Adopted Into His Love: The Family of Christ Revealed
Notes
Transcript
Adopted Into His Love: The Family of Christ Revealed
Adopted Into His Love: The Family of Christ Revealed
Bible Passage: Joshua 24:14–15, Matthew 12:48–50, Galatians 3:26–4:7, Romans 8:15, John 13:34–35
Bible Passage: Joshua 24:14–15, Matthew 12:48–50, Galatians 3:26–4:7, Romans 8:15, John 13:34–35
Summary: This theme underscores the depth of Christ's adoption, emphasizing that it's not just a change in status but a transformative relationship characterized by love and belonging within God's family, shaping our identity and purpose.
Application: Recognizing our position as adopted children of God allows us to walk confidently in our identity, extend grace to ourselves and others, and actively build a community that reflects God's love toward the world around us. It calls us to live out our new identity not just privately, but in reflecting that love publicly.
Teaching: This sermon teaches that adoption in Christ is fundamentally about relationship rather than mere legal status. It invites believers to embrace their identity as loved children, triggering a new way of living that reflects the character of Christ in every aspect of life.
How this passage could point to Christ: The concept of adoption runs from God’s covenantal love in the Old Testament through Christ's sacrificial love in the New Testament, showcasing how Jesus’ life embodied our full acceptance into God's family; He is the ultimate expression of that adoptive love.
Big Idea: In Christ, we are not merely adopted; we are richly loved and empowered to love others as a reflection of our divine heritage, creating a transformative space for community and acceptance.
Recommended Study: As you prepare for this theme on adoption, consider diving into the theological implications of adoption in Paul's letters, particularly focusing on Galatians 3:26–4:7. You might explore the cultural background of Roman adoption that likely influenced Paul’s writing, utilizing Logos resources that compare ancient adoption practices. This could enhance your understanding of what it means to be co-heirs with Christ, thus enriching the application of your message.
1. Choose Your House Today
1. Choose Your House Today
Joshua 24:14–15
As we have studied family over these weeks, we have studied Joshua 24:14-15
“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!
Joshua has issued a challenge! Here he draws the line in the sand. He tell them the right path to take!
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.
As He continues, he lays out the option and put things into perspective. In doing so, he gives them their options. However, next he gives his response to the same challenge.
But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
This has been the main scripture we have focused on through this study. But do not think of this as just Joshua putting a challenge out the people of Isreal. Do not think that Joshua was just put out there where he stood. Let me bring it into today’s perspective. Every day we make the choice to live as God's children. This sets the foundation for the life changing relationship as part of Christ's family. When Joshua makes the statement of “as for me and my house” he was doing what we need to do every day. He was stating his claim as a child of God and whose house he belonged to and who was going to be in God’s house (or family) with him!
2. Family Redefined by Faith
2. Family Redefined by Faith
Matthew 12:48–50
Within this statement, this proclamation, from Joshua is a definition of the family through faith. Who do you serve? Who do you worship? Where does your faith lie? These questions help to define the spiritual family (or household). This is further clarified and supported by Jesus in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Let look at what Christ says in Matthew 12:48-50. In this verse, His mother and brothers are outside the crowd looking for him. When Jesus is told of this, here is his response.
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”
While some may see this as dishonoring his family, that is not what was happening here. This was a learning opportunity and Professor Jesus took full advantage of it!
And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
The word disciples here referred to the crowd of followers to whom He was teaching. In Mark and Luke, they use the term crowd and multitudes in place of disciples here.
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Here is the lesson. Jesus was encouraging believers to see spiritual kinship beyond biological ties. He gave a redefinition of family not as one of bloodlines but of spiritual connection through doing God's will. This is how Christ proclaims who is in His household. Those who embracing the teachings and the inclusive love of Christ through. Those who through faith follow His example of aligning to God’s will.
3. Faith Forms Our Family
3. Faith Forms Our Family
Galatians 3:26–4:3
Now that we have the definition of spiritual family, let us look at how faith has become come our all-inclusive invitation to the God’s family. We can see this in Galatians 3:26-4:3.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
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 neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Remember that God’s covenants are familial and include the entire household. So we are part of the household through Christ!
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
Through faith in Christ, all believers become children of God, united and equal regardless of race, status, or gender. This scripture confirms the unity and equality that comes with being God's children.
4. Adoption is Secured in Christ
4. Adoption is Secured in Christ
Galatians 4:4–7
As we continue in Galatians, we get our confirmation into God’s household.
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Here we can see that through our faith in Jesus Christ, our adoption is official! Our paperwork has been signed and submitted by the sacrifice and salvation provided by Jesus.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
We can now call out to Him 'Father (Abba),' with all the intimacy and security that comes with it. This not only defines our legal status as heirs but an intimate relationship empowering us to live confidently in our identity as God’s beloved children and all the inheritance that comes with it.
5. Abba: Our New Cry
5. Abba: Our New Cry
Romans 8:15
Now that we are confirmed and secure in our place in God’s household, let’s look at Roman 8:15.
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Let me pause here to share some information with you. In ancient times, individuals were often identified with surnames by adding descriptive elements to their given names, occupation (for example Baker, or Cook), or place of residence. However, I want to discuss a particular method of developing surnames for identification purposes. Some use their father’s name for this purpose. For example, if your father’s name was John, you may have had the surname, Johnson. A son of man named David would have the surname Davidson. This method was common across many cultures.
Let me share a little more about me with you as well. I am a comic book fan, in particular a DC and Superman fan. However, I do enjoy Marvel comics and heroes as well. If any of you are Marvel fans you will get the illustration I am about to use. However, if you are not, you will still be able to relate to this. I want to thank Minister Big E for his father’s day message that helped me realize this example.
In Marvel comics, there is a king of a realm named Odin. Odin had two sons, Thor and Loki. Thor was Odin’s biological son. Loki, on the other hand, was his adopted son and at times could be a handful. He caused multiple problems, and many times went against his father’s wishes. Some might even say he could be called prodigal. However, Odin, being the good father he was, always provided correction and discipline to Loki that he needed and showed him grace. This was evidence as whenever Odin addressed his adopted son, Loki, he reminded him of who he was. Because just like his brother Thor, he was addressed likewise. Odin, his father, let him know that he was Loki Odin’s Son and therefore was in his family and house due to his adoption. With being the case, he needed to act like it!
Do you all follow me on this? Let me make it plain. His name changed once he was adopted. His behavior and actions should have changed as well. In the heart of our new identity in Christ as sons and daughters, we are marked by intimacy, trust, and familial belonging rather than fear. This speaks to living out our adoption through a relationship with God.
During every week of this series on family, I have introduced myself to you and gave you a window into my past. However, if you do not mind, I would like to reintroduce myself:
I am a person who was conceived in sin and struggled with sin throughout my life. However, through adoption, I am no longer a slave to sin but servant of righteousness to my Father.
I may have been bullied, put down, and made to feel less than. But as an adopted member of God’s house, I am more than a conquer and able to defeat giants and move mountains in His name.
I may have been attacked in the darkness by Satan through sexual perversion, but in my adoption, we can walk in the light of Jesus and be cleansed by his blood from all sins. I can resist the devil, and he will flee.
I am one of those whom the devil continues to use all of his strategies to attack my mind, my body, my will, and my heart.
But my Daddy, Abba, tell me to cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
My Daddy tells me his grace is sufficient for me and His strength is made perfect in weakness.
My Daddy tells me to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
My Daddy signed my adoption paperwork, and I am under his protection as His child as a member of his household! My inheritance is secure, and I am justified, regenerated, and sanctified child of God.
So now allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Deon Edwards God’s Son and as for me and my house we will serve the Lord!
6. Love: Our Family Mark
6. Love: Our Family Mark
John 13:34–35
Now that our household is established, there is a commandment that we use as our spiritual family identification card. This is found in John 13:34-35:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
For believers, this commandment is clear on what we need to do as members of God’s household. Our adoption should show in how we love one another, which is the mark by which all will know we belong to Christ. Jesus' command to love as He loves is the mark of our divine family. We love like Christ. We are God’s sons and daughters, now we need to act like it as we serve the Lord!
