Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Last week we looked the Doctrine of Sanctification and before that the Doctrine of Election
• What does predestined mean?
• Some Christians hold the Doctrine of Election and Predestination in contempt
• Some see it in a fatalistic way
• Paul is writing in the spirit of worship - these doctrines are not to be fought over!
• "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ..." (v1)
• The Doctrine of Adoption is thrilling
• The Doctrine of Justification deals with our legal status
• The Doctrine of Adoption changes our nature
• God brings us into His own family

How do we become the Children of God?

• We are born in sin - we are not all children of God
• In love: It begins with God's free choice
• In time: Through the redeeming work of Christ - Gal 4:4-5
• In faith: We appropriate this truth through faith, by committing ourselves to Jesus Christ - Gal 3:26, John 1:12
• This is a fundamental truth
• Through the work of Christ
• Are we yielding to the love of Christ

What does it mean to become the Children of God?

• Once we were under the law, under the power of sin, under the power of Satan - Gal 4:3
• Christ came to break the power of Satan
• Christ came to bring us from one kingdom to another
• Example of adoption of children from Syria
• We have been given the Spirit of God - Gal 4:6
• He dwells in our heart
• We can cry out "Abba, Father!"
• Do we pray like this?
• Rom 8:15-16
• We are an heir - Gal 4:7
• We gain an inheritance through Christ
• We are co heirs with Christ
• We have received more blessings that Adam lost
• We have all things in Christ Jesus
• Creation is awaiting the revealing of the sons of God - Rom 8:19
• The day when Christ returns
• The day when the dead will be raised with a glorious body
• Creation will be liberated - Rom 8:20-23
• We become like the Lord Jesus Christ

What are the signs that we have become the Children of God?

• We have the Spirit of God - Rom 8:9
• The Spirit lives within us
• The Spirit leads us into holiness - Rom 8:14
• We suffer with Christ - Rom 8:17
• Those who are prepared to suffer for His sake
• We have come out of the world - 2 Cor 6:17-18
• Be separate from the world
• Rev 21:7
• We love the brethren
• We pursue peace

Closing Remarks

• There is no greater privilege to be adopted into God's family
• Think of the Queen
• We have been adopted into God's family
• "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" - 1 John 3:1