{"id":323,"date":"2019-10-14T16:13:39","date_gmt":"2019-10-14T16:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/johnclawton.org\/blog\/?p=323"},"modified":"2019-10-14T16:13:40","modified_gmt":"2019-10-14T16:13:40","slug":"the-spirit-of-adoption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/johnclawton.org\/blog\/the-spirit-of-adoption\/","title":{"rendered":"The Spirit of Adoption"},"content":{"rendered":"

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.<\/em> (Rom. 8:15)<\/p>

The day I surrendered to Christ in repentance and faith I received the \u201cspirit of adoption\u201d (Romans 8:15), the adoption of sons\u201d (Galatians 4:5). This means that I now have many benefits and blessings from God that I was not previously entitled to. As a \u201cson of God\u201d I now have a new Father, a new family, a new future and a new foundation. These wonderful truths come to light in a powerful way through a study of 1 John 3:1-3.<\/p>

\u201cBehold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God\u201d (1 John 3:1). My new Father calls me His son. I am loved by Him, so much so, that he sent His only Son to die for me, that I might live (1 John 4:9-10, Romans 5:8). He loved me before I loved Him, and He still loves me when I\u2019m bad.<\/p>

As is the nature of adoption, I am not only loved by my new Father, I have been chosen by Him, as part of a \u201croyal priesthood\u201d. He called me \u201cout of darkness into his marvelous light\u201d (1 Peter 2:9). Not only that, but I am known by Him (1 John 3:1, Galatians 4:9). In fact, He knows me better than I know myself! <\/p>

As one who has received the \u201cadoption of sons\u201d (Galatians 4:5), and a new Father, it follows that I am now part of a new family. My new Father has made me \u201caccepted in the beloved\u201d (Ephesians 1:6), no longer an outcast, no longer alone, but \u201can heir of God through Christ\u201d (Galatians 4:7, Romans 8:14, Titus 3:7). But that\u2019s not all!<\/p>

Having a new Father and a new family means I also have a new future. One day I will be like my Father (1 John 3:2). I will be \u201ctransformed by the renewing of my mind\u201d (Romans 12:2), and conformed to the \u201cimage of His son\u201d (Romans 8:29). I am being reformed as I walk with Him. Romans 6 is becoming the reality of my life:<\/p>

I was dead in trespasses and sin, but now I\u2019m baptized into His death (verse 3). I was walking in darkness and death, but now I walk in the Light, in the newness of life (verse 4) and in the likeness of His Resurrection (verse 5). I was dead unto sin, but now death has no more dominion over me; I\u2019m ALIVE unto God through Jesus Christ my Lord. I was a slave to sin, but now I\u2019m a servant of righteousness. Now that I\u2019ve been made free from sin, and become a servant to God, I have my fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life (verse 22). \u201cFor the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord\u201d (verse 23).<\/p>

This man who was once an orphan, is now the son of a new Father, adopted into a new family with a new future, and now I have also been given a new foundation (1 John 3:3). \u201cGod hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son\u201d into my heart (Galatians 4:6). My Foundation is the Holy Spirit of God within me, who gives me the power to be pure, and righteous.<\/p>

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