I AM GUARANTEED AN INHERITANCE
Texts: Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 8:15
Gal 4:4-5
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Rom 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
1. The Definition Of Adoption
- Adoption is the act of God whereby He gives the believing sinner his position, standing, legal rights, inheritance as a joint-heir with Christ, and all the full privileges of a
2. The Distinction Of Adoption
Regeneration contrasted with Adoption
1) Regeneration is the new birth that changes us and imparts unto us the holy nature of our Father and makes us a
2) Adoption does not change our nature, but rather it changes our position and legal standing as sons of God and thus guarantees us an
3. The Illustration Of Adoption
- While we enter a human family by either birth or adoption, we enter God’s family by both – regeneration and adoption.
- In New Testament times, the Romans had the custom of adopting their own children into their families as
- This adoption took place during a ceremony known as the TOGA LIBERALIA.
- In the liberation ceremony, the father would take his son (at an age at the discretion of the father, but usually between 14-16 years old) and remove the toga of youth and replace it with the toga of manhood.
- At this point the adolescent was declared to be an adult son. Until this time, the Roman child had absolutely no legal rights, no special privileges, no position as a son, and no right to an inheritance. In fact, adult slaves in the household had authority over the child. (cf. Gal. 4:1-5)
- At adoption, the child received the position of an adult son with authority over slaves, all the rights and privileges of sonship, and an absolute
4. The Work Of The Spirit In Adoption
1) The Spirit
- He leads us through illumination. Illumination is the work of God whereby He divinely clarifies His Word to make it understandable to our finite and still sin tarnished minds.
2) The Spirit gives us a new
- Because we have been adopted, we now “cry Abba, Father.” This name, Abba, is equivalent to our “daddy, poppa, dad, da-da,” etc. - the sweet terms of endearment between a father and child.
- This new intimacy with God is the result of the Spirit giving us the spirit of adoption, not the spirit of fear or bondage. This new intimacy is also the result of us now having access to God. We can run to the arms of God anytime. (Heb. 4:16)
3) The Spirit
- The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
- The Holy Spirit bears witness to us, for example, by producing the Fruit of the Spirit in us, or by empowering us for service. We know that any good we accomplish for God, or service to God, was done by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8, John 15:5)
4) The Spirit grants us an inheritance as “
5. The Benefits Of Adoption
1) We are delivered from the law and the bondage of fear that it brought. (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 3:23-26; Gal. 4:1-7).
2) We are delivered from bondage to the elements of this world. (Gal. 4:3)
3) We are given our position, rights, and privileges as
4) We are made an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ. (Rom. 8:17, Gal. 4:7)
- Our inheritance is guaranteed, irrevocable, and can be drawn upon now.
5) We are
6) We are given assurance of salvation and sonship by the Spirit. (Rom. 8:14, 16)
- Verse 16 – teknon – one born into a family, baby. Verse 14 – huios – adult son.
7) We are given a new intimacy whereby we can approach God’s presence in prayer without fear. (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6)
8) We are
6. The Time Of Adoption
- We are adopted, placed into the family of God as full grown adult sons, at the