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Christian Life Church
August 1, 2021 10am
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
BROUGHT IN… AUGUST 1, 2021
SCRIPTURE
Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ… (The Father) decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through (the Son). This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us… Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. Ephesians 1:4-13, NLT
SALVATION IS A GIFT BOX FILLED WITH GIFTS
Justification: We are now viewed as if we have never sinned.
Regeneration: We have been brought from spiritual death to life.
Sanctification: We are spiritually clean & on our way to glorification.
Redemption: We have been bought back from sin.
Preservation: We are secure in God’s salvation.
Reconciliation: We are no longer estranged from the Lord.
Adoption: We are brought into God’s family as His children.
ADOPTION IN THE NATURAL
1/ Adoption in the Old Testament
There was no provision for adoption in Levitical Law, but it happened (Moses, Esther).
I have cared for orphans like a father… Job 31:18, NLT
2/ Adoption in the History of the Church
Caring for the less fortunate has been a trademark of the Church throughout history.
3/ Adoption in the New Testament
Jesus was adopted by His earthly father, Joseph.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27, NLT
ADOPTION IN THE SPIRIT
Adam’s “original sin” effect himself & all humanity for all time. Since this event, we were all born as spiritual orphans.
We all once lived in the passions of our flesh… and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:3, ESV
To be clear: God did not abandon us. We abandoned God. And in our brokenness, God worked to make us His own.
Spiritual adoption is a step beyond forgiveness.
“Justification is when we are acquitted in God’s courtroom. Adoption is when we are welcomed into God’s living room.” Matt Smethurst
1/ Adopted children have been bought back by God.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. Galatians 4:4-5, ESV/NLT
In Roman culture, “An adopted son was considered like a son born in the family. He could no longer inherit from his (former) father. He was no longer liable for old debts. So far as his former family was concerned, he was dead.” Douglas
2/ Adopted children receive blessing & rights from God in this life.
We receive unconditional love, acceptance, the removal of shame, & spiritual gifts.
3/ Adopted children receive an inheritance from God in the next life.
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… Romans 8:16-17, ESV
In spiritual adoption, a child experiences immediate & eternal benefit.
4/ Adopted children possess the Spirit of God.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption… Romans 8:15, ESV
5/ Adopted children carry the image & name of God.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are “sons of God.” Romans 8:14, ESV
The children of God begin to do what God does & say what God says, just as children reflect their earthly parents (on some level).
“Aww…she has your hair.”
6/ Adopted children have been chosen by God.
God loved us and chose us in Christ… Ephesians 1:4, NLT
One helpful resource is The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller.
7/ Adopted children are unconditionally loved by God.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1, NIV
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer
8/ Adopted children have a new Father in God.
You received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15, NLT
9/ Adopted children are part of the family of God.
Resist [the devil], standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:9, NIV
10/ Adopted children fall under the care of God.
The Lord disciplines the one He loves… God is treating you children. Hebrews 12:5-6, NIV
Divine development is disguised as discipline.
11/ Adopted children bear responsibility to God.
God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. Ephesians 1:4, NLT
12/ Adopted children have a future hope in God.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18, NIV
SCRIPTURE
Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ… (The Father) decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through (the Son). This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us… Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. Ephesians 1:4-13, NLT
SALVATION IS A GIFT BOX FILLED WITH GIFTS
Justification: We are now viewed as if we have never sinned.
Regeneration: We have been brought from spiritual death to life.
Sanctification: We are spiritually clean & on our way to glorification.
Redemption: We have been bought back from sin.
Preservation: We are secure in God’s salvation.
Reconciliation: We are no longer estranged from the Lord.
Adoption: We are brought into God’s family as His children.
ADOPTION IN THE NATURAL
1/ Adoption in the Old Testament
There was no provision for adoption in Levitical Law, but it happened (Moses, Esther).
I have cared for orphans like a father… Job 31:18, NLT
2/ Adoption in the History of the Church
Caring for the less fortunate has been a trademark of the Church throughout history.
3/ Adoption in the New Testament
Jesus was adopted by His earthly father, Joseph.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27, NLT
ADOPTION IN THE SPIRIT
Adam’s “original sin” effect himself & all humanity for all time. Since this event, we were all born as spiritual orphans.
We all once lived in the passions of our flesh… and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:3, ESV
To be clear: God did not abandon us. We abandoned God. And in our brokenness, God worked to make us His own.
Spiritual adoption is a step beyond forgiveness.
“Justification is when we are acquitted in God’s courtroom. Adoption is when we are welcomed into God’s living room.” Matt Smethurst
1/ Adopted children have been bought back by God.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. Galatians 4:4-5, ESV/NLT
In Roman culture, “An adopted son was considered like a son born in the family. He could no longer inherit from his (former) father. He was no longer liable for old debts. So far as his former family was concerned, he was dead.” Douglas
2/ Adopted children receive blessing & rights from God in this life.
We receive unconditional love, acceptance, the removal of shame, & spiritual gifts.
3/ Adopted children receive an inheritance from God in the next life.
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… Romans 8:16-17, ESV
In spiritual adoption, a child experiences immediate & eternal benefit.
4/ Adopted children possess the Spirit of God.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption… Romans 8:15, ESV
5/ Adopted children carry the image & name of God.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are “sons of God.” Romans 8:14, ESV
The children of God begin to do what God does & say what God says, just as children reflect their earthly parents (on some level).
“Aww…she has your hair.”
6/ Adopted children have been chosen by God.
God loved us and chose us in Christ… Ephesians 1:4, NLT
One helpful resource is The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller.
7/ Adopted children are unconditionally loved by God.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1, NIV
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer
8/ Adopted children have a new Father in God.
You received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15, NLT
9/ Adopted children are part of the family of God.
Resist [the devil], standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:9, NIV
10/ Adopted children fall under the care of God.
The Lord disciplines the one He loves… God is treating you children. Hebrews 12:5-6, NIV
Divine development is disguised as discipline.
11/ Adopted children bear responsibility to God.
God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. Ephesians 1:4, NLT
12/ Adopted children have a future hope in God.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18, NIV