Our Adoption as Sons

Hi Everyone:

Recently, our pastor has been doing an amazing study of the Book of Galatians. We have some friends that we believe have become confused about our responsibility at Believers in regards to the Law. This is the absolute best explanation I have ever heard as to the purpose of the Law and our responsibility. It is indeed all of Grace, praise be to our God.

Last week's message was from Galatians 3:26-Galatians 4:5. It is a beautiful picture of God's adoption of us as Sons. I remembered a favorite Sarah Groves song of mine where she (quoting the Word) refers to the fact that "we are are no long slaves, we are daughters and sons." That is an amazing truth that all believers should really come to understand.

As "contemporary" Christians, we have become so entrenched in a religion of "checking off the boxes," to help us be "good" Christians. That is not what the Christian life is all about. For example, I went to church this week - 3 times, check. I read my Bible every day, check. I prayed for an hour every morning, check. I gave my tithe, check. I witnessed to someone at work, check. Do you see what I mean? We have created a system of works, God help us. We are indeed free from the curse of the Law, and from works of any and every kind.

Read the scripture below, and then I invite you, especially the adoptive parents reading this blog, to hear the sermon regarding our adoption as Sons. It will truly touch your heart. Our pastor is himself an adoptive father, and so was able to really draw some fantastic parrallels. You can enjoy that sermon by following this link: You can watch the message in video, download an MP3 file, or get it as a podcast. The sermon was entitled "Free, As Sons" dated 12/21/08.
http://www.brookhills.org/media/page_audio_chrono_2008.htm

Galatians 3: 23 "Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 4:1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

Happy New Year!
Abiding in His Amazing Grace,
Lori