ADOPTION

1. REGENERATION -- Begins with New Life

2. JUSTIFICATION – Deals with the new attitude of God towards that Soul
3. ADOPTION – Admits man into the family of God with joy to our Father God

REGENERATION is a changed nature

JUSTIFICATION is a changed of standing
While ADOPTION is a changed position

In REGENERATION the believer becomes a child of God

In ADOPTION a child receives a position of an Adult son.
 Galatians 4:5 (NIV)
5.
To redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Galatians 4:7 (NIV)

7
So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child,
God has made you also an heir.

ADOPTION is our growing up into Christ and occupying our new position.

Here are two questions for each us to ponder:

1. Is this standing instantaneous with conversion?
2. Can the adopted son be dis-enherited and cast away for being a
prodigal?
 1. THE MEANING OF ADOPTION
ADOPTION is a Greek word which means “THE PLACING OF A SON”

Romans 8:15 - 5 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;rather,
the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
• Ephesians 1:5 -- 5 he[a] predestined us for adoption to sonship[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his pleasure and will—

2 Fold Meaning:
1. The private act of receiving a stranger into the family as a son
2. The public , legal ceremonial act of recognizing the son as the heir

-- something like a “coming out” or coming of age party.

Until this ceremony was performed, the child actually differed little from servants in the home
• The word deals not with our relationship with God, but our position before
Him.

• Adoption is the act of God whereby He places the justified believer as an

adult son to enjoy the privileges and responsibilities of the position.

• In Exodus 2, Moses became the adopted son Pharaoh’s daughter with all
the rights and privileges of that position when he came of age.

• In Hebrews 11:24 – Moses rejected his Egyptian position for something

better , for by faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be
called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
 II. THE CONDITION OF ADOPTION
• ADOPTION has only one condition and that is to abide in Christ -- or union with
Christ.

• Galatians 3:26 – “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus”

We do not have to wait until we have been a saint for one year or ten years, we
immediately enter into all the blessings of a fully recognized heir of God.
 III. THE TIME OF ADOPTION
1. It occurred before the foundation of the world.

Romans 9:11 (NIV) - 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or
bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:

• ADOPTION is a gracious act on the part of God entirely of mercy, we do not deserve
or merit this loving favor from a holy God.

2. It actually occurs the moment that one believes in Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:2 (NIV) - 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet
been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall
see him as he is.
• We can truly say, “I’m a child of the King”, not his slave but his son and heir.
• We are not mere children under maids and tutors, but adults members of the family.

3. ADOPTION will be completed at the resurrection when we enter his presence.

• Romans 8:23 (NIV) - 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of
our bodies.

• Often in this world, we are not recognized as sons of God .

On that day, we will occupy our rightful position .
Today we may be considered the outcasts of society.

• Then we will throw off the disguise (this body) and put on the new body.
 IV. THE SIGN OF ADOPTION
• The sign of Adoption is to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:14 (NIV) - 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of
God.

• Guidance by the Holy Spirit is the path to sonship and the proof of sonship.
The Holy Spirit guides the believer into the truth of God
•
• John 16:13 (NIV) - 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all
the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell
you what is yet to come.

• Galatians 5:18 (NIV) -- 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
 V. THE CRY OF ADOPTION “ABBA FATHER”
• Romans 8:15 (NIV) - 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in
fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to son ship. And by him
we cry, “Abba Father.”

• Galatians 4:6 (NIV) - 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our
hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

• Mark 14:36 (NIV) - 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take
this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

• This is a special word of endearment of a close relationship.

• “Abba” is Aramaic , the language of Christ’s childhood.
• “Father is a Greek word , the language of the educated and learned of his day.
• A slave was never allowed to address his master as “ Abba”
 VI. THE BLESSINGS OF ADOPTION
1. They become objects of Gods peculiar love.

• John 17:23 (NIV) - 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought
to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have
loved them even as you have loved me.
------ The intimate love relationship of Father and Son.

2. They become objects of the Father’s fatherly care.

• The father God looks after their livelihood as to what they will eat and wear
, their occupation and health ( see Luke 12:17-33 in next slide )
 • Luke 12:17-33 (NIV)
• 17
He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
• 18
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus
grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
• 20
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have
prepared for yourself?’
• 21
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Do Not Worry
• 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body,
what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow
or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of
you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[a]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about
the rest?
• 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was
dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown
into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or
drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need
them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
• 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give
to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief
comes near and no moth destroys.
 3. They have the family name.

I John 3:1 ….. Should be called the sons of God

4. They have the family likeness

Romans 8:29 - 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he
might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

5. They have the family love

• I John 3:14 - 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other.
Anyone who does not love remains in death.

6. They have the filial spirit.

They have the parent , child relationship.

Romans 8:15 – “ Abba Father”
 7. They have the family gathering
John 14:23 - 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my
teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our
home with them.

8. They receive fatherly chastisement which proves that they are true sons
Hebrews 12:5-11 ……

9. They receive fatherly comfort

2 Corinthians 1:4 --…. Who comforts us in all our tribulation

10. They receive the Fathers inheritance

I Peter 1:4 – “To an inheritance , incorruptible
 VII. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ADOPTION

Members of the royal family of heaven must behave with becoming dignity .
We are to walk worthy of this high honor in keeping with our position. We
must love and serve one another as brothers and sisters in the same family.

John 13:14 -- 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
should wash one another’s feet.

John 15:17 - 17 This is my command: Love each other.

 CONCLUSION:
1. As a child enjoys the free run of the house and the privileges running into
the fathers presence at anytime, so does the believer approach Gods
presence.
2. Those who are adopted into the family of God are led by the spirit of God.
3. Am I led by the Holy Spirit?
4. Do I have a childlike confidence in my Father?
5. Do I avail myself of this liberty of access into His very own presence?
6. Do I love the brethren, the family of God as ought to?
7. Am I obedient to the commands that He has given to me?
8. Let us leave our spiritual babyhood and assume our position of manhood
in Christ.
9. We ought to possess our possession and live as sons of God, heirs of
 REVIEW QUESTION:
• 1. Distinguish between REGENERATION, JUSTIFICATION and ADOPTION.
• 2. Give the 2 Palestinian meanings of Adoption and it’s present scriptural
meaning
• 3. What is the condition of ADOPTION?
• 4. Give the three tences of ADOPTION supported by 3 bible verses?
• 5. What is the sign that an individual is adopted into the family of God?
• 6. Explain “ Abba Father”
• 7. List seven blessings of ADOPTION?
• 8. What is the relationship between Hebrews 12:5-11 and ADOPTION?
• 9. What is the responsibility of an adopted son or daughter to God?
• 10. What is the blessed privilege of an Adopted son?