Born and Adopted

Adoption

Ephesians 1:5 KJV 1900

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Galatians 4:5 KJV 1900

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Born (Again)

John 3:3 KJV 1900

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:7 KJV 1900

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

1 Peter 1:23 KJV 1900

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Being born again is a pre-requisite to being adopted

Being adopted is a predetermined outcome for the elect

Who is the audience?

Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin and a devout Jew

Paul is speaking to Galatians and Ephesians; Gentiles

The point is, this message is for all who believe and will believe; not one ethnic group or another.

When a child is born, do you know who initiates the labor process? It’s the baby! We often use the phrase, “When the baby is ready, it will be born,” but there is actually a lot of truth to that. Without getting overly scientific or biological, the baby’s birth is brought about by it being the right time for it’s birth. Of course, the baby does not know what is happening, does not make any conscious decision to be born, and does not resist being born. When the time to be born comes, it will be born. (this does not in any way take away from the the mother’s role in the birth, who by far has the hardest role to serve)

Knowing this, think about the spiritual act of being born again. A child of God does not decide to be born again, but when God has fully prepared their spirit to be born of the spirit, He calls unto them and they answer.

Our spirit is born again, and takes on the characteristics of our Father.

Our flesh is adopted, still does not look like the Father, but bears His name and all of the promises and blessings He has given to His only begotten Son.

Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by me.”

You cannot make yourself be born again, but you must answer when God the Spirit calls to you. You cannot make yourself be adopted, but you are adopted by God’s decree, predestinated according to His grace.

Being born is a biological process; being adopted is a legal one.

You cannot wear enough disguises, put on enough goat hair, or smother yourself in enough cologne to fool God into thinking you are one of His sons or daughters.

Many people are trying to be adopted as sons of God without being born again of the Spirit.

they dress right

they talk right

they even act right

but they do not possess the birthright that is ours as joint-heirs with Jesus because they have not been born again in the Spirit

Romans 8:16–17 “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Just as no one can be adopted who has not first been born, no one will be adopted by the Father who has not been born again.