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Welcome to the Family Romans 8:14, 15
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There is a Commandment
about honoring our mothers and fathers, so why isn’t there one about
brothers and sisters? We had children and found out that there is: “Thou
shalt not kill.” We love our family, and
have a great time together. We
love our church family as well.
We're brothers and sisters, and we share the same father! Adoption is big in our
church, and it's amazing how God uses it to bless both the little ones and
the parents too! Just think
where some of these kids would be if they weren't lovingly brought into a
new home. Many of you don't know
that I too was adopted by my dad.
I can't imagine how my life would be different if I were not adopted.
[tell full touching story] “Adoption”:
It is often misunderstood in scripture. The doctrine of adoption
has a twin truth…they go together:
the twin truth of adoption is regeneration (the experience of the new
birth). You know about the new
birth: Jesus said in Jn. 3 “you
must be born again”.
When a person gets saved,
they are born again / experience the new birth / regeneration / become God’s
child LITERALLY! (Not a metaphor
/ not figurative) We are in all
actuality, literally, children of God…He’s our Father…this is a family, the
family of God. Welcome to the
family! Jn. 1:12 But
as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God. I Jn. 3:2 Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be…
Right now, in the present! That is the
truth of regeneration—the new birth…and its twin truth is the doctrine of
“adoption.” Ephesians 1:5 Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will... Regeneration
means that you are literally a child of God.
Welcome to the family! Adoption means
that you are legally a child of God.
Welcome to the family! In Bible times, the word
adoption was used differently than we use it today.
When we talk about adoption
today, we’re talking about taking a child that is not our own flesh and
blood, and legally making them our own…that’s not the Biblical meaning of
adoption. Understand that the Romans
and the Greeks had a ceremony they went thru w/ their own flesh and blood
children, and that ceremony was called adoption, which literally means “the
placing of a son.”
As long as a child was
under the legal age of inheritance, they were not really considered to be a
full-fledged member of the family.
They did not enjoy all the rights and privileges of family
membership.
When they became an adult,
the legal age of inheritance, they went thru a ceremony called the “toga
virilis”. They would take the
toga off of the back of the adult, place it on the back of the child, and
pronounce them to be a full-fledged member of the family, w/ all the rights
and privileges. Welcome to the
family! It becomes very clear in
Gal. 4… 1 Now
I say, That the heir (someday he’ll inherit it all), as long as he is a
child, differeth nothing from a servant (until the toga virilis, he’s no
different than a servant), though he be lord of all; 2 But is
under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. (then the
toga virilis) 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in
bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the
fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made
under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that
we might receive the adoption of sons. After the ceremony took
place, he became an official member of the family.
Welcome to the family!
Here’s the significance: Regeneration (born
again)—you became a child of God literally Adoption—you became a child
of God legally …these both happen at the
same time!
There’s no process to go
thru, no ceremony to dread for years…but immediately instated w/ all rights
and privileges. Not just a child
being fed, but an heir receiving daddy’s riches from the very start!
Welcome to the family!
When you got saved, in the
mind of God, this toga virilis had already taken place…it’s as though God
immediately put your name on His checking acct. the moment you were saved,
and gave you the authority to start signing checks! No wonder Rom. 8:17 says
what it does…
Romans 8:17
This means that you can
begin drawing on the spiritual wealth of your Heavenly Father from the very
moment you get saved! You’re a
child of the King!! Welcome to
the family! And there are some
wonderful privileges which go along w/ being the heir…Paul
outlines them for us in the next few verses:
Guidance v. 14—“led”
We have someone to guide us
thru this confusing, chaotic world.
We have a holy compass residing w/in us that will show us the way!
G.W. Truett said, “To know
the will of God is the greatest knowledge…to do the will of God is the
greatest achievement.”
Acceptance v. 15—the spirit of
adoption (acceptance) “He wants
me!”
Fact #1—God loves all
people
(Some don’t believe that!) That’s what allows us to
cry Abba (daddy) is the spirit of adoption…a close fellowship (more than
relationship)
Not just, “we’re related”,
but “we’re elated!” Ill.—close fellowship /
when things are ok at home w/ spouse / no thick cloud in the air / more than
just a relationship, but fellowship!
Even when the fellowship is
cut, the relationship still exists…but how do you know that the relationship
exists?
Assurance v. 16—The Holy Spirit
assures us (if we can hear Him!)
How can you hear Him if
fellowship is broken? Good question!
(close fellowship is a privilege of being a literal, legal, born
again, blood related, adopted, child of God…and so, close fellowship is only
a prayer away today!) Welcome to
the family!
Inheritance v. 17—joint heirs w/
Christ? Wow!
I’m no god, but I’m as much of a son as the Son of God?!
Incredible!! I stand to
inherit the same as He? Awesome!
And our God Who created all
that is in 6 literal days has been preparing a place for us for the last
700,000+ days!
And He that is eternally,
infinitely wise has for some reason chosen me to be a son, an heir, and
says, Welcome to the family? I
can’t take it all in! It’s like
a dream…but it comes true! And the southerner, Paul,
says in v. 18… “I reckon that...” As the season went on, Lou
began to develop a tremendous admiration and love for this boy. One of the
things that especially impressed him was the manner with which the boy
obviously cared for his father. Whenever the father would come for a visit
to the campus the boy and his father would always be seen walking together,
arm in arm, an obvious indication of an exceptional bond of love between
them. They could always be seen on Sunday going to and from the university
chapel. It was obvious that theirs was a deep and mutually shared Christian
faith. Then, one day, a telephone
call came to Coach Little. He was informed that the boy's father had just
died A few days later the boy
returned to the campus, only two days before the biggest game of the season.
Lou went to him and said, "Is there anything I can do for you? Anything at
all?" And to the coach's astonishment the boy said, "Let me start the game
on Saturday!" Lou was taken aback. He thought, I can't let him start The day of the big game
arrived. To everyone's surprise the coach started this boy who had never
played in a game all season. But imagine even the coach's surprise when, on
the very first play from scrimmage, that boy was the one who single It is because of
resurrection vision that we are able to "play above our heads" in the game
of life and "see" the purposes and power and love of God. You may have one looking
down on you today, but you are going on the field as a family w/ a prize to
win and a Father to please.
And as a benefit of being God’s child, He gives us guidance along
the way / acceptance at all times, unconditionally / assurance…no fear
or doubt / and that inheritance which we already have access to, and
more that awaits us! Let’s
thank the Lord right now!
Welcome to the Family! GBC is a
family. We are proud to be
members of this family. We view
this as a marriage / for better or for worse!
And you’ve got a family here too…Welcome to the family!
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