Paul had just declared that when believers choose to be led by the Spirit, not the flesh, they become “sons of God” (v. 14) He continues, “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father‘” (Romans 8:15).

There are three key principles presented in this verse:

First, we “have not received a spirit of bondage again to fear“. Under the Old Testament covenant, God had given some great commands. Follow them, and they would live. But, because of their fleshly nature, no one could live up to the Law. From God’s perspective, it was holiness; but from our perspective is was hopeless. Fear of failure drove God’s people to walk a life of fear. It was a “spirit of bondage” and the result was “fear“.

Second, we learn that, in contrast, what we did receive is “the Spirit of adoption“. It is the opposite of “bondage” and the results are the opposite of “fear“. This is another name for the Holy Spirit describing His attribute of adopting us as children of God. When the Spirit adopts us, that means He takes responsibility for us. He begins to lead us wisely like a loving and careful parent leads his/her child. This is what the Holy Spirit does in us. This is His relationship with us.

Thirdly, the extent of that adoption of us is that we can now cry, “Abba, Father“. Not only that the Holy Spirit sees us adopted, but people of faith get to see ourselves as adopted, as well. We begin to see the fearful God with adoptive eyes. This change in God’s attitude is because His Son, Jesus Christ, paid the wages of death in our place. Instead of being afraid of God, we see that He loves us and protects us. “Abba” is the Aramaic word for Father, but is culturally used as a term of endearment, much like “Papa” or “Daddy”. It doesn’t mean that His fearful nature has changed, or that God has now become like us, but that we have a unique adoption covenant with God almighty. And He will watch after His kids.

Let’s change the way we see God through the Spirit’s eyes.

Tags: adoption, leading

By now you’ve possibly heard that our son and wife, Nathan and Emily, have adopted a second little girl, Ruby Grace. Ruby was born Saturday night and Emily was there for the delivery right after church. The birth mother had selected them some time ago but we were sworn to secrecy because its just too hard to explain to everyone if the birth mother changed her mind afterward.

We are so grateful to God for providing such a precious little one into our lives. I think the older we get, the more we appreciate little children and the future potential there is in their lives.

I’m reminded of the time I was adopted by God and became one of His children. He embraced me as one of His from the first moment and has been there for me every since. He’s a good Father.

What do you remember about your spiritual adoption?

Tags: adoption

Young Jonathan, who had been promised a new puppy for his tenth birthday, had a tough time choosing between a dozen likely candidates at the neighborhood pet shop. Finally he decided upon one nondescript shaggy pup who was wagging his tail furiously. Explained Jonathan, “I want the one with the happy ending.”

Everyone loves a story with a happy ending. Anita and I prefer to watch older movies on TCM because they tend to have a happy ending. I have invested my life in other people because I love seeing happy endings in their lives. Trouble tends to rob our happiness, but standing firm in the faith through those trials brings about the happy ending we desire.

Today is a day when you can help bring about a happy ending in someone else’s life. Speak words of hope to them no matter what they throw back. Show God’s compassion like “Chris” did to the bag lady in our skit last weekend. Don’t take an offense but be a friend to the friendless.

Tags: adoption, Caring, encouragement, resurrection

You’ve probably heard by now that our son, Nathan, and his wife, Emily, have adopted a newborn girl in Florida. They drove up from Florida to Nashville, Tennessee yesterday, where they spent the night with our daughter and family. Today they are on the road driving home to Waterloo with the little one. They’ve named her Raegan Elizabeth and Anita and I can’t wait to meet her.

I’ve preached a lot about adoption from the perspective of us being adopted into the faith, but I believe the Lord is about to teach me invaluable first-hand lessons on what adoption really means. Our family is adopting into our family a child from completely outside our family, culture, and socio-economic background. And she will be treated like one of the family from this moment on.

Isn’t that exactly what God did for us? Paul wrote, “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!” (Romans 8:15).

Tags: adoption

A second spiritual blessing Paul describes in Ephesians 1:5: “In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will”.

To predestine something is to preset the destination before hand. So, Paul declares that God had predestined you to come to Christ even before you responded to the message. That doesn’t mean you didn’t have a choice in the matter, but that God knew in advance the choice you would make.

Note also that the destiny he preset was that you would be adopted into His family. The second spiritual blessing, then, is that we have been adopted into the family of God. To be adopted is to be an outsider who is legally brought into the family to become an insider. With no claim to family rights, family rights are bestowed upon you by the authority of the adoption.

An adoption is a legal process that will hold up in a court. In the case of the spiritual adoption of sinners like us, it means that we are brought into the family of God as full members. He treats us like sons and daughters, not mere servants.

What have you learned about adoption that sheds light on our relationship with God?

Tags: adoption, family, predestination

During the ugly years of Word War II, a Christian woman in Poland was standing by the street when a German soldier was pushing a Jewish mother toward the train station. Everyone knew these helpless victims were being transported to extermination camps. At the heels of the Jewish woman was a small girl in tears.

As they passed the Christian woman, the soldier demanded, “Is this your daughter?” The terrified mother looked straight into the Christian woman’s eyes and said, “No, the child is hers.” From that moment on the Christian woman took that Jewish girl and raised her as her own daughter.

That Christian woman later immigrated to the United States and recounted her story to Penelope Duckworth, a chaplain at Stanford University.

Thank God that we’ve been rescued and adopted into the family of God. “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” (Galatians 4:7).

Tags: adoption