Who Has God Adopted?

The Holy Spirit confirms our adoption into God's family through faith in Jesus Christ, that we may know Him as your Father. Jesus taught us to address God as our Father in prayer. Through faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit brings us to know God as our Father. We come to God as our Father in Christ by the Holy Spirit.

"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" (Romans 8:15-16, ESV).

In New Testament days, the Roman law for adoption illustrated how we are adopted into God's family to know Him as our Father. In those days, if an older man did not have a son, he could adopt one according to the law. First, he must choose the son. Second, he must pay a price to adopt a son. Third, there must be witnesses present at the official adoption ceremony.

The illustration makes it clear how we are adopted to know God as your Father. God chose us in Christ (Ephesians 1:4-6). He paid the price through His only begotten Son at the cross. Jesus paid it all for us to be God's adopted children. The Holy Spirit is the witness that we are adopted as God's children by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Ancient of Days

Daniel the prophet had a vision of God as the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9-10, 22). Ancient of Days describes the one and only eternal God. He was before the days that He created in the beginning. He is from everlasting to everlasting.

Daniel describes the Ancient of Days in apocalyptic symbolism. He sees God like a man of great age. His hair appears white as wool. His robe is white, because God is righteous and holy. His throne is like a flame of fire, which symbolizes His judgment.

The Son of God is seen in the same imagery as Father God, in what we call the second coming of Christ (Daniel 7:22). This same imagery is seen in the book of Revelation (1:12-14). 

The prophet Daniel and the apostle John speak of the same end time events. God in Christ is coming in great glory to establish the everlasting kingdom with His saints (Daniel 7:13-14).

In the book of Revelation, John sees the saints of God clothed in white garments (Revelation 3:18). The Ancient of Days, clothed in a white robe, likewise clothes every believer in white, which is the righteousness of God in Christ. How can that be? "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Who Shall We Be?

Who shall we be, when we see Christ? We will one day be changed into the very likeness of Jesus. "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). That's the work of God in our lives. Until that day, the Lord is still working in us.  Remember, we are a work in progress.

Life is always changing, and so are we. That means we are becoming who we shall be. We are not there yet. God is still working on us, as believers in Jesus Christ. God knows who we shall be, but we are not there now. 

Every believer is becoming more and more like Jesus, but we have a long way to go. "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). That is when we are glorified in Christ at his coming. As far as God is concerned, we are still a work in progress. 

Sanctification means we are becoming who we shall be in Christ. We are not there yet, so don't be too hard on yourself. From time to time, we may stumble and fall. We all do, but our Father in heaven will not forsake us. God will lift us up with His strong arms of love.

Be patient with other believers, when they stumble and fall. God is still working on them too. "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1). Judging other believers doesn't help. Just remember who we shall be, "we shall be like Him."

What's Daily Cleansing?

John Owen (1616-1683) a Puritan theologian saw the believer's need for daily cleansing. He wrote, "Go daily to Jesus for cleansing. Hence also is manifest the necessity we have of continual applications to Jesus Christ for cleansing virtue from his Spirit and the sprinkling of his blood on our consciences to purge them from dead works."

There are no perfect Christians here below. Our temptations continue. Our battle with the flesh is reality (Galatians 5:17). Our sanctification is not perfect nor complete in this life. Our growth in holiness continues, but we do sin from time to time. Free from the bondage to sin, we are not yet free from the temptation to sin.

Our Lord Jesus not only cleansed us at the point of conversion, but he graciously continues to cleanse us as we confess our sins (1 John 1:7, 9). Scripture warns us not to claim that we are sinless. If we do, then we only deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8, 10). John Owen saw every believer's need for daily cleansing. 

Owen recognized the need for daily cleansing from our sins as believers. Not only did he recognize the need, but more importantly, he recognized that cleansing is open daily for all believers. Our conscience witnesses to our need. The blood of Jesus avails for our daily cleansing from all sin.

How Will God Provide?

God is Jehovah-jireh, meaning the LORD will provide (Genesis 22:14). God will provide for all who trust in His name. That means by faith you can trust in who God is. It's not just who we want Him to be. He reveals His name to all believers. You can trust in His name, receiving from Him according to your need.

God provides as your heavenly Father. He knows your needs before you ask. Prayer is not designed for you to inform God. He knows all things. Prayer receives from God your Father. Jesus said to pray,"Our Father in heaven"(Matthew 6:9). He taught us to make requests based upon our needs."Give us this day our daily bread"(Matthew 6:11). God will provide as your Father in heaven.

All of us have needs. Fear says, "No one is going to provide for your needs. You are a needy person with no one who can help." Faith says,"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"(Philippians 4:19). God will provide for you by Jesus Christ. Ask God to provide for you in Jesus name.

Our greatest need is not physical nor financial. Our greatest need is spiritual. We need God. We need faith that God will provide. God's covenant name among others is Jehovah-jireh. It means the LORD will provide. His name reveals His character. It's who He is and what He does. God is Jehovah-jireh. Trust in the name of the LORD. God will provide for you.

Who Will Fall Away?

Charles Spurgeon said, "Temporary faith is no faith at all." Jesus spoke of "those who believe for awhile, and in time of testing fall away" (Luke 8:13). However, saving faith can stand the test, because it is an abiding gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13). Saving faith remains, abides, continues through all manner of testing. 

Jesus taught that those who fall away only believe for awhile. This is recorded in the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:11-15). The problem in this case is recognized in the person's heart. Those who fall away have a heart that has not been changed by the grace of God. It leads to apostasy, or falling away (1 John 2:19).

Those who are born again do not fall away, because God takes away the heart of stone and gives a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). The new heart is like rich soil for the seed of the Gospel of Christ to bring forth fruit unto salvation. Those who are born again have a heart changed to become a new creation in Christ (Romans 2:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:17). 

When we are born again, our hearts are changed with new desires. The heart is the mind, will, and emotions, as the term is most often used in the Bible. God works in us "both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). A new heart includes a will changed by God's grace. God began the work of salvation in us and continues unto completion (Philippians 1:6). Therefore, we do not fall away.

How Is Faith Given?

Jesus paid every believer's sin debt in full (1 John 1:7). The risen Christ saves us and all who believe on Him (Acts 16:30-31). The Spirit of God gives faith in Christ for salvation.

The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29).  Grace comes before our response to the gospel. The Spirit of grace initiates our conversion. The Spirit of grace brings salvation to all who believe the gospel of Christ. 

The Holy Spirit convicts us of the sin of unbelief. The Holy Spirit convicts us, pricks our hearts, and awakens us to the need for the Savior (John 16:7-11). The Spirit of grace prepares us to be saved through faith in Christ. 

God's grace gives faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-10). The gospel of grace is Christ crucified for our sins and risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The Holy Spirit brings the gift of faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 13:13). Faith is received through the word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16).

God our Father draws us to Christ, through the Spirit of grace (John 6:44). The Holy Spirit enables our response to the gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3). To be saved by grace alone means the Spirit of grace gives us faith. We respond to the gospel through the Spirit of grace, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.