The Beauty of Adoption: Part Four

The Scripture passage for this weeks posts, will be from the following.
ESV-Romans 8:12-17- So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
This is the Word of God…

The following points this week will be over the following.

Propositional Statement (#, Noun, Application, Action)
I have 4 areas to show the beauty of adoption, so that you the believer may grasp the fullest and highest blessing of the Gospel.
• The Ramifications of the Theology of Adoption– That fact that we as sinners can now say with the Spirit, “Abba!, Father!” shows us exactly what it is that this “adoption as sons,” does for us.
• The Blessings/Privileges of the Theology of Adoption– The believer of the gospel is blessed with privileges that give him the right to inheritance for eternity forever with the family of God. These blessing are beyond measure.
• The Beauty of Christ in Adoption– Christ’s cross has allowed a way for the believer to partake in these blessings and privileges so that we can have the Spirit that cries, Abba! Father!
• The Joy of the Theology of Adoption– Lastly, the fact that we are adopted as heirs to God with Christ should stir up a joy that fills our heart at all times, until we are glorified with Him, which will then be ultimate joy forever.

IV. Instructional Point One- The Ramifications of the Theology of Adoption– That fact that we as sinners can now say with the Spirit, “Abba!, Father!” shows us exactly what it is that this “adoption as sons,” does for us.
A. Illustration- what does the Bible give us?
Look with me at Verse fifteen to see the ramifications that adoption has for the believer. It reads, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”” This adoption is the treating of a stranger as if he were child of a family that is not his own. What child, you. What family, God’s. These ramifications are made crystal clear: God brings ones that are not of his family into being a part of his family. He brings children that are not of his nature, and gives them a new nature. This, however, was an act only of kindness and grace for God to ever allow sinners to come into the right standing before Him and belong to Him. As a member of the family of God being adopted, it is important that one sees that the nature of God’s family is not what he had before. For now, having been given the Spirit that cries “Abba!” one can call upon His father at all times, and is completely in-tune with the Father, God.
B. Application- what does this mean?
What this means is that the believer can cry out to His Father because he bears the image of the spirit of adoption. The believer here can now call to God, “Abba, Father.” This Spirit that is crying out means that the believer can pray to God and have a relationship with Him. This Spirit that is given to teach his family how to pray and reach God in crying out to him for their desires, needs and as well for forgiveness. This is best seen in Christ himself. In Mark 14:36, Christ says, “”Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Christ cried out to God in this way. This is how we today, believers sanctified in Christ, can now cry to God in the same Spirit which Christ did. When the act of adoption takes place, after your justification, you have the Spirit, the Spirit in which cries for you to your Father, Abba! Father! John Murray states, “It is as there is the conjunction of the witness of revelation and the inward witness of the Spirit in our hearts that we are able to scale this principle of faith and say with filial confidence and love, Abba Father.”
C. Interaction- What would that look like?
This means we have full confidence that we can go to the throne of God, our father and call upon Him at all times, when in need, or even when we do not think we are in need. How much more should we hold fast to this truth? That we can draw near to our Father through the Spirit always. This special effect of which we can cry is like no other. For, there is no family like the family of God. We often seek for guidance or pursue counsel from our earthly fathers and find contentment or pleasure in their words of wisdom, but how much more do we have to delight and find all pleasures satisfied in knowing that we can call upon the heavenly Father at all times. For the believer, this is important to see that there is no need for pleading your case, no need for trying to cry out on your own behalf. It is so sweet to know that we alone have the Spirit of adoption as sons, that and cry for us, Abba, Father. And even more than this we can know that in full assurance that we can always. There is no need to doubt your prayers when seeking out your Father. Your Father hears every last word of your cries because of this adoption. This truth of the gospel must been kept close to the heart so that one can feel the comfort in knowing that there is a Father who can be called upon at all times. Forgetting this or not using this in the believer’s life only leads to the lessening of and forgetting about one key component of the gospel, which is for the believer to delight in and find its pleasures.