MINISTERS MATTER

UNDERSTANDING ADOPTION

Ephesians 1 reminds us that we have been pre-destined to adoption as sons of God. It is the crowning act of God's saving love.

John 1:13 is about adoption as those who have been "Born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." We are born into God's family and that makes us children of God.

My daughter Kim adopted a baby girl five years ago. When she signed the adoption papers, Grace became part of her family with all the rights and privileges of her other two children. It is the same for us when our names appear in the Lamb's Book of Life. It confirms our place in God's forever family.

When you are in the family, you are also in the will. God undertakes to provide for us to live life under His loving care. We don't always get what we want but we get what we need. He is a good father.

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come."  2 Cor. 5:17.
The old life is no longer our reference point - the new one, God's family, becomes our new home with a new heritage and lineage.

There are four wonderful benefits to adoption.

Sons are granted the freedom of being adults who are led by the Spirit. Romans 8:14-15

Sons are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. Romans 8:16-17, 23

Sons are children of God and enjoy family privileges. 1 John 3:1

Sons are being conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29

UNDERSTANDING JUSTIFICATION

I have always loved watching the lights go on in people who have never understood the Bible. This is especially true of the basic doctrines of Christianity like justification.

Did you know that justification is...

God’s legal action at the cross, in the person of Christ, providing us with salvation. It is a legal deal signed in the blood of Christ that is permanent and final.

Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. He is sinless and holy. He is the only person in human history qualified to be our substitute. He died in our place so we wouldn't die in our sins and be separated from God for all eternity.

Romans 1:16 -17 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith...as it is written, the righteous shall live by faith."

We have the righteousness of Jesus imputed to our lives and stand complete in Him. That is the power of the gospel at work in a human life.

Justification is by faith not works and happens instantly and is complete including the forgiveness of all our sins.

Romans 3:26 "shows His righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Gal. 2:16 says. "we know that a person is not justified....by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.

Justification is a judicial act not a subjective experience. Feelings may or may not come after salvation. Because justification is a completed deal we don't have to be concerned with how we feel about it.

God pronounces us not guilty! A relational change takes place where we come into fellowship with Him. Once we were estranged from God but not anymore.

The biggest stumble is the fact that my conduct and character doesn't change when I am justified. I am now in need of discipleship. I must learn to think and behave differently.

My greatest joy is knowing that my past, present and future sins are not excused but punished and satisfied in Christ’s sacrifice at the cross. I can now confess my sins and He is faithful and just to forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.

Tomorrow we will look at adoption.