World Adoption Day

November 9th was World Adoption Day! Check out   www.worldadoptionday.org

I was adopted at six months of age. I have had several discussions about the area of being adopted as a child. I have never met my birth parents, but I know some non-identifying information about them like height, hair colour, my birth father worked with his hands, etc. I have no medical history, which saves me a lot of time filling out forms. I’ve had identifying information for a few years now and I’m just reaching out now to see who I can discover. 

It feels like I have always known I was adopted. I grew up in a loving family with the same rights and chores as my brothers. I’ve been curious about my birth family since I was in college. Who do I look like was always a question. There is certainly no resentment on my part. I believe it was done with my best interest in mind. I used to tell my brothers that they just came along, but I was chosen!

Please understand that my parents are Dave & Joan Greenfield and my brothers are Tom, Mark & Chris. That was my family growing up. Plus grandparents Thomas Ernest & Annie Greenfield , Cyril & Viola Copeland plus aunts, uncles and many cousins! 

It is similar with God’s family once we accept Christ as Saviour and Lord and become a child of God. We become the sons and daughters of God through faith and are entitled to the full rights and benefits of sons. I believe I have a unique situation to more fully understand the inclusion we have into God’s family.

Romans 8:13-29
v.14 – sons of God
v.15 – spirit of sonship; ABBA Father – Daddy (a term of intimate endearment, not to be taken flippantly)
v.16 – God’s creation
v.17 – children = heirs; heirs of God; co-heirs with Christ – what do you think Christ’s inheritance would be? We were made spiritual billionaires.
v.21 – children of God
v.23 – first fruits of the Spirit; adoption as sons
Romans 9:4 – adoption as sons

Galatians 3:26-4:7
v.26 – sons of God through faith
v.29 – Abraham’s seed; heirs
v.5 – full rights as sons
v.6 – sons – ABBA Father
v.7 – son = heir

Ephesians 3:6 – gentiles and Jews are heirs together in the promise of Jesus Christ
Titus 3:7 – heirs having the hope of eternal life
1 Peter 3:7 – wives – heirs with you of the gracious gift of life
Hebrews 11:8-10 – Israel & Jacob heirs with Him

Full Rights & Responsibilities of a son

• Love
• Acceptance
• Privileges
• Equal footing
• Discipline
• Responsibilities
• Chores
• Inheritance
• Equal share
• Property
• Possessions

INHERITANCE
An inheritance is something that a person comes into possession of because of his relationship with another. It is not something that is earned; it is a gift.

The believer’s inheritance includes life itself. By receiving Christ as Saviour, the believer inherits eternal life.

The inheritance of the believer also includes everything he needs for his life. The believer is actually a citizen of heaven who is on a pilgrim journey on earth. However, God has made all spiritual blessings available to the believer.

The moment one receives Christ as Saviour he is placed as a mature son into the family of God and becomes an heir of an inheritance that is beyond human comprehension.

We are to let Christ reign in our lives now, but our full spiritual inheritance includes being with Christ and reigning with Him throughout eternity.

“And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you” 1 Peter 1:4.

We are Jesus’ inheritance and it is glorious!! Ephesians 1:18, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”

GOD’S FAMILY
Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God. [Westminster Shorter Catechism]

Romans 8:37-39 – No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That’s the love of our new family!