Adopted Assurance by Phil

On our journey into the new year we've talked about our approach and attitude. Today let's take a look at our assurance. (Are you seeing "A" trend here??)

Adoption is a wonderful concept. There are about 4.5 million adopted children in the United States, with over 100,000 kids added each year. The practice of adoption is not new (even Jesus was adopted by earthly father, Joseph), but adoption in New Testament times looked quite a bit different.

First, adoption in Jesus' day was a Greco-Roman legal process to secure an heir. Since the chances of a child living to adulthood were much lower than today, kids were not usually adopted - adults were. Say for instance, your own biological offspring was less "chip off the old block" and more "dumb as a rock." You could go out and find a person who has their "ducks in a row" and invite them to join the family as your adopted heir (bringing their ducks is optional).

There are two interesting facts involving ancient adoption. First, the adopter could only issue an invitation. The process wasn't official until the adoptee accepted the invitation. And second, once the adoptee said "yes," the process was irrevocable. It was one and done, you were part of the family forever, no going back, even if you got your new dad an ugly sweater for Christmas (they didn't have Christmas yet so the chances of that were slim, but you get the idea).

Isn't it interesting that both Paul and John used this practice of adoption as a wonderful analogy for our Christian life and relationship with God? Check this out...

"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." - Ephesians 1:4-5

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory." - Romans 8:14-17a

"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir." - Galatians 4:4-7

Remember our two requirements for New Testament adoption? The process isn't official until we accept the offer...

"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." - John 1:12

And once accepted, adoption is irrevocable...

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand." - John 10:28-29

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

What a wonderful assurance! Once we accept God's free gift of salvation, we are His forever. God will never "kick us to the curb" or "send us packing." He is our new, perfect, forever Father, whose love for us will never fade. That confident assurance that God is always for and with us should make our approach(focus) and attitude(joy) toward the new year even greater.

So Devil, you better stop and think before you start picking on me. My daddy will put you in a "world of hurt!"
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Adopted and Assured,
Phil and Pam

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