Sexual Holiness

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 ~

“The Gift of Adoption”Galatians 4:4-7

What does adoption teach usabout a relationship with God?

4 …when the fulness of time had come,

Galatians 4:4-7

God sent forth his Son, born of woman,born under the law, 5 to redeem thosewho were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a

good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While

we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ~ Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)

4 …when the fulness of time had come,

Galatians 4:4-7

God sent forth his Son, born of woman,born under the law, 5 to redeem thosewho were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a

curse for us.”

~ The Apostle Paul in Galatians 3:13

“Justification is an act of God’s free gracein which he accepts us as righteous

in his sight only because ofthe righteousness of Christ

given to us and received by faith alone.”

~ Westminster Shorter Catechism #33

4 …when the fulness of time had come,

Galatians 4:4-7

God sent forth his Son, born of woman,born under the law, 5 to redeem thosewho were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

“…but to all who did receive him, who

believed in his name, he gave the right to become

children of God.”~ The Apostle John in

1 John 1:3-4

“[Adoption] is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than

justification… That justification…is the primary and fundamental blessing

of the gospel is not in question. Justification is the primary blessing, because

it meets our primary spiritual need….

“...But this is not to say that justification is the highest

blessing of the gospel. Adoption is higher,

because of the richer relationship with God that it involves…. Justification is a forensic idea, conceived

in terms of law, and viewing God as judge….

“...Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of love,

and viewing God as father. In adoption, God takes us into His family and fellowship, and establishes us as His children and heirs…. To be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is a greater thing.”

“You can sum up the whole of [the] New Testament…if you describe it as the

knowledge of God as one’s holy Father….

‘Father’ is the Christian name for God.”

6 And because you are sons of God,

Galatians 4:4-7

God has sent the Spirit of his Son intoour hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

“If you want to judge how well a person under-

stands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having

God as his Father….

“…If this is not the thought that prompts

and controls his worship and prayers and his

whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity

very well at all…

“...Our understanding of Christianity cannot

be better than our grasp of adoption.”

7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son,

Galatians 4:4-7

and if a son, then an heir through God.

“…you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry,

“Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears

witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs —heirs of God and fellow heirs

with Christ….”

~ The Apostle Paul in Romans 8:15

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the

kingdom.”

~ Jesus of Nazareth in The Gospel of Luke,12:32

Since we have been given the gift of adoption, to live as an orphan

is no longer an option.

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