Dan’s Bible Fellowship Class

 

Remember that God wants more that just to save us from  the results of our own sin, he wants to adopt us as sons and daughters.

Set the Stage:

Have you ever considered adopting a child?  Imagine that you want to adopt an orphan child from Yugoslavia.  Pretend for a moment that you are childless and are going there to an orphanage to adopt a child.  Try and answer the following questions.

         - What do you see when you get there? In all likelihood you would find lonely children living in poverty.  Children who know what it is like to go to bed hungry and frightened as well

         - How would you choose a child adopt?    What type of child would you consider?

  - After you selected a child what will you do while you visit with her?  (assume a girl);  You would probably try to get to know the child and convince her that she should go with you. You would tell her that she will be safe and loved and that with you she will have a better life.

         - Will the child want to go with you? If so why? What will you tell her to convince her to go?

In all likelihood the will if she has come to believe you and is convinced she will have a better life if she goes. You would tell her about what her new life would be like, what she can have and what she will be able to do.

         - Once she has agreed, would you get to take her home right away? Usually not, you would have to go back to the US and prepare for her. You would have to file adoption papers, work out arrangements for immigration, perhaps add onto your home, and register maybe her in special schools.

          - While you were gone, what will she be doing?  

 She would probably be excited and  would certainly be telling others about  you and her new home.  She would also be preparing,  learning English and about the US. She might also be writing you letters and calling you on the phone. However  while you are gone there could be some jealousy among the other children. Some might even try an discourage your adopted child by telling her that you will never return or that you are really going to hurt her rather than love her.

         - When you return to take her with you what will happen to the one who follows through and goes with you?  She would gain a better life. She would receive the things you promised her. Her life of poverty would end in a day. Ultimately she might also inherit your estate.

         - But what happens if your adopted child becomes convinced that  you did not mean what you said? What if she decides not to go with you?  She would continue in her poverty. She would stay behind as you left and her world would not change.

 Before we can understand our position as adopted children of God we must first understand the relationship of the natural son, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to his Father.

 > Look up the following verses and recognize the relationships described between God the Father and God the Son.

 1. The Father has authority over the Son.  John 5:19, 6:38, 17:4,

2. The Father loves the Son.  John 5:20, 15:9

 3. The Father is with (attends) the Son.  John 8:29,16:32

4. The Father honors the Son.  John 17:1, 5:22

5. The Father does things with the Son.  John 1:1-3

 Key:  Now scripture also tells us that these relationships also extend to “adopted” children. (Look at 1 John 1:3, 5:1,   John 12:32, John 16:26 and John 17:24) .  

Adoption by God may be  the highest privilege offered by the gospel.  Of course,  without salvation there could be no adoption. But when we speak of gifts we must realize that adoption is the goal of salvation. It was to enable this state to be made possible that Christ came and died.

Look at Paul’s words in Galatians 4:1-7

 

So …. if we are going receive an inheritance what will it be ? Here are just a few of the things.

-          John 14:1-3 . . .  a new home

-          Col 15:20 … a glorified body

-          2 Tim 2:12 / Rev 5:10 … a leadership role (reigning with Christ) in his eternal kingdom

-      Col 3:24….rewards for service

-          John 14  … to live in the presence of  the creator

-          Rom 8:38-39 And most of all to be loved by the Lord Jesus  forever

How we can help prepare ourselves to be that new sons of God.

 1. We must learn to imitate the Father.   Matt 5:44

2. We must learn to glorify the Father.   Matt 5:16, John 17:1

3. We must learn to please the Father.  1 Thess 4:1, Heb 11:6, 1 Cor  6:20

4. We must learn to love.   1 John 4:17, 5:2-3

5. We must learn to trust and obey the Father.  John 14:1, John 14:23-24