GOD'S ADOPTION OF BELIEVERS

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Topic 10: What is Adoption?

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POINT 10: Derivation of the word.

The derivation of the word "adoption" means "the placing of a son."

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POINT 20: Greek usage outside the Bible.

In Greek usage outside the Bible from Pindar and Herodotus down, the two words from which the word translated "adoption" is derived mean "an adopted son."

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POINT 30: Scriptural usage.

Romans 9:3-4 [3] For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, [4] the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.

Exodus 4:22-23 [22] Then say to Pharaoh, `This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, [23] and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.'"

Deuteronomy 14:1-2 [1] You are the children of the LORD your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead, [2] for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

Isaiah 43:6-2 [6] I will say to the north, `Give them up!' and to the south, `Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth -- [7] everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

Jeremiah 31:9 They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Romans 8:12, 23 [12] Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation -- but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. [23] Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Ephesians 1:4-6 [4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will -- [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Galatians 4:4-5 [4] But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, [5] to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

These are all the passages in which the word is found. Here the word means the "placing" or "adoption" as sons. In regeneration we receive the nature of sons of God; in adoption we receive the position of sons of God. Regeneration is a change of nature. Adoption is a change of position or relation.

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Topic 20: The Origin and Ground of Adoption

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POINT 10: Adoption originates in God's grace.

Ephesians 1:3-6 [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. [4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will -- [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Adoption originates in the eternal, sovereign, unmerited grace of God. Not because of any merit seen or foreseen in us, but because of His own loving, gracious choice, He foreordained us to adoption as sons. He did not foreordain us to adoption as sons because we were fit for the place; but, having foreordained us to adoption as sons, He makes us fit for the place to which He has graciously foreordained us.

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POINT 20: Adoption is through Jesus Christ.

Adoption is through Jesus Christ -- i.e., on the ground of what He is and does. Because of what His only begotten Son is and does, He adopts many to be sons.

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Topic 30: The Recipients of Adoption, or who receive the Grace of Adoption.

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POINT 10: All those who believe in, or receive Christ Jesus, receive the adoption of sons -- i.e., they obtain a place or right as sons in the family of God.

Galatians 3:25-27 [25] Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. [26] You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, [27] for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 4:4-7 [4] But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, [5] to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. [6] Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." [7] So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

John 1:12-13 [12] Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

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Topic 40: The Time of Adoption, or when the Believer receives his place as a Son.

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POINT 10: The Believer has already received his place as a son in the family of God.

Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

1 John 3:1-2 [1] How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

We now have the rights of sons; we are not under tutors, governors nor law. All things in the house are ours.

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POINT 20: The full working out and manifestation of our position as sons -- the completion of our placing as sons, our manifestation to the world as sons of God -- lies in the future, and will not be realized until the body as well as the Spirit is redeemed.

Romans 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

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Topic 50: The Proof of our Adoption, or How we know that we have the Place of Sons in the Family of God.

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POINT 10: We know by the explicit statement of God's Word that w are no longer under the tutor, law, but have a place as sons in the family of God.

Galatians 3:23-27 [23] Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. [24] So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. [25] Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. [26] You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, [27] for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

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POINT 20: Because we are sons, god has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. This Spirit of Christ bears witness together with our spirit that we are children of god, crying "Abba, Father."

Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15-16 [15] For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

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Topic 60: The Results of Adoption.

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POINT 10: God sends the Spirit of His sons into our hearts, crying "Abba, Father."

Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

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POINT 20: We are delivered from bondage and fear, and brought into filial trust in God.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

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POINT 30: We are delivered from the bondage under the law to serve in the liberty of sons.

Galatians 4:4-6 [4] But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, [5] to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. [6] Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

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POINT 40: Having received a place as children we are made heirs of god and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We are made heirs of all God is and all God has.

Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

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