The Beauty of Adoption: Part Seven

Instructional Point Four- The Joy of the Theology of Adoption– Lastly, the fact that we are adopted heirs to God, with Christ, through the crying of the Spirit, 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.

A. Illustration- what does the Bible give us?
The end of verse 17 says, “that we may also be gloried with him.” This truth of adoption should compel the adopted believer to find their happiness in the truth of Christ that awaits us in eternity. The fact that the beginning of the verse says, “Children… heirs of God” should as well lead us to a desire to enjoy this adoption. The happiness of a believer being adopted should make the adopted see that they, the church, are the church of the first-born. For there is no merit, nothing that the adopted ever have to do, but stand in Christ, holding the Spirit that cries for them? This is amazing. This is what should allow the adopted to continue on in obedience to the laws of Christ, to serve him fully and to his best ability because adoption like this, is no other, and cannot be found anywhere else.

B. Application- what does this mean?
This enjoyment of adoption means that the believer as heirs of God may enjoy Him for what he did, Christ dying, what he allows, the Spirit crying, and what he does in allowing us to be a part of his family. This happiness lies in that simple truth of adoption but moreover, the one who you are adopted to. Those that are a part of the family should be content with something that more than three quarters of this world may never find in life or know about in life. Think about this. Often times people in today’s world look for their place to fit into, or something that gives makes them feel well liked. It is often that today people try to fit themselves into a society of people or a family of close-nit individuals that they never belong to, so that they feel liked, or loved. However, this leads to only a temporary fulfillment of one’s soul.

C. Interaction- What would that look like?
In order for the believer to enjoy the family of God to its highest, the adopted individual doesn’t look for other societies, or other means of finding enjoyment besides that of which they were called into. The need for placement in today’s culture seems to be a must. But must I remind the believers that there is no greater place to be than being adopted in this family. For the culture in which we live today tries to find their spirituality from somewhere else than in the family of God. How much more enjoyment should this give the believer that he has his spirituality and all his needs meet in this family, God’s family. St. Augustine saw this best in his life when he was adopted by God. Augustine, having everything he ever wanted, said this after being adopted into the family of God: “Thou hast formed us for thyself. That is our true place. And our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” Augustine makes it clear that all of mankind seeks for this adoption, this partaking in the family of God, and will never in life find enjoyment and rest until they find that which Christ has paved for his elect, which the Spirit can cry for, and which God allows mankind to become heirs of his, for there is nothing sweeter. There is nothing more in life to enjoy than this family. It is the highest blessing of the gospel that you, a sinner slave of Satan, can now partake in the greatest truth, which is to forever be a part of God’s family.