Being Adopted into the Family

April 7, 2013 Ephesians 1:1-6

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Please Note: the full transcript is available in the Manuscript link above.

I. The Blessings of Our Adoption

A. Paul's relationship with this church

Acts 20:31 - Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

1 Timothy 4:3 - men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

B. The foundation of the Fatherhood of God

Ephesians 1:2 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Ephesians 2:1 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

Colossians 1:21 - And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,

C. The focus on the blessings we enjoy in Him

Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God…

Ephesians 1:3 - …who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

D. The nature of the blessing – your adoption.

Ephesians 1:4 - In love

Ephesians 1:5 - He predestined us to adoption as sons

E. The means – through Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:5 - He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

F. The purpose – to the praise of the glory of His grace

Ephesians 1:6 - to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

II. The History of Our Adoption

Ephesians 1:4 - just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

Ephesians 1:5 - He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

III. The Results of Our Adoption

A. Provision

Matthew 7:7-11 - Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

B. Freedom

Galatians 4:1-7 - Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

C. Hope

Romans 8:12-15 - So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 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!”

Romans 8:18-25 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God…For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Romans 8:26-27 - In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.