Adopted

Galatians 4:1-7

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Ancient cultures were no different than ours in that children didn’t have the same rights as adults. Even though children will inherit all their father’s possessions, they are still under authority of others until they become adults. Greek, Roman, and Jewish cultures all had ceremonies to celebrate coming of age, when a child became an adult. Paul uses this example to describe the condition of Christians. Just as a child is under the authority of others, there was a time when every believer was under the authority of the law. Then, at the Father’s appointed time, He sent Jesus to redeem the lost and adopt them as His own children. The children of God receive Christ’s Spirit in their hearts and cry out in their new relationship calling Him “Abba,” which translates to Daddy. Therefore, the one who receives God’s grace by faith is now His child and an heir of His riches through Jesus.

As a Christian, you are a child of God but no longer a child. You are an heir with Christ, and you have reached the age of adulthood so that you have inherited every spiritual blessing the Lord has provided for you by His grace. Grace has been defined using an acronym from the phrase God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Jesus redeemed you so that you could be adopted into God’s family and receive His riches. This adoption comes only by grace. The Father wants everyone to join His family, but He leaves the decision up to each individual. You become an heir by loving the Lord (Jas. 2:5). Once you have been adopted into His family through faith, then you become a coheir with Christ (Rom. 8:17). All of the riches the Father has prepared for Jesus have also been prepared for you! So don’t approach God in a stiff, legal way as if coming to Him through the law. Instead, go to Him as your loving Father, calling Him, “Daddy.” Every good father wants to bless his children, and our Father wants to bless you. Receive every blessing He has for you by faith, and tell Him how grateful you are to be adopted!