Romans 8:13-17
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
As Christians, we are declared by God's word to be children of God. This not of a physical birth, but the very reality we've been adopted into God's family through faith in Jesus Christ. This is an adoption made possible by the touch of the Holy Spirit. For only through the Spirit can we rightly call God, our Father, and only by the Spirit, can our adoptions be proven.
There is no court order which gives us rights into our new family. There is no birth certificate to validate our new heritage, nor give us deed to a new home. Instead, all of this is done by the Spirit living within us. God takes care of every detail, giving us a new name in Christ.
One of the comforting aspects of our faith is this: If God seals our adoption, only an act of God can unseal it. Thankfully, the truth of God's word tells us nothing can separate us from God's love. When God adopts through the Spirit, it is for eternity. Sure, we may rebel and even flee his presence, but anywhere we may go, the Spirit is there. We may claim a new home, change our names, or join a new religion, but in the end, our faces are written on our Lord's heart. It is the Spirit which brings us this guarantee.
Remember the story of the Prodigal Son. Why was it the prodigal was welcomed back into his home by his father after wasting away the family fortune? Surely it was because of his permanent position in the family. Even as a rebel, his family position stayed secure.
Surely it's the same with us. With the Spirit's presence, our adoptions are made permanent. We have a new home in Christ, adopted into the family of God.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for the Spirit which gives me grace to enter into the presence of my Heavenly Father and seals me for eternity as one adopted into the family of God. May I live each day in the realization of the new name which I bear in Christ. Amen.
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