by Larry R. Scott  

    In our day we hear so much about “our rights”, especially when we feel they have been violated. In a true since, we have no rights, except those granted to all human beings by our Creator. A New Testament Christian understands full well the cost of our being accepted into the family of God. We have perhaps known individuals who have been adopted. These individuals have been taken from one family and been made a part of another through the legal system of our country. What exactly does it mean for you and me, though, to be adopted into the family of God? How is it that we are taken out of the kingdom of Satan and brought into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, Jesus Christ?

   The Apostle John, in his first book records these words for us, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)  We understand that we can not do enough good to cause God to feel that He is indebted to us and must give us eternal life. Rather, we know that we gain eternal life through our belief in the name of His precious Son. The belief we have in His Son’s name prompts us to recognize the circumstances of our own lives and the sin that separates us from a loving Father. As a result of our desire to please the Father and become a part of His family we seek to obey His will. He gives us the “power” or the American Standard Version translates it “right” to become one of His sons. It is not by our own power, but His that we can become children of God. It is a “right” and a privilege to come to Him on His terms. It is the opportunity to leave sin and be “born again” of the water and the Spirit.

   Chapter one is filled with evidences to bring us to a realization of the existence of God’s Son and His relationship with the Father. Jesus as the living word taking the form of flesh and blood came into the world to make it possible for you and me to be adopted into the family of those residing in Heaven. From eternity God, the Father, planned how He would redeem mankind through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. John the baptizer prepared the “way of the coming of the Lord”. He prepared people, so that they would accept the Christ as Savior. He pointed them to Jesus of Nazareth, the “Lamb of God”, who came to die for all people. This same Jesus will return one day in the clouds and bring the children of God home for all eternity.

   The Apostle Paul speaks of our “receiving the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” in Romans chapter 8:15. He continues in the next verses reaffirming how the Holy Spirit recognizes us as one of God’s chosen and how we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. What a wonderful reality to know that God loves us and has made us one of His own. We were buried with Christ in baptism for the remission of our past sins, but consider what else takes place. We were alienated from God and now we are in His household. We are able to partake of His magnificent grace, His unending mercy, and His never diminishing love. The Army has a slogan about “becoming all you can be”. Just think about what we have the “right” to become!