Justified AND Adopted

Another excerpt from the book I'm-- still ;) -- reading.  Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris.

While justification borrows the language of the courtroom to help us understand God's work of salvation, adoption uses the language of family to help us see that behind all of God's saving work is a deeply relational and personal motive of love. God tells us that when we trust in Jesus, God adopts us as his sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5). More than anything else this should convince us of God's love. "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are" (1 John 3:1).

Justification gives us a new legal status. Adoption gives us a new family and a new father. This is another expression of our union with Christ. Because Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, as we trust in him, we receive his status as a child of God. John 1:12 says that to all who receive Jesus, to all who believe in his name, "he gave the right to become children of God."

In Christ, we are not forgiven servants. We are given all the rights and privileges of natural-born children. We are adopted and welcomed into the warmth of relationship with God as our loving Father. Romans 8:15-16 describes the Holy Spirit as "the Spirit of adoption" who enables us to cry to God as our Abba-- an intimate Hebrew term akin to dad. It combines intimacy and respect. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit "that we are children of God."

I've had some moments recently that I've forgotten that God is my Father.  I forget that He gives me good gifts! 

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:7-11

Slow learning curve + short memory = Leila Fincher.  But God is so patient!  He faithfully reminds me through His Word and His people, that He is Good, and He loves me, and He is busy making me more like Christ-- even when it hurts.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:14-18

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:31-32