The Reality of God's Goodness

Introduction: 

1.       The roots of the tree support the tree;  this was a symbol of the patriarchs who founded the nation.

2.       God made His covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He cannot deny them or change them.  It is God’s promise to Abraham that sustains Israel even today.

3.       Many of the Jewish people did not believe. Paul pictured them as branches broken off the tree.

4.       Paul saw an amazing thing taking place: other branches were grafted into the tree to share in the life of the tree

·         This symbolized the adoption of the unwanted.

1.       Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth (or "biological", or "natural") mother or father.

2.       An adoption order has the effect of severing the parental responsibilities and rights of the birth parent(s) and transferring those responsibilities and rights to the adoptive parent(s).

3.       After the finalization of an adoption, there is no legal difference between adopted children and those born to the parents.

Romans 11:19

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”

III. THE REALITY OF GOD’S GOODNESS IS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF CHILDREN

                A.  He chose us through adoption

·         Adoption —  the giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth.

                 (1.) There is a Natural Adoption

                                a. Thus Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses

Exodus 2:10

10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

                                b. Mordecai adopts Esther

Esther 2:7

7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

                (2.) National. God adopted Israel

Exodus 4:22

22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.  

 Deuteronomy 7:6

6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

 Hosea 11:1

God’s Continuing Love for Israel

11  “When Israel was a child, I loved him,  And out of Egypt I called My son.

                                 (3.) Spiritual Adoption

An act of God’s grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers of all the blessings he has provided for them.

Adoption represents the new relations into which the believer is introduced by justification, and the privileges connected therewith.

                                                a. Spiritual Adoption is an interest in God’s peculiar                                        love

John 17:23

23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me

                                b. Spiritual adoptions is spiritual In nature

John 1:12-13

·         The Acceptance of Christ

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

                                c. Spiritual adoption is the possession of a spirit                                                becoming children of God

2 John 4

·         Walk in Christ’s Commandments

4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. ;

Galatians 5:1

·         Christian Liberty

5     Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ;

                                d.  Spiritual adoption present protection, consolation,

                                and supplies

John 14:18-19

18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.  Because I live, you will live also.

1 Corinthians 3:21-23

21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:

 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.

23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

                                f. Spiritual Adoption promises us a future glorious                                           inheritance

James 2:5

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Philippians 3:20-21

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

                B. Being adopted calls for us to responsible

                                1. Adoption should Produce a Likeness to God

Matthew 5:44

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Walk in Love

5     Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. .

2. Adoption should Produce a Child-like confidence in God.

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

3. Adoption gives us A desire for God’s glory.

Matthew 5:16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

4. Adoption gives us A spirit of prayer.

Luke 11:9-13

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Illustration

·         Parable of the Good Father

Matt. 7:7–11

11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?

12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

5.  Adoption gives you A love of peace.

Matthew 5:9

9      Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. .

6. Adoption  causes us to have A forgiving spirit.

Matthew 6:14

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

g.  Adoption causes to have A merciful spirit.

Luke 6:35

35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.