"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."  Galatians 4:4-7

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."  Romans 8:15-16

"All those that are justified, God graciously guarantees, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have his name put upon them, receive the Spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry, Abba, Father, are Pitied, Protected, Provided for, and Chastened by him, as by a father: yet Never Cast Off, but sealed to the day of redemption; and inherit the promises, as heirs of everlasting salvation."  Westminster Confession of Faith (12-1)

“You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.”  J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 182
 
GENERAL PRINCIPLE:

1. The recipients (of the Book of Galatians):

• Jews, who saw God as the ruler and lawgiver, but now, because of the glory and wonder of the person and work of Christ, know him as “Abba Father” (Hebrews 12:18-24).

• Gentiles “unmoved mover” (Aristotle), now see God in His trinitarian splendor and goodness as Abba Father.

2. Adoption is the highest blessing/privilege for the believer; not only are we forgiven by the King, but we are embraced by the Father.

“But it is in the act of adoption that God becomes to the redeemed a Father in the highest sense that divine Fatherhood can belong to creatures, or rather, can be predicated of creatures.” John Murray, John Murray's Collective Works, Volume II, p. 228

3. It is the blessing that abides (unchanging).

4. It brings experiential joy.

“The entire Christian life has to be understood in terms of adoption. Sonship must be the controlling thought– the normative category, if you like–at every point. This follows from the nature of the case, and is strikingly confirmed by the fact that all our Lord's teaching on Christian discipleship is cast in these terms.” J.I. Packer, Knowing God

“Were I asked to focus the New Testament message in three words, my proposal would be ADOPTION THROUGH PROPITIATION, and I do not expect ever to meet a richer or more pregnant summary of the gospel than that.”
J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 194

COMMENTS/QUESTIONS:

1. Ben Hur (1959 - Academy Award-winning movie) or Mephibosheth?

2. Do you come from a nice home in a manicured community or from Lo-debar? (a desolate, unproductive place where Mephibosheth was living when David called him into his home)

3. How is adoption the highest blessing for the believer?

4. Benevolent King and embracive Abba Father.

5. To enter into the wonder of our adoption, believers should glory in and survey the wonder of the cross.