A Saving Relationship

 Last Sunday I spoke about the sanctity of human life and I mentioned how that conviction played out as a blessing to my family. I wanted to expound on that a little bit. Most of you know my son Winston— he was one of the teenagers serving communion this morning. And most of you know that's he's adopted. And you don't have to whisper it - he knows. We talk about it openly - but it doesn't really matter because he's my boy. Erin and I spent almost two years in the adoption process. When the opportunity to adopt Winnie came about, it was actually our 13th attempt.

Winston's 'biological mother' was in a very complicated situation. I believe his 'birth mother' loved him – but she was just stuck without many options. She was even desperate enough to consider abortion, but her mother helped her to choose to take a bad situation and turn it into a blessing for someone.

There was a lot of drama along our adoption journey - situations and expenses that we had no idea were coming. But God did. God even knew that there would be an emergency C-section because of a life threatening situation at our son's birth and He provided just the right Dr.'s and nurses to be there at just the right moment.

God had His hand in every situation, even when it felt like things were out of control. Even though Winton's birth mother chose us to raise her child, it really was God directing things behind the scenes. That's a bit about my adoption story – but I have a Heavenly Father who also has His own adoption story.

Let's start by looking at Ephesians 1:4-6. The Apostle Paul was explaining to the believers in the Church in Ephesus the kind of relationship that God desired to have with them...

Ephesians 1:4-6 (NIV)

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (5) he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - (6) to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

God wants us to be His children - and several times in his writings, Paul uses the image of adoption to describe what God desires for us. We've talked about the Buche's adoption story, now let's look at…

I. God's adoption story

The concept of adoption was familiar to Paul's readers. Theologian William Barclay did some historical research and found what contemporary Roman law had to say on the subject of adoption.

First of all, under Roman law, in a court similar to this ancient court found outside of Rome, when a child was adopted – all rights tying them to their former family were legally severed. They no longer had a claim on any property or assets from their former family and even any old debts associated with the child were completely wiped out. Legally, the person's life before the adoption ceased to exist – they were considered a brand new person under the law.

Also, legally, the adopted person now gained every right as an heir of the new family. Even if there were other heirs – this new child received every benefit the same as any biological sibling.

And lastly, a Roman official performed the ceremony in which all of these rights were transferred to the adopted child. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the child had his old rights taken away, was granted new rights, a new life and a new father. It was absolutely legally binding.

Paul chose the image of adoption because it very accurately describes our new relationship with God. And God's adoption story started with…

A. A Father's love

It's no secret that there's a difference between how a mom and a dad communicate their love for their children. It seems to come very naturally for a mother, but many men can struggle some. And some men don't handle fatherhood well at all - to the great detriment of their children. Fortunately for us - God is a perfect Father with a perfect love.

We understand that love is an emotion, but more importantly - love is also an action. Feelings are great, but if they don't motivate one to action, they're only any good for the person who has those feelings. However, when those feelings are put into action, then love finds fulfillness as it becomes a blessing to the object of that love. Paul wrote...

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God loved us enough to do something. He didn't just say, "I love you" – He put love into action, and God - in the person of Jesus - gave His life to save us!

John 1:10-13 (NIV)

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. (11) He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (12) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - (13) children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

God's great love is the beginning of the story. Although the world didn't even recognize Jesus, He still gave us the right to become children of God. That's love! And it's love demonstrated by…

B. A Father's choice

When we chose to adopt Winston - he had no say in the matter. He couldn't even talk yet.

Now our court appearance wasn't quite like that ancient Roman court I showed earlier. This was ours... When we finalized things in court, the judge didn't ask Winnie if it was his choice. In fact, when we first made the decision to adopt - Winston was still a year away from even being conceived.

I want to go back again to that very first passage we read and look at that one more time...

Ephesians 1:4-6 (NIV)

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (5) he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - (6) to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

God - the Lord Almighty - of whom there is no equal - God chose us! It was His pleasure to choose us! It was His will to choose us! God chose you before you even had any idea who He was. He chose you before you were born. Let that sink in... The Creator of the Universe chose you. And it has always been His desire to adopt you as His child. It was, and is, God's choice.

Years back I heard someone say, "You know that adopting a child isn't easy?" I thought, buddy, you don't know the half of it! A typical adoption can take anywhere between 6 months and four years and cost anywhere between $1,000 to $70,000 dollars - depending on a great number of factors. There can be hundreds of hours involved in research and home studies and travel and preparation. Not to mention the emotional cost.

Back on September 26th, 2007, I got into the office and was checking my email and received a message regarding the very first child we attempted to adopt. The message said the birth mother had decided to not go the adoption route and had instead chosen to have an abortion.

Some of you know about our failed adoption attempt of a 'special needs' little boy named Ryan back in October of 2008 and how heart breaking that was for us.

Any adopted child really has no idea the cost and heartache and sacrifice that can go along with the adoption process. The parents become very aware. But God demonstrated His love through His choice - even knowing that there was a price to pay.

John 3:16-18 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

God knew the sacrifice necessary to adopt you as His child – but He paid the price anyway. He paid that price knowing that He might even be rejected by you. It didn't matter. Out of love, the Father made a choice to sacrifice for you. When you accept that sacrifice, it makes all the difference in the world! And it's then that you realize...

II. The blessing of adoption

Winston may never really understand the sacrifices made to bring him into our family, but he will enjoy the benefits of his family. I can't really say for sure what his future may have held if we wouldn't have adopted him. However, knowing the complicated circumstances regarding his birth, I'm relatively confident that he'll have a much better life.

Our course, God could have chosen a different father for Winston here on earth. I haven't been the perfect father. I've made my share of mistakes, and I'm sure Winston would readily agree with that. Chances are pretty good that God could have even chosen a much better father - but for whatever reason, here we are.

But when God chose to adopt us as His children – we hit the jackpot! The biggest blessings we receive are a…

A. New life and future

Paul talks about the benefits we receive as children of God in Galatians 3:26-29, 4:1-7 (NIV)...

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, (27) for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (4:1) What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.

(2) He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. (3) So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. (4) But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, (5) to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (6) Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

(7) So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Before we were a part of God's family, our future was pretty bleak. Life had no real purpose, we really had no hope, and we were ultimately destined for Hell. All of that changed with Christ's sacrifice. All of that changes when we are baptized into Him. Everything changes because of our adoption into God's family!

We are given a brand new life and a real future! We go from certain death to eternal life! We become heirs with Jesus to God's entire kingdom! That's a huge blessing of our adoption into God's family! And along with a new life and a new future we should also have a…

B. New attitude

Because Winston in now in our family, we hope that as he grows and learns he will continue to take on our values. As he more fully understands the new life that he was given, it should result in a very different attitude.

Paul again explains the implications of our adoption by our Father in Romans 8:13-17 (NIV)...

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (14) because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (15) For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

(16) The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (17) Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Because of our new relationship with God, as His sons and daughters – as His children – we should have a different spirit. We don't have to live like we did before our adoption. Our circumstances have changed, our eternal destiny has changed – the way we live should change drastically as well.

So What?

For those who have been baptized into Jesus - we have been adopted as children of God and we've been given the power of God's Spirit in us! Because of this adoption relationship - because of this saving relationship - we've been given a mission to take the Good News of this new life to everyone we know! We have nothing to fear in the end – not failure, not rejection, no repercussions of any kind because we are children of God!

We know what our future holds! We know the amazing gift that we have been given! There are a lot of others all around us who don't know that God wants them in His family and what that really means. It's our job to share that with them.

I know the heartbreak of a failed adoption, of not being able to bring a child into my family; of having a child for a brief time, only to have him taken away. Jesus Christ died on a cross in order to pay the price for the sins of all mankind. God sacrificed in order to bring everyone into His family. He has asked us to help bring all of His children to Him.

Please continue to pray for those around you who do not know Jesus and then love them enough to act – to share God's love with them!