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Psalm 103:13–14 NASB95

Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

Matthew 6:32 NASB95

“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

The second is we receive an Inheritance

1 Peter 1:4 NASB95

to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

God gives us access to Him through prayer

1 John 3:19–22 NASB95

We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

God Disciplines us

Hebrews 12:5–6 NASB95

and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

We Can imitate God

1 Peter 1:14–16 NASB95

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

He unites us as family

Romans 1:13 NASB95

I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.

1 Timothy 5:1–2 NASB95

Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

We are to function as a family