The Spirit of Adoption

(S1) — Since God’s promise in restoring God’s people, there was a longing in Judaism for the return of God’s Spirit.

Joel 2:28–29“I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Paul’s rich discourse of Life in the Sprit in Romans 8—signifies Joel’s prophecy as coming true for all people in life, death, resurrection of Jesus

SERIES—Life in the Spirit

—Life-giving Spirit (justification)—Living life according to the Spirit (Sanctification)—Indwelling (Christ In You)

The gift of the Spirit of Christ and His indwelling constitutes the distinctive mark of Christians. Not some supernatural, out of body experience, but a way of life that supersedes any other way, by the richness of Christ’ presence.

Some may worry or question if they have the Spirit of God in them. Looking for some special feeling, gift or manifestation to reassure them.

(S2) — Today, how living life in the Spirit, is consecrated by...our ADOPTION into the family of God

New Life (rebirth)—New Spirit (Christ in us) — New family

4 times in four verses, the apostle identifies those who live life in the Spirit as Children of God.

The Spirit of adoption is revealed in the love of the Father, reflected in the loving sacrifice of the son, lived out in the children of God, who live life in the Spirit.

(S3) —

Some may question, am I a child of God? Have I the Spirit of God living in me?

The Spirit of adoption is the ASSURANCE that we are God’s children

PRAY/BIBLES

(S4) — How do you know you are a child of…? Familial resemblance/personality/mannerisms

If you had to prove…how would you? Birth certificate

(S5) —

What about those who are Adopted into a family?

“the act or process of establishing a legal relationship between a child and a parent other than the child’s biological parent, thereby entrusting the designated adult with responsibility for raising the child”

Being a child of a parent whether its biological or though adoption is seen in the authenticity of the relationaship...

adoption (huiothesia)—to be placed in a position and rights as one’s own child. In O.T. times, it was not a legal process—concept of adoption

— Mordecai/Esther to be his daughter— Moses raised in Pharaohs household— Ruth’s declaration to stay with her mother-in-law

In Ezekiel its used as a metaphor for God’s relationship to Israel. Suggesting that God gradually becomes Israel’s father, not through sexual procreation, but through adoption (11 Michelle J. Morris, “Adoption,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016). (Malul, “Adoption of Foundlings,” 98–99).

Paul confirms this in speaking to his own people

Romans 9:4 “Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.”

(S6)

But Paul’s ministry was to the Gentiles…adoption by the spirit through faith in Christ. When the Spirit of God becomes part of their DNA

John 1:12–13 Yet to all who did receive 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.

What are the assurances of our adoption as God’s children? How do we know you are child of our heavenly father? Living life in the Spirit?

(S7) —

I. Through the LEADING of the Spirit!

14 ...those who are being led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

The Spirit identifies one as a child of God by its leading in their life...

Two different ideas in the Greek — lead/led (agō)

(S8)

1. A Child of God is…being CARRIED by the Spirit!

⇒ The Spirit leads the believer by carrying through the trials of this life. He bears them up, carrying him through the difficulties of this world (1)

This kind of leading in Christ relationaship to the church (1 Corinthians 13:1)—bearing/lifing up…

In this divine/human relationship, the spirit does the heavy lifting in the life of the child of God

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

What is the evidence/proof that a person is a child of God?

⇒ Are they being carried through the trials of life victoriously, acknowledging God and rejoicing in His strength and eternal security?

Ever experienced God who take the weight of your burden? You are a child of the heavenly father

(S9) — second way of the leading of the spirit

2. A child of God is…being GUIDED along by the Spirit!

⇒ The Spirit leads by guiding the believer along the way of righteousness and truth. He guides them by moving in advance and going ahead of him. He blazes the path, making sure the believer knows where to walk. Helping them find the way of truth and righteous living

This kind of leading is always motoring and correcting

John 16:13 “when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

Bumper bowling—

The spirit does not just keep up with the believer but is always moving ahead...

Exodus 13:21 “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”

Is the person GUIDED by the Spirit of God? What evidence/proof that a person is a child of God?

⇒ Is the person being led along the way of righteousness and truth?

Ever experienced God’s guiding, correcting, preparing leading? You are a child of the heavenly father

We have the assurance that we are a child of God through the LEADING of the spirit

II. Through our INTIMATE relationaship with the Spirit

(S10) —

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

The intimacy of the relationaship is seen in the one who no longer lives in fear. They no longer fear the flesh (death)…because of ones right standing with God in the spirit.

The ‘natural man’ neither fears nor loves God; one ‘under the law’ fears, one ‘under grace’ loves him. The first has no light in the things of God, but walks in utter darkness. The second sees the painful light of hell; the third, the joyous light of heaven. He that sleeps in death has a false peace. He that is awakened has no peace at all. He that believes has true peace, the peace of God, filling and ruling his heart… [III.8]

Do you have a HEALTHY fear of God?

The intimacy of the relationaship is also seen in the one who calls God Father

Mark 14:36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.””

So intimate is the relationship, the status of sonship, that by the spirit the child calls God Father

I love to hear my children call me dad…

In crying to God abba father, we have the assurance that we are children of God through the intimacy of the relationship

(S11) —

III. Through the TESTIMONY of the Spirit!

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

In the process of Roman adoption there had to be witness…

Here there is no better wittiness than God himself saying you are my child

Isaiah 43:1 “this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

This assumes a manner of communication between the believer and God’s Spirit

“As God as my witness…

The apostles similarly proclaim this…

Acts 5:32 “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.””

This testimony of the Spirit with our spirit, keeps us obedient to the will of God…This open communication assures us that we are children of God through the TESTIMONY of the Spirit

(S10)

IV. Through the INHERIT blessing of the Spirit!

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.

heirs of God—by the spirit — we are family and therefore the recipients of God’s blessing

co-heirs with Christ— shared blessing with Christ and all believers

Ephesians 3:6 “6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”

In the O.T. the inherit blessing of Israel was Canaan—In Judaism it was believed to involve the spiritual realm...

But for Paul the our heavenly inheritance is now the possession of the Christian by the Spirit of God

Galatians 3:14 “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

This is both a shared Glory...and suffering…(next week)

What are the assurances of our adoption as God’s children? How do we know you are child of our heavenly father? Living life in the Spirit?

(S11)

LEADING of the Spirit—INTIMATE relationship—TESTIMONY of the Spirit—INHERIT blessing

We are children of God not by nature.. but through adoption into sonship…with Christ

The love of a parent of an adopted child can be as strong as one born…

(S12)

You don’t have to look in the mirror…only in your heart…that IN CHRIST…YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD

1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Embrace your familial connection…Live life in the Spirit, you have that familial connection. Christ in your DNA. The assurance that you are child of our heavenly father, who loves you perfectly in every way…

New LIFE in the Spirit—New way to LIVE in the Spirit—New FAMILY in the Spirit

Resources

1. Romans (King James Version) (A. The Man in Christ Jesus Is Freed from Condemnation: The Power of the Spirit, 8:1–17)