Adoption

Temple Baptist Church - 7-8-2009

Galatians 4:4-7

Introduction:

A. Adoption – the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; a legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents including the right to inherit. Adoption, in Christian theology, is the term that describes the admission of a believer into the family of God.

B. Adoption – an overview. Adoption refers to the act by which an adult formally becomes the guardian of a child and incurs the rights and responsibilities of a parent. At the conclusion of the formal process, a legal relationship between child and guardian will have formed. The legal relationship results in the adoptee becoming the legal heir of the adopter and terminates any legal rights then in existence with the natural parents.

1. The Adopter now has rights (The natural parents (Adamic) have none!)
2. The Adopter now has responsibility

C. While certain jurisdictions only permit one of the two types of adoptions, other jurisdictions recognize two types of adoptions: open and closed adoptions.

1. An open adoption – permits the birth mother to select her child’s adoptive parents.

2. A closed adoption – the birth mother relinquishes all rights over the child and allows a state administrative agency to conduct the selection process. Most of the time, the birth mother does not even know who adopted the children or where they live. (Spiritually, our adoption is a “closed adoption.” God makes the selection. This is not Calvinism! The birth mother does not even know where we live – hid with Christ in God!)

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (Our selection depends upon our belief [faith] in the truth.)

D. The Adoption was initiated by God:

1. He Knew Us -Psalms 139:13-18 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (17) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (18) If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

2. He Loved Us - Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3. He Desired Us - Ezekiel 16:6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

4. He Redeemed Us -Romans 5:9-10 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

1. Adoption Is A Present Work - 1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2. Adoption Is A Purposed Work - Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

3. Adoption Is A Perfect Work - 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

4. Adoption Is A Permanent Work - 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.