Sermon: "Praise God, I'm Adopted"
See how many of the following people you can identify:
(Pictures of Dave Thomas, Faith Hill, Jesse Jackson, Jim Palmer, Nancy Reagan)
Do you know what all five of these people have in common? THEY WERE ALL ADOPTED. Three of them were adopted when they were babies … Dave Thomas, Faith Hill and Jim Palmer. Jesse Jackson and Nancy Reagan were adopted by their step fathers.
Here is another list of people. See how many of them you can identify.
(Pictures of Ray Kipe, Margaret Bumbaugh, Peggy Dawson, Brian Black)
Do you know what these four people have in common?
As I read our scripture lesson for this morning, see if you can discover the answer.
EPHESIANS 1:3-8 – 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
What do these four people have in common?
(Ray, Margaret, Peggy, Brian)
They have all been adopted by God and are waiting eagerly for the day their adoption is finalized and they receive their new bodies. The Bible says it this way …
ROMANS 8:22-25 - 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
This morning we are going to look at the truth about adoption as far as being adopted by God is concerned.
God is the Creator of every person, but he is not the Father of everyone. We know this is true because Jesus told some people that the devil was their father.
JOHN 8:44 – You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
We won’t take the time this morning to look at each of the scriptures, but the Gospel of John shows that four things are connected to godly Fatherhood.
AUTHORITY – John 4:34, 5:19, 6:38, 17:4
AFFECTION – John 5:20, 15:9
FELLOWSHIP – John 8:29, 16:32
HONOR – John 5:22, 17:1
If you have been adopted by God all of these things should be evident in your relationship with him.
You live under his authority, you love him, you have fellowship with him and you honor him with your words and actions.
It is a wonderful thing to be adopted by God.
Understanding the truth about spiritual adoption can help you live a life that is pleasing to God and bring great joy to you.
Before we look at first … The truth about adoption … and second … what understanding the truth about adoption can do for you … let’s define spiritual adoption.
I don’t consider myself a great thinker or a great theologian, but the definition of spiritual adoption in the Westminster Confession of Faith is truly worth taking some of your time to first read, then reread several times and then meditate on. It’s printed in your bulletin. I suggest you cut it out and keep it for a period of time.
SPIRITUAL ADOPTION
Westminster Confession of Faith
All those that are justified, God keeps safe, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption: by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God; have His name put upon them, receive the Spirit of adoption; have access to the throne of grace with boldness; are enabled to cry, Abba, Father; are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by Him, as by a father; yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption and inherit the promises, as heirs of everlasting salvation.
With that as our foundation, let’s begin our study on adoption by looking at …
I. THE TRUTH ABOUT ADOPTION
First we see it is …
A. THE HIGHEST PRIVILEGE WE CAN EXPERIENCE
1. Adoption is higher than justification
Justification, which is God’s forgiveness of the past, together with his acceptance for the future, is the primary and fundamental blessing for all Christians. We need the forgiveness of sins, and the assurance of a restored relationship with God more than anything else in the world. Everything else in our salvation, including our adoption, depends on justification, but that does not mean justification is the highest blessing of the gospel.
Many believe adoption is higher because of the deeper and richer relationship with God it produces.
Adoption is a family idea, conceived in love and makes God our Father.
In adoption God takes us into his family and establishes us as his children and heirs.
To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, that’s justification, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater, that’s adoption.
2. Adoption is a blessing that abides (lasts)
In our society today, we are reaping the results of having so many broken homes. The problems, depression, and immaturities that are so prevalent in many children that come from broken homes is a great concern to educators.
But things are not like that in God’s family. In God’s family you have absolute stability and security. God, the parent, is entirely wise and good, and the child’s position is permanently assured. Bad fathers walk away from their children, but God is not a bad father.
The next truth we want to look at concerning adoption is ….
B. ADOPTION IS THE FOUNDATION FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
The knowledge of our adoption by God should control how we live. This comes out very clear in the teachings of Jesus, and perhaps no where more clearly than in his Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon Jesus teaches Christian conduct, not by giving a complete set of rules, but in a broad and general way, he gives guiding principles and ideals by which a Christian should live his life.
The Sermon on the Mount is found in chapters 5, 6 and 7 of Matthew. Take some time this week to read those three chapters. If you do, you will find three principles, which as God’s adopted child, should guide how you live your life.
PRINCIPLE ONE … Imitate your Father
MATTHEW 5:43-47 – 43You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
PRINCIPLE TWO … Glorify your Father
MATTHEW 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
PRINCIPLE THREE … Live to please your Father
MATTHEW 6:24 – No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Another truth about adoption is that …
C. ADOPTION IS THE FOUNDATION FOR CHRISTIAN PRAYER
Again, looking at Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we read Jesus saying …
MATTHEW 6:9 – This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Jesus always prayed to his God as Father. He wants us to know that as God’s adopted children, we can and should, do the same. God the Father is always accessible to his children and is never too busy to listen. That is the basis of Christian prayer.
The final truth we want to look at concerning adoption is that …
D. ADOPTION IS THE FOUNDATION FOR A LIFE OF FAITH
Adoption is the foundation we need to stand upon when it comes to trusting God for our physical and material needs as we live a life seeking his kingdom and his righteousness.
Listen to what Jesus said about this in his Sermon on the Mount.
MATTHEW 6:25 – Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Many of us as Christians struggle with this statement. We feel responsible for our families. We want to care for them. We want to pay our bills on time. How can we not worry about those things? Here is how Jesus answered that question.
MATTHEW 6:26-27 – 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
A father was driving on the Washington Beltway during rush hour. His little daughter became frightened and said, “We might have a crash.” Her mother said, “Trust Daddy, he’s a good driver.” The little girl was reassured and relaxed at once.
Do you have that kind of trust in your Heavenly Father? Such trust is the key to a life of faith. You can have that kind of trust because you have been adopted by God.
Let’s quickly look at …
II. WHAT UNDERSTANDING THE TRUTH ABOUT ADOPTION CAN DO FOR YOU
A. YOUR ADOPTION SHOWS YOU THE GREATNESS OF GOD’S GRACE
The Bible says …
I JOHN 3:1 - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Adoption, by its very nature, is an act of free kindness to the person adopted. God adopts us out of his love and grace, and not because our character or past shows that we are worthy to be one of his children. We are not fit for a place in God’s family and yet, because of his grace, that is what he does for us. Next we see …
B. YOUR ADOPTION SHOWS YOU THE GLORY OF YOUR HOPE AS A CHRISTIAN
Christianity is a religion of hope. The best is yet to come. But how can sinners like us hope to some day be in heaven?
Adoption is the answer. Your adoption into God’s family guarantees your inheritance. The Bible says …
ROMANS 8:16-17 – 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
C. YOUR ADOPTION LEADS YOU INTO PURE LIVING
Pure living is being a real Christian because you have a heart filled with love and gratitude to God because he adopted you.
Pure living is simply a consistent living out of the special relationship you have with God – he is your Father. Pure living is nothing more than being a good son or daughter. The Bible tells us that …
EPHESIANS 1:4-6 – 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Finally …
D. YOUR ADOPTION CAN HELP YOU WITH ASSURANCE OF YOUR FUTURE
If God in his love has adopted you as his child he will not abandon you. You may sometimes act like the prodigal son, but God will always be the prodigal’s Father.
God does much to make his children understand he loves them. Listen to what the Bible says about this.
ROMANS 8:29-33 – 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
CONCLUSION
Let’s close with some questions.
HAVE YOU BEEN ADOPTED BY GOD?
If you haven’t you can be. Yes, you can do something that will cause God to adopt you. Listen to what the Bible says …
JOHN 6:28-29 – 28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
You just need to believe in Jesus; to receive him as your Lord. The Bible says …
JOHN 1:12-13 – 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
If you have never asked Jesus into your life, to be your Lord, do it this morning. Believe in Jesus.
If you have been adopted by God ask yourself these questions:
- Do I value my adoption?
- Do I daily remind myself of my privilege as a Child of God?
- Do I love, honor and obey my Father in heaven?
- Do I see Jesus as my brother as well as my Savior and Lord?
- Have I learned to hate the things my Father in heaven hates?
- Do I daily look forward to a great gathering in heaven?
- Do I love my Christian brothers and sisters in a way that will not shame me on Judgment Day?
- Does the family likeness (Christ-likeness) appear in me?
If you have been adopted you can say …
- God is my Father
- Heaven is my home
- Jesus is my brother
- Every Christian is my brother or sister.
Let’s go forth praising and serving the One who has adopted us.