But a Son

As we continue to look at the order of Saluda said the order salvation we in 5 weeks type try to cram in a lot about election predestination justification regeneration effectual calling sanctification today. We look majority at the doctrine of adoption. But we will also be touching on sanctification is well, it is a lot to try and cram into a sermon but I pray that it defies you as we continue to look at this. But before we read God's word together now, let us go to him in prayer. Oh gracious Heavenly Father. We thank you that you have given us your word to direct our steps to guide our paths to be a light until the path, which is before us we pray that our eyes and our minds would be a lightning to through your spirit to be able to hear your words to be able to have your word set up Roots within our soul that it might nourish us when we go through droughts that it might satisfy us when we are tempted from other things the world has to offer but Lord that we would be sea of your great love which you have for us as your adopted children were let us be inspired to see you as our heavenly father to see Christ as our brother and all this through the help of your spirit and we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Please hear now the word Lord from Galatians 4 chapter chapter 4 verses 1 to 7. I mean that the air as long as he is a child is no different from a slave there. He is the owner of everything but he is under Guardians and managers until the date set by his father in the same way. We also when we were children were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world, but when the fullness of time had come God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law to redeem those who are under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons and because you are Sons God has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts crying Abba Father. So you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son and Heir through God the grass withers and the flowers fade for the word of Our Lord will stand forever. Adoption is a very interesting topic to consider to think about adoption. We see this around the Bible. We see three people in the Old Testament being adopted Moses Ezra and another one in 1st Kings chapter 11 Moses was a child born of his Nutrilite woman, but yet adopted into the house in the palace at pharaoh. Adoption have a great deal to say about what the Christian faith has to offer has a great deal to say about what the gospel actually entails adoption. Although generally neglected in a lot of our thinking and consideration adoption has great drive and shows us more about God and what we have been saved to we see we have looked at election and predestination before the foundations of the Earth in Ephesians 1. We've looked at the effectual calling the Regeneration and justification found in John chapter 3 and today we look at adoption and sanctification. Adoption is this great Doctrine. I think that even as I studied this passage the more I am moved to to glorify God as my father to to see Jesus as my brother. Are all three to work at the Holy Spirit be outline, which will be falling today in her bulletins is not my own it comes from the preaching the word commentary on Galatians by Todd Wilson. Sometimes you study the scriptures than you you read something and you cannot run read that and so it was very helpful to me. So I hope it will be a good structure for us. If we go through the first thing we'll look at In this passage is VS1 232. Of enslavement and hear Paul explains that we are enslaved to the elementary principles of the world and Paul uses this example that an heir to is inheritance as he is a child is no different from a slave and what he means is not necessarily that there's no difference whatsoever. But in this particular instance, there is no difference is hyperbole for the sake of this illustration means that they're alike in They're both under rules and regulations. They cannot share one cannot share in The Inheritance just like the other. That way we look at this Doctrine found in Galatians 4 and also in Romans 8 and even in a fusions one, we see paw Paul is taking this concept and and and attaching the Christian faith to this concept of adoption and many scholars have spent many time trying to understand where this comes from is not necessarily clear practice and Jewish ritual or Hebrew writings. It's not very clear in the Greco-Roman world what this looks like so people are trying to understand the word. He uses is a combination of these different words from Hebrew. So basically we look in and try and understand and most likely comes from the culture around him that under Roman law that stipulated and fix times of the are being first under a tutor and then under a curator that they would be under these people. They would have all the riches they would have all that at their disposal, but they are not at their disposable at this time. They would have these final appointments for these custodian jobs in the responsibilities. The tutor would be named by the father in the curator would be named afterwards but Paul's illustration bills on the premise of the father himself appoints the guardian and its. Of time in which the child will then inherit we might have this in a trust fund someone would pass away but a trust fund is set up to care for a child to Paul comparison is a slave in the sun park in Paris that a child it or the sun is actually an air 2 everything. He actually has everything everything is in his name. But either one thing that they share between the the child and a slave is it are under management there under this Guardian? Did all their he possesses everything he cannot access anything. But I did break a particular time. The child becomes the owner of everything at the time appointed by his father.

However, we are not the children in this illustration. We are not The Heirs to anything the ball explains that actually we are enslaved to the elementary principles of the world or is Paul writes in Ephesians. We are sons of Disobedience or children of rats. This Doctrine is known as to Total depravity and it doesn't mean that we are totally depraved in in all of our aspects, but we are radically to pray that we are not as bad as we could be because God's common Grace is upon us, but we are bent towards Rebellion from God from birth. Where is slave to the basic principles of the world been toward Rebellion from God and seeking Idols in our lives? Later in the chapter. He explains the story between Hagar and Sarah and their children. He says in 421 tell me you who desire to be under the law but do not listen to the law for it is written about Abraham had two sons one by slave woman and one by a free one, but the son of the slave was born according to the flesh while the son of the free woman was born in through promise. Now, this may be interpreted. Allegorically. These women are to Covenant. This one is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery. She is Hagar

business to son Sons of slavery and Sons of Freedom and we are bound and we are sons of the flesh Sons and Daughters bent towards sin. broken We see pain and suffering in this world.

Genesis 6 says that God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth and every intention of the thoughts of his heart were evil continually. All rights in Romans 3 no none is righteous. No not one no one understands no one seeks Gods all have turned aside together. They have become worthless. No one does good. Not even one their throat is an open grave their tongues used to deceive the Venom of apps asps is under their lips. Their mouths are full of curses and bitterness their feet are Swift to shed blood in their power and ruin and misery in the way of peace is not known to them. There is no fear of God before their eyes. And this is us. This is the way that we are towards would be none is righteous. No, not one. No one can stand before he even says that I have never done anything wrong. No one understands. No one seeks God, we don't born out and and born to see, I were born to seek our own way. We all have turned aside and we all have become worthless as we turn away from the guy who created us and made us in His image and we turn aside and do not listen to him. We seek to do what makes us happy and no one does good. Even the best of intentions is bent towards yourself pleasing yourself growing yourself. Your throat is an open grave bent towards using your words to be able to tear others down.

Their feet are Swift to shed blood not necessarily in a physical manner, but even Jesus says in The Sermon on the Mount that if you hate your brother, you've committed murder in his heart. If you look at a woman lustfully you have committed adultery.

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

We don't do things in our life thinking of how this may glorify God. We didn't we do things our life thinking how it might satisfy us or whether it keeps us happy. And we are guilty. We have the guilty verdicts put upon us. It might be that you are driving in your car. And you're you're you're going above the speed limit and and you drive past a police officer. And you know, you have done wrong. You you lift your foot off the throttle when you put your foot on the brake and you think you're fine, but you see the lights in the rear Vision mirror. You are guilty. But again, your excuses might come out. You might start thinking about I wasn't going that fast. I've seen people go faster. Excuses come out to maybe it's not driving a car, but maybe you have done something when the teachers back is turned any any think you've got away with it, but they saw it when I heard it or your mom or dad here something that you are done and you are in fact guilty. You can name start to make up excuses. Well, they made me do it but you are in fact and this is us we are enslaved to sin. Tumblr Earth John Calvin says that our heart is repetto Factory of of Idols that are heart is bent towards making idle after idling and it doesn't take long for us to see this in our lives If we're honest with ourselves. The idols that come up or not golden calves which we bow down to worship but there are things that are before us things that are around us. Maybe if I could have more friends maybe if we could be more popular, maybe maybe if I was to get a boyfriend or a girlfriend maybe if I was to get a certain job, maybe if I was to get certain grades, maybe if I was to have it the newer device, maybe if I was to have the better clothes maybe if people were to look at me different due to appreciate me more maybe a and you're driven to to to please others other than God you're you're driven to to to have these Idols which start to consume you. And if it's us we belong in the house of sin the house against God we do not seek God before eyes, but God is in Factor enemy.

God hates sin.

Or selfishness when we when we have greed and pride are against when we lie, and this is bad news. We are enslaved and we are in the wrong house. And we are unable to free ourselves.

But many of the Great passages of the Bible. Do not end with bad news.

There is a simple word that changes everything. a word that changes everything and this word In this passage comes up in verse for but

it's simple word changes the whole course of this bad news.

Say this word throughout the Bible John at 9. Is blind man answered? Whether he is a sinner, I do not know, but I know I do know one thing. Did know I was blind but now I see that but now I see he he realizes his life. It is is Blindness is beforehand, but he knows one thing but now I see this is simple word changes everything or Paul in Corinthians where and such were some of you he list this long list of sins of a Dollar Tree in things that they they were things that they were driven to an end given to and such were some of you but you were washed you were Sanctified you were justified in the name of the Lord by the spirit of our god did this was your life, but now you are washed and now you are sick to fight. Square fees until you were dead in your trespasses and send in which you once walked following the course of this world calling the prince of power of the air the spirit that is now in works in the sons of Disobedience among whom we all lived in the passions of our flesh crying out the desires of the body and my mind and we're by Nature children of Wrath like the rest of mankind. This is bad news. This is where we are in Galatians. We are enslaved to these sins, but as it says in Ephesians, but God Being rich in Mercy because of his great love which he has loved us. Even when we were dead in our trespasses made us a live together with Christ by Grace you have been saved and raised up with him and seated seated us with him in the Heavenly places in Christ that this bad news is is completely abrupt and ended it is at. Of enslavement. It is not the whole course of your story. There is a. There is an end in which God says, but your washer Sanctified but God being rich in Mercy or Romans 5:4 one will scarcely die for a righteous person though, perhaps a good person would die even to die but God shows his love for us the in while we were still sinners Christ died for us and hear this. But in this passage changes the whole course of history and it opens us up to this process of adoption where God adopts us as his children. We will no longer in the house of enslavement, but he adopts has to be heirs with Christ. we see this in verse four and five this. Of enslavement opens up this train great transition of Hope transitions to the process of adoption a verse for we see the course of history and changed in a moment, but the purpose that drives that change in history is found in first by Verse for says that but when the fullness of time had come. Send forth his son born of a woman born under the law that is born of a woman that there must be a savior to come who is like us must be a savior to come who is not only truly God but truly man and this this man is born Jesus Christ The Sovereign God and it exact point in history sent his son to be born of a virgin to be born in a manger to be born in Bethlehem to grow under his mother Mary and his father Joseph in wisdom and stature underneath the law to eat with Sinners to be surrounded by Sinners. But to live the life that we should have lived to die to death that we should actually died Christ game to redeem those under law so that they can receive add option as Sons. We see this transition from history state. In fact to the purpose behind that history happening. We see this ship from history to purpose to the purpose why Christ came into the world was to save Sinners to redeem those but also to adopt them. Often we think I've been saved or or being redeem being justified by Paul mentioned through his additional purposes is far greater than just justification, but there's adoption in process in inner mind how great the Pinnacle comes and not just being saved from our sins.

But in addition to this the grace found God calling us his children calling us his sons and daughters. Dolphin reformed faith. It is a standard around justification and that and has been criticized around this but I mean historically speaking. This was the great issue of the day which Martin Luther had to deal with But it option it is also a great aspect in his began to grow in a categories at the Westminster Confession of Faith which we said earlier today and hers this question what is adoption in it? And it has a whole chapter on adoption is the first-of-its-kind where Dobson is actually separated from justification where it's actually distinct from itself and even now books and books are written towards this this simple mind boggling concept. Not that just we were saved from their sins, but we also have been adopted into the house of God. A justification takes on this to redeem takes on this this legal aspect almost like it's centered around a courtroom. You have been Justified cleansed of what you have done. You are now clear of all that you have done. But it option moves to something more personal it moves to the home.

Calvin says to be adopted is to be United to Christ in his sonship. Not only do we get Christ and in all of his righteousness, which he imputes to us the righteousness which he gives to us the life that we should have lived. The Christ live for us is now given to us as righteous roads are given to us but also his sonship his relationship with the father is then given to us as well.

Call explains this as well in Romans 8. So then Brothers we are dead or is not to the flash to live according to the flesh roof. You live according to the flesh you will die. But if I do Spirit you put to death the Deeds of your body, you will live while you were led by the spirit of God are sons of God. We did not receive the spirit of Slavery to fall back into fear, but you 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 and if children and Ayers ears of God and fellow heirs with Christ provided we suffer with him in order that we may glorify be glorified with him.

Mrs. This is our life. This is our story that there's this great transition that were born into the house of slavery unable to free ourselves unable to save ourselves unable born in this is this house that has no warmth. No love just just constant other law and rules and regulations or constant just pressures and Temptations in NM foreign into this house.

Orphans without really a father just treated as a slave and then God walks in. And we're adopted into another house. the house where we once were enemies of but now we go from enemies to being his sons and daughters.

This is personal.

Justification might seem not very personal.

Production says that you are. Opted. Through Christ into his house.

Covenant theology a great theology quite simply put says that I will be your God and you will be my people in this is at a phenomenal aspect of the god that we worship. The God says that he will be our God and that we would be his people been adoption even takes that further I think and says that I will be your father and you will be my children.

John 1 says in 12 and 13, but all I'm too to all who receive him who believe in his name had the right to become children of God who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor the will of man but of God.

Pet adoption it is is such a great and deliberate process. No one starts and accidentally says we just adopted a child. It is painstaking it is the other the legal process the papers the money the expense the time the energy in which someone goes through to adopt a child is painstakingly long. Dude, there is a story of a young couple who couldn't conceive then they felt that they really were called to be parents. So they date the wind through the process if that's going to adopt a child in unsure of how this word. But but finally they got a letter in the mail in the picture of the little girl which they would call their daughter one day. And and they said this will be your daughter. And I began to process of preparing the room. They began the process of of thinking and name that they would call that the child when they would go over to Russia to visit them. It would pray over this child. They would think and consider all this and and they would and eventually they went through this time. They hopped on the plane and they went and they finally got to hold this baby in their arms and and his baby became there the process of adoption.

And we we see that we have the privilege of sonship. And it switches from process to actually becoming Sons.

In verse 6 and because you are Sons got his fence in the spirit of his son into our hearts crying Abba Father know this is not to say that if you're a woman and you cannot be adopted this can can be taken as a cultural thing that the end of culture the sun is the one who would inherit the Sun that the eldest son would hear it all the kingdom and then be charged with looking after all of the family would fall through responsibility would come and fall upon him. So it's not to say that if you're a woman than you cannot this this Doctrine does not apply to you. But we see that the inheritance comes through Christ. Who is the Sun and we are adopted is are through Christ. So we share as are so whether you are a man or a woman and sons and daughters are adopted into the kingdom. This privilege of sonship. Comes not because of the act of a child no one sits there the paperwork does not fall Upon a Child the process and legal manner the cost is not fall Upon a Child to Denbigh adopted into the house, but the child doesn't pay a price a child doesn't fill out the paperwork for the weight comes upon the the parent.

And we see this time and time again for all the Bible.

The god makes a promise to his people. I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them. I will be their God and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their mitts and separate from them says the Lord and touch no unclean thing that I will welcome you and I will be a father to you and you shall be Sons and Daughters to me says the Lord Almighty the god the creator of Heaven and Earth the one who plays Mount Everest and told it this High you should go to the one who plays the stars in the sky the one who filled the ocean with water the one who controls the weather in the white the might that comes even with hurricane Dorian and comes in. This is the Lord's might and power the one who designed the tiniest and molecules which flows within the universe the one who placed all the stars in the sky are the galaxies in their place the one who who made us heavens and earth the creator of all things. The mighty one of Israel the Lord Almighty cause us to call him father. And if this shapes as in changes us instead of being enslaved to be able to do things because we have to it changes us two sons and daughters. We already doing things to be able to glorify real father. This is where Paul goes after this passage in 89. He says formally when you did not know God you're enslaved to dues that by Nature are not Gods, but now you have come to know God or rather be known by God. How can you turn back against against the weak and worthless Elementary principles of the world whose slave do you want to be once more?

You've been rescued from this house of slavery. You've been adopted into this this Palace of this mighty king and yet you want to move back to the house of slavery. There's a change in which this process then comes to sanctification that once been adopted we seek to be more and more. Renewed in a whole man after the image of God enabled more and more to die to send enza's lives unto righteousness. As we said before, is Boston a famous person said believe is not not to mourn over or Confessor and nicotine is in a legal manner viewing them as committed by persons under the Covenant of works, but I'll take invest in more over them as soon's done against a reconciled father and breeches. His law is a rule of life. There's a difference in there's a change before coming before a judge who has no personal relationship with you but coming before I father and pleading and saying that you are sorry and your life seeks to bring him glory. What change does this privilege of adoption do that? We are our prayers even as we will pray Our Father Who Art in Heaven that we pray Our Father not because he literally is our father because of what Christ has done for us. He is not only giving us his righteousness, but he is also giving us his son chip. Or as we pray as we go towards God not as some of our Batory vending machine, we hope to fall on the good side of how he acts. But as a father, it's Jesus says you who know don't you know how to drink tea good to give good gifts to your children, which of you dear son comes to you and ask for a fish or bread and you give them a rock. How much more does your father in Heaven know how to give you Or entering the Throne of God is a child enters into an office to speak if hit to his father JF Kennedy had a rule that that there was certain people that could visit him. Here are the chief of staff and things like that could come in at any time. But there was one rule that his children could come in at any point. And speak to their father and this is the guy that we worship the dad's we are adopted as Sons through Christ. Or even the language found throughout the Bible as brothers and sisters as we relate to one another as Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Or John writes his letter to little children as we relate to each other as a as a as a family just this language of family comes from this process of adoption. Or as we look unto Christ as our elder brother died as a younger child always looked up to my older brother's wishing. I could be more like them as long as them as tall as them as cool as them whenever that might beat it. They're always looking out to someone else and this is Christ. This is who we should aspire to look up to is that all elder brother to look into be more christ-like in all the way do

It sets us up to do you have new family values a new family laws. So to say things things that we want to reflect as a family.

This ain't it did an apple never Falls far from a tree that we should be more and more made into the image of Christ. Again this process of sanctification. We reflect more at our family name. as Christians

but also a father disciplines his children. A loving father warns his children of the dangers which are coming towards his children of the way in which they're heading. And so to our father disciplines us warning us through his word warning us through our church leaders.

Westminster larger catechism says adoption is a active free Grace and in and for his only son Jesus Christ where by all those who are Justified or received into the number of his children having his name put upon them the spirit of his son given to them are under his fatherly care in dispensations. Admitted to all the Liberties and privileges of the sons of God made Heirs of all the promise and fellow heirs with Christ in glory.

Jeremiah Brothers, another piercing says I say whatsoever Thou Art in the world Jesus Christ is not an ear to more than thou Hast interest in. The we look at all the things which we try to go after the the elementary principles of the world and more friends more money more influence more more appreciation self-interest that the more things we seek to go it that the we are chasing the wrong thing that Christ has as far more of an inheritance that we could ever grasp with her own hands.

another Puritan says Did God promise us a full bag of coins and God unites and pours it at our feet and his adopted children take what he will.

Play the promise of here is it the air said the privilege of sonship moves to this inheritance that the we have this inheritance? So rich and so vast found only in Christ. Did we're not children if slavery we're Children of the promise. We're no longer slaves but a son and if a son than an ear through God. So come to God come to God not as in vindictus. God like we may see. Or think of the come to God as a father.

Come to God like a child having child-like faith in him. Why children don't need to know the Warriors and The Angst of the world has to offer. They don't need to know the amount in the bank account. They don't need to know that the worries of the the bills that will come. They don't need to know about the the insurance or the cars or the maintenance or the gas or the anything that comes with it that they do not worried or anxious about that. All they need to worry about is my tummy is hungry and I need food. And this is what we should be with Christ. We should be with God that we should cast all our cares upon Him for he cares for us.

Which is also lay aside. The house in which we once lived with. We should separate from Bad Company.

We should long to move away from those Less in Sims. Not to practice him again.

We should be ashamed. You have such a rich inheritance only found in Christ.

Are brothers and sisters as Sons and Daughters of the Kingdom of Heaven? To be walking around this world groveling for things which will not satisfy.

Living your wife as a son or daughter is vastly different from living your life as a slave. Is a slave you do things because of your duty? What is a child as a son and a daughter you do things out of love gratitude?

That we are and are only through the grace of God given to us.

We cannot obtain this inheritance due to our Birthright, but only through the process of adoption that we have been adopted into the greatest household. Saved from the household is slavery and bondage.

But now we have a heavenly father who cares for us. Now we have an older brother Jesus Christ. It will look after us who will care for us who we look up to and seek to mimic through sanctification.

This comes only because the spirit was sent into our lives that we cry out Abba Father.

Let us now. Go to the Lord in prayer.

Gracious Heavenly Father. We are so grateful that we can call you father. That our lives turned and bent towards sin turned towards running far from you.

But you have adopted us as your son's as your daughters. ananau heirs through Christ Lord help us to live a life. That is worthy to Bear your name. Enable us through the spirit to die to sin and to live more and more unto righteousness.

Or let us realize these great privileges that we share to be called the sons of God.

I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.