Our statement of faith reads:
All who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God and heirs of eternal life.
Salvation is more than having your sins forgiven, being justified before God, and being given new life (born again). It is, gloriously, being adopted into God’s family!
Paul alone uses the language of adoption when talking about our salvation. (See Romans 8:14-17, 23; Galatians 4:1-7; Ephesians 1:4-5).
John writes, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).
Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption. . . . If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.
— J.I. Packer, Knowing God
Check out this helpful collection of quotes and media about the doctrine of adoption.
The following story was referenced in my sermon:
Here’s a great song for kids written from the perspective of an adopted child, connecting their experience to God’s adoption:
Questions for reflection or discussion:
What is the doctrine of adoption?
Respond to the J.I Packer quote above.
How does your status as an adopted child of God give you a secure identity, a secure relationship with God, and a secure inheritance?