You’re Adopted

Our Text : Galatians 3:26 - 4:1-7

Galatians 3:26–29 “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Galatians 4:1–7 “I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Adoption

Has anyone ever told a sibling that they were adopted?

Many countries in the world have adoption laws, but many do not.

adoption laws in the U.S. started forming in 1851 starting in Massachusetts and other states followed after Federal laws and acts were passed between the 1910s and the 1950s.

Modern adoption is derived on Roman Laws.

Roman laws of adoption date century's before that of modern secular adoption.

Many of the Roman Emperors were adopted

One of the most well known adoptions of the Roman empire is that of Caesar Augustus, originally known as Octavian. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus. He was the Great grand nephew of Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar attained rule over Rome after he defeated Pompey in 48 B.C. at The Battle of Pharsalus during the Roman Civil War. After Julius Caesar was assassinated, his will was read and Octavian found that he had been made Heir. This was a legal act of adoption called posthumous adoption. An adoption that occured after the death of the adoptive parent.

Now Octavian’s mother was related to Julius Caesar, but thats not what granted him the right to rule, it was this legal act of adoption.

Augustus Octavian was adopted when he was about 18 years old.

The head of the family in Rome was called the Paterfamilias, When Julius Caesar adopted Augustus he became the Paterfamilias, and he gained all the wealth and power of his adopting father.

Julius Caesar had a natural born son, a son that was in his bloodline, but the act of adoption superceded the bloodline. This legal adoption had higher claim on the throne that that of the bloodline.

Roman Adoption came with other benefits

the Paterfamilias under roman law could legally kill his natural children, but he could not kill an adopted son.

Romans could not adopt non Roman citizens, but if the adoptee was a slave, then the Adopter could buy the slave, free him, making him a Roman citizen then adopting him. This the literal picture of the word exagora. or the english translation. redemption

Being a Roman citizen Paul would have had a good understanding of how adoption worked, and in his writings to the churches he used that understanding to explain God’s adoption to those in the body of Christ.

Paul would have used the Roman legal understanding of adoption when speaking to his jewish brothers. Jews have a different approach to adoption.

Even though God’s law presents adoption and heirs the Jewish law called the Halacha does not have laws pertaining to adoption.

Adopted by God the Father

The NT spells out clearly that God adopts believers into his family.

What is it?….don’t answer

how is it applied?….don’t answer

When does it occur?

Adoption occurs simultaneously with regeneration, and justification

Adoption is an act by God that makes us legally His

Adoption is different than regeneration,

Adoption is different than justification

and it certainly is not the same as sanctification.

We have touched base on these.

Regeneration is God giving life to the spirit of the believer, before which you were dead in your trespasses.

Justification is being declared righteous, by the atoning death of Christ

Sanctification is the lifelong process of being made Holy through the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.

Adoption is our relationship to God.

how do new adoptive parents look at there new baby?

how does the child view his adoptive parent?

Voddie Baucham view on adopting…….

Romans hints to the strength of this relationship we now have with our Heavenly Father.

Romans 8:38–39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God is our perfect Father

Earthly Fathers, no matter how good, and there are some really good ones, still fall short of the perfect Fatherhood of Our God.

If we are adopted, then we are sons, if we are sons then we are heirs.

Paul guides the Galatians through the logical ends of the doctrine of adoption.

Paul calls believers heirs in chapters 3 and 4

Galatians 3:29 “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Galatians 4:1–2 “I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.”

Just like Roman society and our culture and laws, we get a portion of our inheritance now and the fullness of our inheritance upon the date set by the Father.

Upon redemption, God gives us benefits and privileges of our adoption.

There is a whole list of goodies

ability to speak to God Matthew 6:9 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Adoption shows God’s love for us 1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God;

God takes care of our needs Matthew 6:32 “For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

God gives us many gifts Matthew 7:11 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

God gave us the gift of The Holy Spirit Acts 2:38 “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

By the Gift of the Holy Spirit, we are lead by the Holy Spirit, enabling obedience to the commands and laws of God. Ephesians 1:13–14 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

God gives a great inheritance in Heaven, Joint Heirs with Christ. 1 Peter 1:4 “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,”

We are disciplined by God Hebrews 12:6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.””

We have a deep and wonderful relationship with the Family of Christ. John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We shall rejoice in our suffering with Christ. 1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

Our Inheritance

We have a portion of our inheritance now and according to Peter we have an imperishable, undefiled and unfading inheritance waiting in Heaven for us.

In the Fullness of time, at the time determined by our Father we shall have the the whole of our inheritance, but what is inheritance?

Can you Imagine a world that is uncorrupted by sin?…..

Yeah me neither!

A world that things don’t rust, that moth doesn’t eat, colors don’t fade, a vivid bright world undefiled by sin.

Days filled with work and you will actually enjoy it!

Food that is plentiful and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

A loving relationship with a huge family, and meals together that don’t end up in an argument.

Revelation 21:5 “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.””

We Will have new bodies in eternity.

2 Corinthians 5:1–3 “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.”

The whole host of Heaven will sing and worship God, and He will still be our Father, He will still bestow gifts on His children. God will give us glorified bodies, that won’t break down, won’t get sick, and are whole and good. We will be Holy Like our Father in Heaven in Holy.

Ultimately, we will have the perfect restored fellowship with our creator, our LORD God. We will live in a new world dedicated to perfect praise and worship of He who is Thrice Holy. We will be able to look upon the glory of God in all His greatness and perfection

While we are waiting

Waiting, patiently, for the promise we shall take full advantage of our “Christ Privilege”

We have the ability to speak to God, so pray without ceasing.

Since God takes care of our needs, we shall cast off all our worry.

God gives us many gifts, let’s use those gifts to edify the church, and grow God’s kingdom.

God gave us The Holy Spirit, trust not in your own understanding, but trust in Him for understanding.

By the Gift of the Holy Spirit, Be obedient and submit your whole life to God, not just the length of it but the breadth also. Submit all facets of your life to Christ.

We are disciplined by God, so don’t be upset or angry when God corrects and chastises you. For He does this as part of your sanctifying. You are being made Holy.

Have a deep and wonderful relationship with the Family of Christ. Let us show love, not only to our brothers and sisters in Christ, but show love to your neighbor (which is everyone), for by loving them if they are lost you might be part of God’s plan for his salvation and they too can have a deep and wonderful relationship with Christs family.

A member of my family was getting a great inheritance. Mom said “don’t tell him”

But, Because we know that we have an inheritance that is so great. Because we have been made a promise by God and we know without a shadow of a doubt that God will make good on that promise, We shall rejoice in our suffering with Christ and then when God gives a great inheritance in Heaven being Joint Heirs with Christ. We shall praise in His glory. For the greatness in His Glory is greater that all the suffering, and is worth it!