Adoption, A Relationship Beyond Words

We can get into a family in three different ways.

1. Born into a family- Life secures the relationship

2. Adopted into a family- Law secures the relationship

3. Married into a family- Love secures the relationship

1 John 3:1-2

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him.

In the same we get into a family in the natural, a Christian is placed in the family of God in ALL three ways.

1. The Holy Spirit puts you in the family of God by birth.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13

When you are naturally born in a family, life secures the relationship. In the family of God, your security sealed.

2. The Father puts you in the family of God by adoption.

They are people of Israel, chosen to be God's adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. Romans 9:4

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15

3. The Son puts you in the family of God by marriage.

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

2 Corinthians 11:2

Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. Revelation 19:7

Some of us have people we call our play cousin, but we are not really related. We call some our play brother or sister, but we are not really related. We even have some we call our play dad or mom, but not really related, but the relationship is so close that it goes beyond a friend. It’s so much deeper.

God does not settle just for adoption. He goes another step further, He moves in, by his Spirit, he penetrates through core of our being, his seed, John calls it, and imparts something of himself to us, so that we take on a family resemblance, called new birth.

1 Corinthian 3:21

So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

Lord, do we live that way?

At the end of the day, He wants us to know that because we are children, we are heirs of all things. He wants us to comprehend, if possible, the incomprehensible, immeasurable love of God.