Adopted Into the Family
Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:3-14
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Salvation is a homecoming, God’s act of adopting spiritual orphans into his eternal family. Sonship refers to our adoption as children of God. The life-transforming grace and love of adoption is what makes the Christian faith so unique and full of joy.
Jesus paid the price for our adoption, giving us the right to be children of God (John 1:12). We are not born naturally into this relationship; it is a spiritual rebirth. Jesus calls it being “born again,” “born of the Spirit” (John 3:3, 8). While adoption is a legal contract that completely transforms the status of a child, it is more importantly a profound expression of parental love.
For reasons that can be summarized only by love itself, God chose you. He selected you to be his child and adopted you into his family. The idea of being chosen is simply that God’s love makes us children of God. Nothing else—no works, merit, or righteousness on our part—can do it. Both our existence as human beings and our salvation are ultimately dependent on one thing: the love of God the Father. And through the sacrifice of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—which we celebrate today—we become fully renewed children of God!
How do you feel, knowing that God chose you?
Lord, words cannot express our gratitude for the new life you give. Thank you for real life in Jesus by your Spirit! Amen.
About the author — Rob Jansons
Rob Jansons is the pastor of New Hope Fellowship in Monroe, Washington, where he has served for almost twenty years. He and his wife, Sue, have been married since 1989 and have three daughters. Rob spends time each year in Calcutta, India, working with a Christian ministry to children living in slums. He enjoys hiking in the Pacific Northwest, camping with his family, reading, writing, and being a pastor.
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