"I'm Adopted"
by Capt. Steven Brown
from a Selah Moment at Colonial Baptist Church
Galatians 4:4-6 (ESV
) But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
“Adoption as sons”, MacArthur writes… “In the Roman world
adoption was an honored custom that gave special dignity and family membership to those who were not born into a family. Often a wealthy, childless man would adopt a young slave, who would trade his slavery for sonship, ...”
Our Lord determines a number of things about us that we can never change:
when we were born (our place in history),
where we were born (our race and country),
to whom we were born (our family).
The family is foundational. It existed long before there were governments, nations, and even churches. God created it in Eden…its pattern is found there. (1 man, 1 woman, and God)
While our family here on earth is important… not all families are the same.
- some children will never be part of a family. Though “
fearfully and wonderfully made” while yet in the womb
3700 of them, each day in this country will not get a chance to be a part of any earthly family.
- Others are born into families who don’t want them…broken homes.
- some into homes where death has claimed a parent, and yet we must not forget. . . “
A Father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation” (Ps 65:5).
- still others have great homes, godly parents, who love their children and raise them for Christ. … many simply have nominal homes…
We cannot change our biological parents...We must simply trust that God knew best in His choice of them.
Regardless of how good or how bad your family here on earth is, there is another…. For
“as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
God makes us part of His family by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. He adopts us…places us as sons and daughters into His home. And my friends, all of the defects, deficiencies, and distortions that may exist in our current homes are more than made up for in our adopted home. We are new creations…being conformed (fashioned) in “
to the image of his Son…”
In our Adopted Home… God is our Father, and He will
never die…so we will never be left as orphans. Dt 33:27a "...
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms"
God will
never desert you, we are secure. Ps 103:4
“Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,”
God will
not disown you….
He will never leave you nor forsake you…He WILL chastise you because He loves you, but He will not disown you….He is pictured as the prodigal’s father waiting in anticipation for the return of his wayward son.
In this new adopted home, your elder Brother is unique, a one and only. You could not ask for a better Elder Brother. He rescued you, laid down his life for you. He didn’t have to, but he did, and saved us from a fate worse than death….He conquered death and is now sitting next to His Father, our Father, interceding for us…no one can accuse us, no one can do anything to us, without going through Him first.
Now there are times I doubt my Father’s love for me…He and His Son knew it would be so. They sent Someone to help me understand, someone to teach me, to encourage me. … Rom 8:16 "
The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:" (ESV)
My adoption is only the beginning… the good work that my Father began, He will finish in me, and though I cannot see my Elder Brother yet, He will come for me some day…and my Father’s great work in me will be completed when I am like my Elder Brother, Jesus.
I could go on and on about my adopted family, but that’s another Selah Moment… My Father has lots of adopted sons and daughters…we are brothers and sisters in a home far better than any home here on earth. My Father has a BIG house. There is still more room in my Father’s house. There’s room for you. My Elder Brother is there preparing even now.
My Father is the best Abba, the best Dad anyone could ever have. And there is none greater than my Elder Brother. They love me. I have an awesome family in every sense of the word…you see, I’m adopted! Are you?
