Adopted As Children of God

The New Testament calls us “the saved” or “the called.” Those who have been redeemed, saved, and forgiven are called “Christians” and “children of God.”

But how are we children of God? Isn’t Jesus God’s “only begotten Son?” -

How can we be considered God’s children? The apostle Paul speaks about how God has made us His children — through adoption!

The Spiritual Blessing of Adoption

The book of Ephesians shows us the blessings and riches that we have received from God through Christ -

One of those blessings that Paul identifies is that God has adopted us to be His children - ; see Louw-Nida

to formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 35.53 ἀναιρέομαι; υἱοθεσία, ας

to formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 35.53 ἀναιρέομαι; υἱοθεσία, ας

to formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 463–464.

We did not have this spiritual blessing apart from Christ

We did not have this spiritual blessing apart from Christ. Notice the realm of finding these blessings is “in Christ” or “through Christ”

“in Christ” - v 3, 10, 12

“in Him” - v 4, 7, 9, 10, 13 (2 x’s)

“through Jesus Christ” - v 5

“in the Beloved” - v 6

We are “in Christ” when we are raised up with Christ in baptism -

Children of God by faith “in Christ Jesus” - v 26

That takes place when we are clothed and baptized in Christ; no one here should have a low view of adoption because anyone here who is a Christian is adopted; and if you are not a Christian, you need to be adopted - v 27

Those who are saved are united in Christ and in His body, the church, and are part of the family of Abraham -

Following those statements in the book of Galatians about how we are now sons of God, Paul continues his discourse about sonship and being a child of God -

Children are not slaves; they have the promise of an inheritance - v 1

It was because of Jesus Christ that we have redemption and the adoption as sons -

Now that we have this spiritual blessing in Christ the Messiah, we have an intimate connection with God, who is our Father -

Intimate connection with God, our Father -

The term “Abba” was the Aramaic term for “father.” It was used as a term of endearment such as a young child learning to say “dada” or “daddy.”

Of course, this is not an irreverent way of speaking to God because Jesus spoke this way to the Father -

We should not refer to God in irreverent ways such as calling Him “the big man upstairs” or “the guy in the sky.” Not only are those irreverent, they are impersonal!

Paul wants us to see that calling God “Abba” is because we have a deep, personal respect for God.

Anyone who objects to calling God “Abba” in our prayers should also object to using the term “Amen.” Amen is a Hebrew word that means “so be it.”

Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Amen

Amen is a transliteration of the Hebrew word ʾāmēn.

Paul’s point is that since we are children of God, we have the opportunity to call God our Father, our Abba.

Just as young children develop a way to refer to their earthly fathers as “dada” or “daddy,” which is a sign of their love and their dependence upon their fathers, so too are we as Christians.

We learn to trust in God for everything — life, breath, food, water, clothing, shelter — everything is a blessing from God.

That is why God is our Abba! That is a blessing that we have received because we are His adopted children.

Adoption Is An Act of Grace & Makes Us Part of the Family

Paul concludes with the point that since we are adopted as children of God then we are God’s heirs -

We are joint heirs with Christ -

We are joint heirs with Christ

Christ is our brother -

The reason that we are joint-heirs with Christ is because Christ is our brother -

The Hebrew writer uses a quotation from and basically puts it as if Jesus Himself is saying it.

Being an heir is a significant thing. It proves that we have a legal right to the inheritance. A legal right that is just as strong as children you gave birth to.

This inheritance can be forfeited if we abandon God; - ;

Israel received the “adoption” -

The Old Testament does not speak much about “adoption” but it does show us that within Israel’s history that even though they were described as God’s “son,” they adopted other gods. This proves that the inheritance can be forfeited if we abandon God - ;

We might be children of God, but we can sin and lose the inheritance if we are unfaithful to God. The Bible does not teach anything like once saved, always saved.

The prodigal son was a flesh and blood son, but showed no honor for his father

Being legally adopted as children of God is an act of love and grace. Adoption begins with a choice of unconditional love and commitment.

Being adopted children of God does not make us any less significant or any less honorable as God’s children.

Even though the prodigal son was a flesh and blood son, he showed no honor for his father -

The prodigal sinned and came home and understood that he was not worthy of being a “son” to his father -

The prodigal son was a flesh and blood son, but showed no honor for his father

Yet, the father in his deep love and grace, restored his son -

The father says that this son was dead and has come to life again, he was lost and was found. How do people who believe in OSAS explain that?

We are adopted as children of God by God’s grace. We have the promise of an inheritance not because we have deserved it, but because of God’s willingness to give it to us.

Being an heir of God is about what we have gained in Christ and how we should not forfeit that inheritance

Adopted Children Have A Future Inheritance

The Bible sometimes speaks of things as if they have already happened in the past tense, but also speaks of those things in the future tense.

It’s sometimes called the “already, but not yet.” We have been saved, but we are still waiting for our final and ultimate future salvation.

Adoption is used in the “already, but not yet” sense as well.

Already: “you have received...” -

Not yet: “waiting eagerly for our adoption...” -

Anyone that has ever been part of an adoption experience knows that it is not a quick, simple process. It takes time. There will be difficulties and challenges that people face to finalize the adoption process -

Paul describes the challenges that God’s children and creation suffer -

Yet we persevere. We wait. We accept the challenges and we grow because of them. We become stronger. We become better. We become more dependent upon God.

For the Christian, as adopted children, we know there is pain, anguish, heartache, disappointment, and failure that we face. There are temptations. There is sickness and disease. There is death. These obstacles might discourage us and make us feel like giving up hope.

But we don’t because we trust in God’s promises -

The finalization of our adoption, the final proof and vindication of God adopting us as His children is our future bodily resurrection -

The body as we know it which is subject to death, decay, and corruptibility will be changed into a body that is imperishable, incorruptible, and glorious -

Death, the last enemy, will be defeated and we will be the vindicated, victorious children of God -

you can be adopted (past) and there’s also a sense in which we are awaiting our adoption (future)

That final stage in our adoption journey will take place at the final resurrection of Jesus’ second coming - ;

that future adoption will be proven and vindicated at the final resurrection of Jesus’ second coming

Conclusion

Being adopted is one of the great blessings we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ!

You may not see yourself as needing to be adopted. But all of us who have sinned and transgressed God’s need the grace of adoption in their life.

Adoption is grace; adoption is life!

You can have life if you will come to God and believe in Jesus Christ and be obedient to Him.

Related Media

Related Sermons