Understanding the Message of Christ: Adoption
The highest privilege of the Christian life is our adoption as children into God's eternal family through God's natural Son, Jesus.
Romans 8:15-16
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.
There are no favorites in our home. Our children often accuse Mrs. Kim and myself of showing priority to one of their siblings. It is true that one may get an extra portion of grace but all of them are loved and cared for in the same manner.
God does not play favorites. Here is a remarkable truth: His love and blessing on us is the same that He gives to Jesus. As adopted children of God we can enjoy the same favor that Jesus has with the Father. We too are the apple of God's eye, the pleaser of His love, the delight of His focus. And if we did not get all that we wanted or need in our human fathers, we are invited even more deeply into the pleasure of the Father of heaven and earth takes in His Son and us. We now have the Father we always needed and always wanted.
Think about the deep and wide relationship between God the Father and God the Son. Translate that bond, fully and completely, into your life. God loves you and wants to best for you just as He does for Jesus. We are fellow heirs with Christ, the children of God.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden
Romans 8:15-16
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.
There are no favorites in our home. Our children often accuse Mrs. Kim and myself of showing priority to one of their siblings. It is true that one may get an extra portion of grace but all of them are loved and cared for in the same manner.
God does not play favorites. Here is a remarkable truth: His love and blessing on us is the same that He gives to Jesus. As adopted children of God we can enjoy the same favor that Jesus has with the Father. We too are the apple of God's eye, the pleaser of His love, the delight of His focus. And if we did not get all that we wanted or need in our human fathers, we are invited even more deeply into the pleasure of the Father of heaven and earth takes in His Son and us. We now have the Father we always needed and always wanted.
Think about the deep and wide relationship between God the Father and God the Son. Translate that bond, fully and completely, into your life. God loves you and wants to best for you just as He does for Jesus. We are fellow heirs with Christ, the children of God.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden
Posted in Discipleship