Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture:  Eph. 1: 5-14 November 19, 2023

Message: “Adopted by God!”     by Pastor George Gnade

Intro: 1. As most of you know, we are studying the first 14 verses in the Book of Ephesians because this passage is like a song of praise to God, thanking Him for all the spiritual blessings we have received from Him.

2. In our first sermon, we praised God for making us holy through the death of Christ, calling us His saints (vs. 1), not because of our own righteousness, but because of the cleansing blood of Christ.

3. Then we praised God for choosing us before the world even began (vs. 4), calling us to Himself and predes-tinating us to live for His glory so that by His grace we may be conformed to the image of His Son.  

4. Today I would like us to praise God for “adopting us as His sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ”(vs.5).

A.  In vs. 5, it also tells us this was “according to His pleasure and will, to the praise of His glorious grace.”

1. One commentary called our adoption “the happy choice of His will.” 

a. Just as the birth of a baby brings happiness and joy to a home, so when a child is adopted, it also brings joy into the home. When we respond and are adopted as one of God’s children, it is hard to explain how happy that makes our wonderful God.

b. In John 1: 12-13, it says: “To as many as received Him, who believed in His name, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, who were born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but of God.”

2. “Our spiritual adoption is also called “a new birth.”

In John 3:3, Jesus calls this being “born again.” 

a. Then in vs.8 He explained to Nicodemus that this spiritual birth is the work of the Holy Spirit.  He is like the wind that you can not see, but you sure know when He is working in your life. 

b. The song writer put it this way when he wrote: “Things are different now. Something happened to me when I gave my heart to Jesus. Things are different now, I was changed it must be, when I gave my heart to Him.”

c. So our spiritual adoption is the work of the Holy Spirit, creating inside of us the desire to know and love Him.  

3. As this brings happiness to us, it above all brings joy and happiness to God. It is “according to His good pleasure.” Yes, in a spiritual way, this was His plan and “in accordance with His will” for our lives. 

a. Most children are adopted while they are young, too young to fully comprehend the great decision of love and kindness being shown to them. 

b. In the same way, it often takes a while for a new Christian to comprehend the greatness of this gift of love coming down from the Father above.  

4. In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:13-31), Jesus pictures God as putting on a feast and rejoicing over every person who responds to His love and becomes one of His children.

a. He told his brother, “he was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is now found” (vs.31). That is worth celebrating!

b. In fact, Jesus told His disciples in Luke 15:10: “The angels in heaven rejoice every time someone repents of their sins” and is saved.

5. When Adam sinned, he died spiritually and we all inherited his sinful nature. That means we died spiritually too. 

a. But when the Holy Spirit of Jesus comes and begins to work in our lives, He gives us a new nature, making us “new creations in Christ Jesus” (II Cor. 5:17).

b. Because of our sins, we were lost, separated from God, in need of His salvation, but when we ask Jesus to forgive us and to live in our hearts by faith, we are cleansed and saved and in the eyes of Jesus we “are found.”

B. In Romans 8:13-16, Paul also explains our adoption.

1. He writes: “If you live according to your sinful nature, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

a. “You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave of fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption. And under His guidance, we cry “Abba, Father!”

b. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirits that we are the children of God.”

c. Jesus is God’s “only begotten Son” from eternity past. When we are saved, we become God’s adopted sons and daughters. Jesus becomes like our spiritual brother.

2. Since Jesus cleansed us, the Holy Spirit can now come and live within us. And “His Spirit testifies with our spirits” that we are now His children.

a. Last week we asked: “How can you know you are saved? This is God’s answer. The Holy Spirit in your heart is very real. His Spirit will help you know you belong to God and give you a desire to talk to God as your Father.

b. Don’t let sin pull you away from God. The Holy Spirit will help you stay close to God. With His help, learn to say no to sin, and yes to Jesus.  

c. Prayerfully keep asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you.  As He does lead and guide you, your confidence in Christ will grow stronger and stronger. 

3. Always remember that Jesus taught us to pray to “Our Father who is in heaven.” The Holy Spirit will also encourage you to pray to your Father in heaven.

a. In Romans 8:15, it says the Holy Spirit will help us to learn to call God “Abba Father.” That means He wants us to call Him “our Daddy.”  That is the closeness that God wants us to develop between us and Him.

b. In our passage, in Eph. 1:6-8, it talks about how our God enjoys lavishing all of these blessings upon us.

In Conclusion: 1. I once knew a lady who was very well off, and she just loved to lavish on her children and grandchildren the very best of everything.

a. Was she spoiling them? Yes, she probably was spoiling them. Real life rarely give us everything we ask for. But this was just the way she was. She just wanted her children and grandchildren to have the best.

b. That is how God our Father is too. It is just that He knows this life is not our real home. Our real home is in heaven. Down here there will always be trials and hardships but if we are patient and cling to Him in faith, our day will come.  Oh what a day that will be! 

2. That is why our passage doesn’t promise us all the physical blessings we might like to have. No, our passage promises us “all the spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3).   The things of this world can’t compare to the spiritual blessings God has for His kids. 

3. Paul was once given the privilege of seeing heaven in a vision that God gave him. In Phil. 3: 8-10, Paul says the blessings and privileges of this world are like dung compared to the blessings and privileges of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord. Praise God these blessings are all ours in Jesus Christ. That is what Thanksgiving Day means to me.