Identity: ADOPTED
Identity Crisis
Here is a simple definition of identity crisis, “A period of uncertainty or confusion in a person’s life.” Most recognize that there is a massive identity crisis in the world today, people who are uncertain or confused about who they are. However, is the church to quick to point out at the world and not quick enough to look with in and see that there may be an identity crisis going on within the church? That there are many born-again disciples of Jesus who are uncertain or confused about who they really are in Christ, as sons and daughters of God. The reality that many may be able to define what a “Christian” is; but how many lives are lived in that reality? Are you willing, are we willing, to take an honest look at our lives and see if we are living like who are Creator says we really are?
Galatians 3:23- 4:8
- J.I Packer, Knowing God – What is a Christian? “The richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father.”
- It is an amazing truth that we can call God Almighty our Father.
- I believe the doctrine of adoption makes a significant and dramatic difference in our lives because when we contemplate and apply this doctrine it gives deep insight into the love of God the Father for us.
Our prior condition
- “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.” Galatians 3:23 ESV
- “In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.” Galatians 4:3 ESV
- “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.” Galatians 4:8 ESV
- Our condition prior to adoption is described here: captive, imprisoned, enslaved.
- All were enslaved and all are humanly incapable of altering this condition of enslavement.
God’s response.
What is God’s response to those enslaved by their sin? “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV) God’s response is to send His Son to die on the cross “to redeem those who were under the law.” The word redeem means “to buy out.” The term was used specifically in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. If we are “redeemed,” then our prior condition was one of slavery. God has purchased our freedom, and we are no longer in bondage to sin.
Redeemed before adopted.
Before God adopts there must be redemption. And here’s why, because we were enslaved by our sin. We need someone to liberate us from our sin and from our bondage to sin and from the penalty of sin, and a price must be paid for our redemption. Because of our sin, God the Father sends His Son to die as a ransom for sin, so that those once enslaved by sin and captive to sin, would be freed from the penalty of sin and the power of sin and one day, even the presence of sin. God is a just judge. Sin must be punished. Jesus was our substitute, He took our place, our punishment for our sin, and we receive His righteousness.
It’s a comma not a period!
But notice, the sentence isn’t done yet. We do not encounter a period. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, (comma not a period) so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV) Redemption wasn’t the ultimate purpose God sent forth His son. Jesus came “to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” So, adoption depends on justification. Or we can say, we are justified so that we can be adopted. Being declared right before God the Judge is great. Being called a son before God the Father is greater. It’s possible to understand the great and not comprehend the greater. To understand the great and not be living in the greater. I think it is possible to know and understand God’s forgiveness but not believe or understand that He deeply and intimately loves you with a perfect fatherly love. Are you convinced? Do you believe God the Father loves you and freely chose you to love? I think that we know that we’re supposed to believe that God loves us as a good Father.
“Where do you look in order to be convinced of God’s love for you?”
I’m asking you where you look because I think we all have a certain impulse to look within ourselves, to find a reason for His love for us. And that impulse to look within yourself; that isn’t going to get you far because any honest glance within yourself is going to quickly inform you that you don’t deserve God’s love. Paul is not drawing attention within here. He’s drawing attention to without, drawing attention to God sending His son to redeem you so He can adopt you. So that we might be convinced of the Father’s love.
The experience of adoption.
“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”” (Galatians 4:6 ESV) And notice again, our attention is directed away. From ourselves to God Himself, and to the initiative of God sending the Holy Spirit into our hearts so we can experience this adoption. He sends His Son to die for our sins, so that we might be redeemed and adopted. And then He sends His Spirit into our hearts and notice the immediate cry of the Spirit within our hearts is up, “Father.” The gift of adoption is accomplished by the Son, and then it’s applied to our lives by the Spirit. There’s a new cry in the heart of the born-again believer, “Abba, Father.” But we can become insensitive to it. It’s actually possible to grow less aware of the cry and less sensitive to the cry. And actually, Paul is writing to those who’d grown def to the Spirits cry because they’d been sucked back into legalism, they were no longer enjoying adopting grace.
Heirs
As great as the reality of being a son is, there’s more good news. The gospel doesn’t just declare us justified, nor does it only give us a new position, or a new status. Paul tells us about anther blessing…. “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, …” (Galatians 4:7 ESV) Now you notice something in verse six to seven there’s a change from the plural in verse six to the singular in verse seven, from sons to son. It’s as if this transition from a general expectation to a personal communication takes place. It’s like God making eye contact with each and every one of us. God wants us to be certain.
“So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:7 ESV) This designation, heirs, reveals the graciousness of God in and through adoption, revealing His love. “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:17 ESV) We are no longer slaves but sons, not only sons, but heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, and recipients of an inheritance we clearly do not deserve.
What adoption meant.
- A couple things about what adoption meant in this culture and time:
- The adopted person lost all rights in his old family, gained all the rights of a fully legitimate son in his new family and, “In the most literal sense, and in the most binding legal way, he got a new father.” (Barclay).
- In addition, all his debts were legally canceled (Colossians 2:14), his old life was completely erased, and he was regarded by the law as a new person (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- One more thought, in the ancient world, a father’s inheritance was restricted to his son, therefore if a father did not have a son he would by necessity adopt so that he could have an heir.
- God’s adoption of sinners was not necessary. It wasn’t necessary, because He already had a Son. God the Father didn’t need to adopt a son; He already had a Son. God the Father already had an heir, there was no need to adopt sinners like you and me.
- He just wanted to! He freely chose you to adopt.
Through God
It appropriately ends with two words, “through God.” Through God because you can’t be a son through human effort. You can’t be a son through human merit. You can only be adopted through God. And so appropriately, Paul concludes this passage by again drawing attention away from us and fixes our attention on God. Because all this is through God. And all of this is because of God.
And so all glory for all of this should be assigned to God.
Living Hope Ministries 