‘The Good News of Adoption” Romans 8:12-17; Isaiah 43:1-7
The ruler of the civilized world when Christ was born was not the son of the Emperor. Caesar Ausgustus was the adopted son of his great uncle, Julius Caesar. He was adopted when he was 19, and soon after his adoption, Julius Caesar was assassinated. Being adopted as emperor of the greatest empire the world has ever known by the most powerful leader of that empire meant not only wealth, fame, blessings and privilege, but it also meant responsibility. The Bible speaks of our adoption by our God as one of not just blessings and inheritance, but also responsibility.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ADOPTION-
The atheist is an orphan who thinks there never was nor will there ever be a father. The atheist is alone, and has no ultimate reason to be good, no final example to follow- no good father. Adoption is also an important doctrine for those who grew up in abusive and neglectful homes. In our selfish and renegade age, there are more and more abusive homes. In 1995 there were about 3 deaths a day by child abuse. In 2009 there are over 4 deaths per day- a 25% increase. A new case of child abuse is reported in the USA every 10 seconds and occurs in every socioeconomic level, every educational level. When parents are neglectful or abusive, it is that much more essential and healing to know of a God who really loves us.
A. OUT OF LOVE- In the Old Testament there is a strong sense that Israel did not descend from God, but was chosen by God- adopted by God to be His own children. They were not chosen because they were good. Neither are we chosen because we are good. Ephesians 1:5 expressly says that we were adopted “Out of love.”
B. A STRONG CONNECTION- “Abba Father.” We are accepted and heard by Him- above other voices.
I hear other children speak, but especially when my kids were little I could pick their voice out of a crowd.
So God allows his children into His house and hears their prayers. We pray, “Our Father who art in heaven.
C. THE INHERITANCE- (Col. 3:24). Dignity now- I am a child of God- no one can take that away. Our inheritance is described as “spiritual riches” “imperishable, undefiled, eternal in the heavens” (I Pt. 1:3,4);
Paul Tournier wrote about a young man who grew up in an unhappy home. His parents got divorced. He said he felt lost- that he was always looking for a “place to be.” There is a longing for all of us to be understood, to be loved, to be secure, to be heard, to find rest, to find nourishment- that is Home- that is our longing for adoption by God.
THE REALITY OF ADOPTION – There is a sense in which we all are children of God –just by existing. But this general sense of being created is not the same as having a relationship. It is that relationship that brings privileges. Jesus said that some thought they were children of Abraham but were not.
We are adopted by the Holy Spirit who is called twice “the Spirit of Adoption.” Adoption is really that part of salvation that speaks of our being united to Christ or “in” Christ. We are in Christ like we are in the air. It is a part of life that air is in us- every cell of our body, and we are in the air. The Bible speaks of this union with Christ in different ways.
1. The vine- we are grafted in- He is the vine we are the branches- apart from him we can do nothing- abide.
2. He describes our being a part of his family- as the same relationship he has with the Father- Jn. 17:20, bringing our will and thoughts in line with His will and thoughts.
3. This union works like the body- where Christ is the head and we are the parts. The body needs each other and dies (or at least is dysfunctional when parts are cut off). We are united by a common set of nerves and feeling, and the blood of Christ running between us.
4. Paul describes our union with Christ as the union between husband and wife- where they are constituted one legal entity- what’s mine is yours.
5. We are united as stones to the cornerstone- the whole house rests on the cornerstone.
It is a mystical union- invisible to the human eye.
Baptism- is the sign- the brand of our union with Christ. But to be branded and to go astray is wrong.
Not too long ago there was a story about a lady and her husband who had adopted a boy, and soon after she adopted him, she became pregnant. When both boys were 8 and 9, someone asked her, “Which boy is yours?” “Both of them”, the mother replied. The inquirer persisted, “But I mean which one is adopted?” The mother answered, “I’ve forgotten.” Our heavenly Father has forgotten our wayward past, our problems, sins, and mistakes. He claims us as his own children.
THE TIMING OF ADOPTION
A. PAST- Certainly when the adoption papers were signed- that is “when” we were adopted by God. In the past we begin that relationship. But it didn’t stop then. It is not like when you move away and lose contact with a relative or friend. You cannot run away from God for long. He will find you.
B. PRESENT- Certainly we are still, right now adopted by God. Adoption is a status. We are called to live in Christ by His Spirit. He dwells in our hearts by faith. Here and now we are under God’s fatherly care and discipline. God wants his children to bear his character.
C. FUTURE- It is an indissoluable union. Once you have been adopted by God can’t be unadopted. Adoption of sons includes the “redemption of our bodies- Rom. 8:23). In John 20 Jesus said, “I ascend to my father and your father, my God and your God.” He was pointing out that we have a shared sonship- and not to forget that after he is gone to heaven.
The greatest image of adoption in the Bible is that of Joseph. The angel appeared to Joseph and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife- even though the child in her womb is not from you. But then the angel commanded him to name the child Jesus, and he taught and reared Jesus in love as his own son. The older Christians used to say that God created us, and we ran away from God to the family of the devil. But God came and found us and adopted us back into his family. There is an old comic strip called, “Lil’ Orphan Annnie” (Later made into a movie and broadway play- “Annie”). It is about a poor orphaned girl who was adopted by Daddy Warbucks- a rich man who loves Annie dearly. Much of the plot centers around Annie getting in trouble, or someone plotting to kidnap her- but Daddy warbucks always gets her back. God adopts us, and always draws us back when we stray away. I once knew a man who was adopted, but he rebelled against his adoptive parents- even though they were very loving, gentle, and generous people. He kept running away and doing drugs, and eventually dropped out of school. It was only later in his life that he began to see how selfish he was toward those who were so generous. Some of us have the offer before us from God to be adopted into his family- but we are running away toward selfishness and evil instead. Let God love you, adopt you, and share his blessings with you.