SPIRIT OF ADOPTION

Sunday Morning: May 23, 1999

Text: 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

MIGHT RECEIVE OF ADOPTION

Galatians 4:5-7 "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6. And because ye are [present active] sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

OF ADOPTION IS FUTURE

Luke 6:35 "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be [future middle] the children [sons] of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."

SONS UNTIL SHIPWRECK

Galatians 3:26 "For ye are [present active] all the children [sons] of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

AS WITH SONS

Hebrews 12:7 "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the (a) father chasteneth not?"

NOT ANGELS BUT AS ANGELS

Matthew 22:30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."

SONS OF GOD IN RESURRECTION

Luke 20:35-36 "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world [age], and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36. Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children [sons] of God, being the children [sons] of the resurrection."

THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION

Romans 8:1-15 "There is therefore now no condemnation [sentencing] to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION

Romans 8:22-23 "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit (of adoption), even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption [to place as a son], to wit, the redemption of our body."

HE THAT OVERCOMETH

Revelation 21:7 "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

THE CHALLENGE

2 Corinthians 7:1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

THE MEANS

1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."