In this series so far, we've covered the following 'laws';
The Law of Ownership
The Law of Agency
The Law of Adoption
Last week, we talked about the 3 characteristics of the Law of Adoption. You can review last week's message here.
We also said that there are 6 parallels between God's laws and human laws of adoption. Let's look at them.
1. Adoption is voluntary. God chose to adopt you! He wasn't forced to do so, He didn't have to, but He chose to. God chose you!
Ephesians 1:4-6 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: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
2. You have been brought into the house. When a child is adopted, you don't leave that child at the orphanage! You make the child part of the family, you give them a room in your home and treat them as your own child. A servant doesn't live in the family rooms, but a child does. God is telling you today; this is your relationship with Him. You are not a servant on the outskirts of the property, no, you are a child living in the heart of the home.
3. Parents provide for their adopted kids. Under the law we call it 'support and maintenance'. Every need is met. It's the same with God. All of our Father's resources are available to us.
Do you believe that God's promises are true and that they are true for you? Do you? Ok, then read on...
Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
You said you believe it right?! So, what's a 'joint heir'? In legal terms, if you died and had two kids, they would be joint heirs. They would get an equal share (unless your will stated otherwise) of your property and your resources. The Bible is saying that everything that belongs to Jesus, belongs to you! Wow! That's a little hard to comprehend isn't it? We encourage you to look into all that Jesus has with the Father and see it as yours also.
Remember the story of the Prodigal Son? Remember the father's response to the return of his lost son? Then, look at what the father says to the older brother in Luke 15:31; “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours." That is your status with the Father. If you're born again, you are a joint heir with Jesus, you are God's Child and He is saying to you today that you are always with Him and all that He has is yours! Wow.
God is not pleased when we walk around without this mindset,
Philippians 4:19: And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
4. The adopted child has equality with the natural born child/children. You can't play favourites legally between natural and adopted children. What's the application of that for us? In God's Kingdom there is only one begotten Son, the Lord Jesus. We are adopted. But in the eyes of our Father, there is no difference between Jesus and us! John 15:9 - As the Fatherloved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
The same love that God has toward Jesus, He has towards us! That is some pretty awesome news!! It's hard to believe from a religious perspective, isn't it!? But look at Romans 8:29 - For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
5. Your family identity has changed. You have a new family.
John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
His brethren. The Lord is saying that we are His brothers. We are adopted, it's irrevocably permanent. 1 John 3:1 - 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.
An adopted child, in human terms, takes the name of the parent. And, we now have the name of Jesus! This name that we have reflects our new family status. This is so cool! Look at Revelation 2:17 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
And in Revelation 3:12 - Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
6. The Parental rights of the natural parents is instantly terminated. The natural parents cannot take the child back. Who was our father before we came to Christ? The devil! Well guess what; he has no more claim on you. He cannot take you back. That is awesome!
Sometimes, adopted kids look for who their natural parents were. They're looking for some significance or identity. But in spiritual terms, we do not want to do that! We need to walk in our new identity, to let go and purge ourselves of our old identity and mindset.
To finish this up, let's say this; God's adoption is even better than human adoption. John 1:12-13: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
We have been born of God.
1 Peter 1:23 - Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
We hope you've enjoyed this study of the Law of Adoption. Next time we will dive into the next law; the Law of Justice! Don't miss it!
Until next time,
Upstream Ministries
Don't Forget to Watch Pastor Richard
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