God’s Adoption Process
1 John 3:1
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”
God’s Adoption Process
In the last devotion we discussed repentance and faith. We talked about how this action is necessary in having a saving relationship with God. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin and basically describe one action. The action is one of turning away from your sinful ways of living to living under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was important for us to discuss what true repentance and faith is because there are many people who consider themselves Christians but are truly not. They are fine with confessing Jesus as their Savior but will negotiate His Lordship over their life. In response to being confronted about a sin in their life they will respond with, “I am a sinner and we all sin.” This is a true statement but true Christians hate their sin and work to purge it out of their life. It’s an everyday battle that most times doesn’t seem like there may be much victory but Christians gladly take part in it. It is also important for us to talk about repentance and faith as the Gospel is not preached unless there is a call to repent and believe.
When regeneration occurs it should look something like this. A true believer accepts they are sinners deserving hell; they believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then follow Him as their Lord forever. True believers begin to love and grow in the same things that Jesus likes to do. Namely, glorify their Father in heaven.
There is one word that we should highlight in the recognition of God’s Adoption Process, imputation.
Imputation signifies crediting something of someone to someone else. We are all born with Adams sin credited to our account. The first part of Romans 5:19 says, “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners.” We are not only born with sin, but we love and follow it. The second part of Romans 5:19 says, “even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” When we believe that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, imputation has taken place. Your sinful life was credited to the account of Jesus of which He died on the cross for and His righteousness was credited to your account. Every sin, past, present and future that you perform in thought, word and deed, were imputed to Jesus Christ and He propitiated your wrath from God. In other words He was the object that God fully exhausted His Holy Wrath on for you. In exchange the believer receives the right standing of Jesus Christ before God the Father.
We will never be equal to Him in deity as He is God but we gain all the righteousness that Jesus Christ is. What is this righteousness? The righteousness is His position as a child of God and all the benefits that come along with being in the same position as Jesus Christ. He loves His Father with all of His heart, mind, soul and strength. He did it here for you so that you can be adopted into His family.
Romans 8:14-17 reads, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 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, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” We are to preach repentance and faith but when it truly happens within someone it is God completing His Adoption Process by the power of His Spirit. One can be sure God has adopted someone if you desire to be like Jesus according to what the Bible says about Jesus. This is one of our Fathers promises to you that He will take you home someday.
1 John 3:1 reads, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” Can you see God’s Adoption Process? When a family adopts a child, that child gains all the benefits of being in that family. Legally they are theirs forever. The same goes with God. You are His child in Christ Jesus and you will always be His child, forever! One way to bless God is to realize this and affectionately call Him your Father. It is already yours and you will be His child forever. Nothing can and nothing will separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!
