I'm Adopted?

· What We learned today in Lectures:
Adoption:

Ephesians 1:4,5

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will..

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘‘Abba, Father.” “sonship” = the underlying word here is “adoption”. Adoption was common among the Greeks and Romans, who granted the adopted son all the privileges of a natural son, including inheritance rights.

Galatians 3:26

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus

Galatians 4:1-7

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. ⁴ But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, ⁵ to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. ⁶ Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘‘Abba, Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Rom 8:14-17

verse 15 but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘‘Abba, Father.”

verse 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

verse 17 we are heirs (of the Father) —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (joint heirs with the Son)

John 1:12

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

What does it mean to receive?

Most of us find it difficult to receive something from God that we do not deserve. However, the inheritance of a child of God is the result of what Christ has done and part of the process of receiving is to humble oneself and accept His free gift.

John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

Romans 6:23

the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Revelation 22:17

Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

John 7:37,38

‘‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

What does it mean to believe?

1. Believing is a Choice

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

2Thess 2:12

and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

John 20:29

Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Rom 10:14

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

2. Believing is a Commitment

Rom 4:18-21

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘‘So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

2Tim 1:12b

because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

3. Believing is with the Heart

Rom 10:10

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

We must teach our mind to serve our spirit.

Rom 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

4. Believing is Work

John 6:28,29

Then they asked him, ‘‘What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, ‘‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.