The Amish Voice 5
father—forever. He was eternally secure as a son.
2.
The adopted son immediately had all the rights of a legitimate
son in the new family.
3.
The adopted son completely lost all rights in his old family.
The adopted son was looked upon as a new person—so new that old
debts and obligations connected with his former family were
cancelled and abolished as if they never existed.
The Bible says several things about the believer’s adoption as a
son of God.
1.
The believer’s adoption establishes a new relationship with
God—forever. He is eternally secure as a child of God. But the new
relationship is established only when a person comes to Christ
through faith (Galatians 3:26; 4:4-5).
2.
The believer’s adoption establishes a new relationship with
God as father. The believer has all the rights and privileges of a
genuine son of God (Romans 8:16-17; 1 John 3:1-2).
3.
The believer’s adoption establishes a new dynamic experience
with God as father, a moment-by-moment access into His very
presence (Romans 8:14, 16; Galatians 4:6).
4.
The believer’s adoption gives him a very special relationship
with other children of God—a family relationship that binds him
with others in an unparalleled spiritual union.
5.
The believer’s adoption makes him a new person. The
believer has been taken out from under the authority and power of
the world and its sin. The believer is placed as a son into the family
and authority of God. The old life with all of its debts and
obligations are cancelled and wiped out (2 Colossians 5:17;
Galatians 3:23-27; 2 Peter 1:4).
6.
The believer’s adoption is to be fully realized in the future at
the return of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:19; Ephesians 1:14; 1
Thessalonians 4:14-17; 1 John 3:2).
7.
The believer’s adoption and its joy will be shared by all
creation on a cosmic scale (Romans 8:21). There is to be a new
heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:12-14; Revelation 21:1-7).
ILLUSTRATION:
The single red rose placed at the front of the church was there to
honor the newest member of the church family. A little boy had been
born and would be raised by parents who would raise him in a
loving, Christian home.
But this little boy was fortunate, for he was almost aborted. His nine
months in his mother’s womb were spent in great uncertainty. He
was conceived in sin and his mother did not want to care for him.
Her options ranged from abortion to adoption. Thankfully, she chose
to give the gift of life to this little baby boy.
While she was waiting to deliver, adoptive parents were sought out
and secured. These willing parents wanted this little boy to become
their own. He would be given their name. He would become an heir
to the parents. He would become a legal member of their family—
and would not be given away to anyone else again.
Our heavenly Father did the same thing for us. He has given each
Christian believer His name. We have become joint-heirs with Jesus.
We are in the family of God—and He will never give us away again.
Have you been adopted into His family?
QUESTIONS:
1.
Have you ever doubted God’s willingness to keep you as His
child? What kind of assurances does the Scripture give you
concerning this?
2.
Do you know anyone who has been adopted? What kind of
life would they have had if they had not been adopted? If
God had not adopted you, what kind of life would you have?
3.
What special traits did you have that caused God to adopt
you?
SUMMARY:
God sent His Son to save us—He did it at the right time and it
was a once-for-all act. We can be adopted as God’s sons through
Jesus Christ alone. Have you taken that leap of faith to accept
Jesus Christ as Savior? Remember:
1.
There was a time when the world was in bondage.
2.
There was an appointed time when God delivered the world.
PERSONAL JOURNAL NOTES
(
Reflection & Response)
1.
The most important thing that I learned from this lesson
was:
2.
The area that I need to work on the most is:
3.
I can apply this lesson to my life by:
4.
Closing Statement of Commitment:
This article was taken from the Teacher’s Outline and Study Bible
(
TOSB) Commentary, Galatians? Did you know—you can buy
the whole New Testament commentary set? To order, please go to
the foldout page in this issue and use the ordering form.
