Adopted as Sons

Think about the words - before the creation of the world. It was before God said ‘Let there be light’, and before anything that was made was made. Do you find this scripture too big to get your understanding round it? Let’s close our eyes for a moment and think about it. Before God created the world – there was nothing – except God. That’s when He chose us to belong to Him.

God chose us before anything else. This was priority to God! We aren’t some sort of afterthought. I was reading the Genesis story this week and the way God created the world in six days. The pinnacle of God’s creation is man, when God breathed His spirit into man. He didn’t just go along creating and whoops! Out came man. No. We’re God’s forethought; and not just that, but He foreknew what would happen.

We’re adopted. What does that mean? It was in the plan of God right from the beginning and it pre-dates creation. It will outlast this world as we know it. It’s rooted in God’s own nature. Adoption is a legal status. If you adopt a child, then legally that child is yours. You take over the responsibility for caring for that child completely as a parent of the child, just as much as if you had biologically given birth to the child.

Maybe we should consider afresh the wonder of our adoption into God’s family through the One He loves – Jesus Christ. Adoption was always part of God’s plan for you and me. God didn’t just wake up one day to find that man had failed through sin, humanity had orphaned themselves in the world, and He then came up with the idea of adopting us into His family. No. God planned it before the very beginning! God looked at us in our need and formed His plan for His only begotten Son, the perfect spotless lamb of God, to be crucified and risen. What did God choose us to be? We’re adopted as sons.

He chose us to be sons – to be holy and blameless. The truth is we didn’t choose God. Our adoption as sons is not based on our fitness for it. He adopted us whilst we were enemies in rebellion to Him (Romans 5:10)! So our adoption is nothing to do with how good we are –it’s based on the sovereign will and free grace of God. That means that our adoption is not fragile. It’s not uncertain, meaning it could change tomorrow! Whenever you feel wobbly or doubtful about your assurance of salvation, or where you are in God, be absolutely sure about this. Your adoption is eternal. It pre-dates this world. And it post-dates this world!

Prayer: Father God, we thank You that You’ve always had a plan for us to be in intimate relationship with You. Thank You for choosing us to be Your sons and daughters. We’re so grateful that we’re in a covenant relationship with You, and that You don’t change Your mind about adopting us into Your family through our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s too marvellous for us to grasp. Please seal this truth deep in our spirit by the power of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.