A HEART FOR ADOPTION

Please take your Bible and turn to . Today we continue on in our series in Galatians, titled NO OTHER GOSPEL. Our focus for this morning, as the sermon title indicates, is on adoption.

Over the course of our study of we learned that even Gentile believers, such as you and I are, are sons of Abraham — which means that we are a part of what Paul refers to elsewhere as the true Israel. Since we are sons of Abraham our inheritance is guaranteed by virtue of a promise that was made directly by God to Abraham. This promise was not made null and void by the coming of the Law because the promise to Abraham was an eternal promise, whereas the Law had a time-stamp on it — it was in effect until the coming of faith. Before faith came we were all under the guardianship of the Law regardless of our race, class or gender. And in Christ we who are true believers are all sons regardless of the same distinctions.

In his book title Knowing God J.I. Packer responded to the question “What is a Christian?” this way:

Live in Liberty: The Spiritual Message of Galatians Chapter 13: Fully Adopted (Galatians 4:1–7)

The richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father.… Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption.… The truth of our adoption gives us the deepest insights the New Testament affords into the greatness of God’s love.

The idea of adoption is very near to my heart. It has been ever since I came to understand that I have been adopted into the family of God. And for obvious reasons it has been on my mind a great deal over these past few months.

Today as we go through our text we are going to look at the comparison between contemporary adoption and first century adoption, the preparation for adoption, the confirmation of adoption, and the outcome of adoption.

CONTEMPORARY ADOPTION vs. FIRST CENTURY ADOPTION

GUARDIANSHIP

THE SET DATE

BONDAGE

THE PREPARATION FOR ADOPTION

In Paul wrote:

Ephesians 1:3–5 NASB95PARA

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Ephesians 1:3–5 NASB95PARA

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Paul wrote in

Ephesians 1:4–5 NASB95PARA

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

A Part of a Purposeful Plan

THE ORIGIN

Instigated by God — Charles Spurgeon wrote: “We moved not towards the Lord, but the Lord towards us! I do not find that the world, in repentance, sought its Maker. No, but the offended God, Himself, in infinite compassion, broke the silence and came forth to bless His enemies!”

Todd Wilson wrote: “God sent forth his Son” (4:4). And here’s why: the heavenly Father is a holy God and therefore could not simply take sinful creatures to himself and call them his own, without first dealing with their sin. This is why the Son had to be “born of woman, born under the law” (4:4). He not only had to take on human flesh—he had to submit himself to the curse of the Law. You see, in order to adopt sinful creatures like you and me, the Son not only had to become incarnate, he had to be crucified and on the cross become a curse for us (cf. 3:13).

Wilson, T. (2013). Galatians: Gospel-Rooted Living. (R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p. 135). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Conceived in love — J.I. Packer wrote: — “Adoption is a family idea conceived in terms of love and viewing God as Father. In adoption God takes us into his family and fellowship, establishes us as his children and heirs. Closeness, affection, and generosity are at the heart of the relationship. To be right with God the judge is a good thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater.”

THE MANNER

THE CONDITION

Bush, D., & Due, N. (2015). Live in Liberty: The Spiritual Message of Galatians (p. 122). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

A Phenomenal Cost — As many of you know, Gail and I were considering adopting these two precious boys that the Lord, and the State of Michigan, have entrusted to our care. But what if we had to send our firstborn son, Tim, to prepare the way for the adoption, knowing that the preparation would cause him to be publicly executed? That is precisely what the Father did in sending the Son into the world and onto the cross, “so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Todd Wilson).

THE FIRST PURPOSE

THE SECOND PURPOSE

THE CONFIRMATION OF ADOPTION

The Work of the Holy Trinity

The Father sent for the the Son

THE WORK OF THE SON

The Son came as the obedient substitute — the passage gives six central truths about Christ’s coming (P.G. Ryken)

The timing of His coming — “The fullness of the time”

The origin of His coming — “God sent forth” — deity

The manner of His coming — “Born of a woman” — humanity

The condition of His coming — “Born under the Law” — perfect obedience

The first purpose of His coming — “That He might redeem”

Justification is in regards to a legal standing

Redemption is in regards ownership — freedom from the curse of sin

The second purpose of His coming — “We might receive adoption” — sonship

The Father sent forth the Spirit

The Spirit confirms that we are sons of God

The Spirit cries out “Abba! Father!”

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:14–17 NASB95PARA

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.

Human adoption affects nurture, but it does not affect nature

Divine adoption brings a new nature with it

This new nature is inseparably linked to our union with Christ

Romans 8:14–17 NASB95PARA

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.

The Issue of Nature

Human adoption affects nurture, but it does not affect nature

Divine adoption brings a new nature with it

This new nature is inseparably linked to our union with Christ

THE OUTCOME OF ADOPTION

We are no longer slaves

Now we are sons

Since we are sons, we are heirs

Through the gracious act of God

Isaac Watts wrote this poem titled Adoption:

The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts Hymn 64: Adoption

Adoption.

(1 John 3:1ff; Gal. 4:6.)

Behold what wondrous grace

The Father has bestowed

On sinners of a mortal race,

To call them sons of God!

’Tis no surprising thing

That we should be unknown;

The Jewish world knew not their king,

God’s everlasting Son.

Nor doth it yet appear

How great we must be made;

But when we see our Savior here,

We shall be like our Head.

A hope so much divine

May trials well endure;

May purge our souls from sense and sin,

As Christ the Lord is pure.

If in my Father’s love

I share a filial part,

Send down thy Spirit like a dove,

To rest upon my heart.

We would no longer lie

Like slaves beneath the throne;

My faith shall Abba, Father, cry,

And thou the kindred own.

Let’s pray!

Closing Song: No. 419 — THE FAMILY OF GOD