The concept of family is deeply woven into Scripture’s picture of how we’re thought of by God, how we should think about each other, and how we should view ourselves in light of God’s kindness too us. One of the core and defining concepts the Bible uses is “adoption”.

For the believer God is not distant. God does not save from a distance. God is not detached from our lives. God is our loving father who loves his children and is giving them everything he has.

Adoption means that someone takes another as their own child. Adoption means that someone who has something to offer takes another into the family as a member. One person becomes a member of a family that they were not born into.

Spiritual adoption happens as God makes a rebellious person part of his family with all the rights of a birth child. Adoption takes place when through the power of the Holy Spirit, God bonds us to the gospel. The term “adoption”, in the Bible, is often used to emphasize the relationship we now have with God. A relationship that is much deeper than we might know.

I’d like to start this morning with a passage that shows the deep, deep fellowship, the personal relationship between Jesus the Son and God the Father:

Mark 14:36 – And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

In this we see the way Jesus thinks about, the way he feels about God. The term “Abba” is the term a child would use with his father reflecting intimacy and trust.

Galatians 4:4–7 – But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem (price paid) those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons (the standing), God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Romans 8:15–16 – For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

In this day and age seeing God as the perfect father and the trustworthy refuge for his children can be difficult. Families are disintegrating and fathers are less and less who they should be toward their children. God as our intimate loving father should instruct fathers as to how they should love their children. It is also true that when fathers are who they’re suppose to be children will have a better idea as to who God is.

JESUS IS OUR BROTHER

The adopted status of believers means that in and through Christ God loves them as he loves his only-begotten Son and will share with them all the glory that is Christ’s now¹

Jesus became one of us and when he died, when we believed, he became our brother because we were adopted into his family. Jesus the Son of God.

Matthew 28:9–10 – the resurrection – And behold, Jesus met [Mary Magdalede and the other Mary] and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Hebrews 2:10–11 – For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. ¹¹ For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Deuteronomy 14:1–2 – “You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not…

Galatians 3:26 – for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Ephesians 1:5–6 – In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

John 1:12 – But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…

The adopted status of believers means that in and through Christ God loves them as he loves his only-begotten Son and will share with them all the glory that is Christ’s now²

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We should pray to him as our father:

Matthew 6:7–9 – “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

We should imitate God as our father:

Matthew 5:44–45 – But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 18:21–22, 33 – Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. vs33 – Story of the gracious king – And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’

Ephesians 4:32–5:1 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (Don’t be sexually immoral, don’t covet, no filthy or foolish talk, or crude joking

God disciplines his children as a loving father should:

Hebrews 12:5 – discipline – And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.