“The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father…Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption…The truth of our adoption gives us the deepest insights the New Testament affords into the greatness of God’s love. Were I asked to focus the New Testament message in three words, my proposal would be – adoption through propitiation.” J.I. Packer
1. The Preparation for Adoption (v.1-3)
2. The Basis of Adoption (v. 4-5)
“Observe, concerning the first advent, that the Lord was moving in it towards man. ‘When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son.’ We moved not towards the Lord, but the Lord towards us. I do not find that the world in repentance sought after its Maker. No, but the offended God himself in infinite compassion broke the silence, and came forth to bless his enemies. All good things begin with him.” Charles Spurgeon
3. The Experience of Adoption (v. 6-7)
“That justification-by which we mean God’s forgiveness of the past together with his acceptance for the future-is the primary and fundamental blessing of the gospel is not in question. Justification is the primary blessing, because it meets our primary spiritual need. We all stand by nature under God’s judgment; his law condemns us; guilt gnaws at us, making us restless, miserable and in our lucid moments afraid; we have no peace in ourselves because we have no peace with our Maker. So we need the forgiveness of our sins, and assurance of a restored relationship with God, more than we need anything else in the world; and this the gospel offers before it offers us anything else…But contrast this, now, with adoption. Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of love, and viewing God as father. In adoption, God takes us into his family and fellowship-he establishes us as his children and heirs. Closeness, affection and generosity are at the heart of the relationship. To be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater.” J.I. Packer
“I once knew a good woman who was the subject of many doubts, and when I got to the bottom of her doubt, it was this: she knew she loved Christ, but she was afraid he did not love her. ‘Oh!’ I said, ‘that is a doubt that will never trouble me; never, by any possibility, because I am sure of this, that the heart is so corrupt, naturally, that love to God never did get there without God putting it there.’ You may rest quite certain, that if you love God, it is a fruit, and not a root. It is the fruit of God’s love to you, and did not get there by any the force of any goodness in you. You may conclude, with absolute certainty, that God loves you if you love God.” Charles Spurgeon
Recommended Books
Knowing God by J.I. Packer (Knowing God Study Guide)
Children of the Living God by Sinclair Ferguson
Adopted into God's Family by Trevor Burke
Questions for Application
- How were you encouraged by hearing about the fact that you’ve not only been redeemed – you’ve also been made His child and are now an heir?
- How are you tempted to rely on the law of God as a means of grace?
- Are you more aware of sin than God’s gracious affection for you as His child? If so, how?
- What distracts you from being aware of the work of the Spirit to cry Abba Father in your life?
- How can you grow in your awareness of the Spirit’s work in your life? How you help each other in this area?
- Do the words closeness, affection and generosity describe your perception of God and your experience of God?
- How does it affect you to know that God didn’t need to adopt you (His Son is perfect) but He chose to adopt you because He loves you?
