Christian Life Church
November 30, 2025 at 9am & 11am
Humans have rejected God as Father. All have sinned and rebelled against Him. In an effort to reconcile this relationship, God sent Christ to restore and repair.
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
CHRISTMAS NOVEMBER 30, 2025
EVERLASTING FATHER
SCRIPTURE
For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
ADOPTION IN THE NATURAL WORLD
1/ Adoption was important in the Old Testament.
2/ Adoption was important in the New Testament.
3/ Adoption was important in Christian History.
Natural adoption is a picture of spiritual adoption.
ADOPTION IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD
Humans have rejected God as Father. All have sinned and rebelled against Him. In an effort to reconcile this relationship, God sent Christ to restore and repair.
“To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater. Adoption is the highest privilege the gospel offers.” C.H. Spurgeon
“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.
When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who are under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
2/ Adopted children receive immediate and eternal benefits.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs. Romans 8:16-17
We believers…wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. Romans 8:23
3/ Adopted children possess the Spirit of God.
You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons. Romans 8:15
4/ Adopted children carry the image and name of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14
5/ Adopted children have been chosen by God.
Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family. Ephesians 1:4-5
6/ Adopted children are unconditionally loved by God.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! 1 John 3:1
Unearned love may be the most difficult theological truth there is.
“Inside of every man is a little boy who just wants the approval of his father.” R. Crisco
7/ Adopted children have a new Father in God.
You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
Orphans Sons & Daughters
See God as Master only See God as Father
Self-reliant Interdependent
Live by law Live by love
Insecure At peace
Strive for approval Have approval
Serve to impress Serve out of gratitude
Seek God as duty Seek God as delight
Pursue holiness out of fear Pursue holiness out of love
Low self-image High self-image
Busy themselves Quiet themselves
View others as competitors View others as siblings
Accuse & expose others Cover others
Avoid authority Honor authority
Rebuke correction as a curse Receive correction as a blessing
Self-loving Self-less loving
Base God’s love on circumstances Base God’s love on Christ
Feel enslaved Feel liberated
Reside in a sea of fear Rest in a harbor of safety
Desire distinction from others Desire intimacy from God
Live for today Live for eternity
8/ Adopted children are a 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
9/ Adopted children fall under the care of God.
The Lord disciplines the one He loves… As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Hebrews 12:5-7
Divine development is disguised as discipline.
10/ Adopted children bear responsibility to God.
Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. Ephesians 1:4-5
11/ Adopted children have a future hope in God.
“I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.” John 14:18
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
EVERLASTING FATHER
SCRIPTURE
For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
ADOPTION IN THE NATURAL WORLD
1/ Adoption was important in the Old Testament.
2/ Adoption was important in the New Testament.
3/ Adoption was important in Christian History.
Natural adoption is a picture of spiritual adoption.
ADOPTION IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD
Humans have rejected God as Father. All have sinned and rebelled against Him. In an effort to reconcile this relationship, God sent Christ to restore and repair.
“To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater. Adoption is the highest privilege the gospel offers.” C.H. Spurgeon
“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.
When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who are under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
2/ Adopted children receive immediate and eternal benefits.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs. Romans 8:16-17
We believers…wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. Romans 8:23
3/ Adopted children possess the Spirit of God.
You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons. Romans 8:15
4/ Adopted children carry the image and name of God.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14
5/ Adopted children have been chosen by God.
Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family. Ephesians 1:4-5
6/ Adopted children are unconditionally loved by God.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! 1 John 3:1
Unearned love may be the most difficult theological truth there is.
“Inside of every man is a little boy who just wants the approval of his father.” R. Crisco
7/ Adopted children have a new Father in God.
You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
Orphans Sons & Daughters
See God as Master only See God as Father
Self-reliant Interdependent
Live by law Live by love
Insecure At peace
Strive for approval Have approval
Serve to impress Serve out of gratitude
Seek God as duty Seek God as delight
Pursue holiness out of fear Pursue holiness out of love
Low self-image High self-image
Busy themselves Quiet themselves
View others as competitors View others as siblings
Accuse & expose others Cover others
Avoid authority Honor authority
Rebuke correction as a curse Receive correction as a blessing
Self-loving Self-less loving
Base God’s love on circumstances Base God’s love on Christ
Feel enslaved Feel liberated
Reside in a sea of fear Rest in a harbor of safety
Desire distinction from others Desire intimacy from God
Live for today Live for eternity
8/ Adopted children are a 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
9/ Adopted children fall under the care of God.
The Lord disciplines the one He loves… As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Hebrews 12:5-7
Divine development is disguised as discipline.
10/ Adopted children bear responsibility to God.
Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. Ephesians 1:4-5
11/ Adopted children have a future hope in God.
“I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.” John 14:18
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9