The Gift of Adoption ~ Galatians 4:4-7

October 18, 2015 ~ New City Church of Calgary ~ Pastor John Ferguson
Intro: It is a great privilege for us to rejoice and celebrate with Calvin & Suzanne over the adoption of MayLynn.
Question: What does adoption teach us about a relationship with God?
Jesus invites us into a relationship with God that entails the privilege of addressing and experiencing the
Creator of the universe as Father. And the way that the NT helps us understand this is by way of adoption.

If you are exploring Christianity, I want to invite you to consider the possibility of coming to know the
Creator of the universe in terms of a relationship between a perfect, loving Father and his child. And I
want you to see how Jesus is the key to making this happen.

If you are a Christian, I want to grow in your understanding of what it means for you to be a child of God.

The Gift of Adoption~ Galatians 4:4-7

Gal. 4:4 when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the
law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
1. When the fullness of time had come
Romans 5:6-8, You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the
ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might
possible dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. (NIV)
2. God sent his forth his Son (deity), born of a woman (human)
3. born under the law to redeem those who were under the law
(1) Born under Torah, but kept it perfectly. No one could accuse him of sin.
Gal. 3:13, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
(2) WSC #33, Justification is an act of Gods free grace in which God pardons all our sins and accepts
us as righteous in his sight because of the righteousness of Christ given to us and received by faith
alone.
4. so that we might receive adoption as sons.
John 1:12, But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God.
JI Packer, Knowing God, [Adoption] is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than
justification That justificationis the primary and fundamental blessing of the gospel is not in
question. Justification is the primary blessing, because it meets our primary spiritual need. But this
is not to say that justification is the highest blessing of the gospel. Adoption is higher, because of the
richer relationship with God that it involves. Justification is a forensic idea, conceived in terms of
law, and viewing God as judge. 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, and establishes us as His
children and heirs. To be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by
God the Father is a greater.
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6 And because you are sons of God, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying,
Abba! Father!
1. The Meaning of Abba. Its a term of respect & endearment, Dearest Father.
(1) JI Packer, You sum up the whole of [the] New Testamentif you describe it as the knowledge of
God as ones holy Father. Father is the Christian name for God.

(2) Abba! is a term of respect and endearment, a term of affection.

Same word Jesus used when he called out to His Father shortly before His death: Abba! Father!
(Mark 14:36).
(3) JI Packer, If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he
makes of the thought of being Gods child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought
that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he
does not understand Christianity very well at allOur understanding of Christianity cannot be better
than our grasp of adoption.
2.

Illustration with C&Ss adopted child:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

She can call them Mom & Dad, and that will never change.
C&S get to call her, our child. I loved her before I ever met her.
C&S have been given her the family name: Van Hill.
She has all the rights & privileges of belonging to Van Hill family.
She takes on characteristics of the family.

3. Application to Gods adoptive children:

1) We can call God Abba! Father! and that will never change.
2) See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and
so we are (1 John 3:1).
3) We have been given the right to the family name: Christian.
4) We have all the rights & privileges of belonging to Gods family.
5) We begin to take on the characteristics of the family (the fruit of the Spirit, cf. Gal. 5:22-23)
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
1. Obj: Isnt this sexist language?

Answer: In ancient times, a fathers inheritance passed down to the sons. Paul has already told us
that in Christ, there is neither male nor female (3:28 meaning, those distinctions mean nothing in
terms of salvation), so in stating that believers are sons, God is guaranteeing that the promised
inheritance to all of his adoptive childrenmale and female!

2. Do you fathom what it mans to be an heir of God, joint-heirs with Christ?

(1) Rom. 8:15, you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father!
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then
heirsheirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.
(2) Jesus is the King of kings, and Lord of Lords! He receives the universe as his inheritance (Ps. 2:8).
(3) Luke 12:32, Fear not, little flock, for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
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(4) 1 Cor. 3:11, For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death
or the present or the future all are yours, and your are Christs and Christ is Gods.
Since we have been given the gift of adoption, to live as an orphan is no longer an option.
Illustration: Lee Strobels story of Korean girls adoption story, found in The Case for Grace.
In the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the God of the universe says, I want to adopt you.
Application: How would things change if I really lived as an cherished, adopted child of God?
Missional Connection: What if everyone in Calgary could come to know the God and Father of the Lord
Jesus Christ as their God and Father? How would that change the way you view this city? How would that
inform your prayers? How would that challenge you to help folks understand this glorious implication of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ?

NCC, may you be a people who know that to live as an orphan is no longer an option
because you have been given the gift of adoption.

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