FROM SLAVES TO SONS
Luz
Leigh – 29 December 2007
Taken from Open Windows, published by
LifeWay
The key
scripture verse is taken from Galatians 4:5
“To redeem them that were under the law, that
we might receive the adoption of sons.”
The
Christmas season is a special time for
families. As valuable as ties of human kinship
are, being in God’s family is even more
significant. Jesus’ twofold mission was
redemption and adoption.
Without
Jesus we are enslaved to the element of t his
evil age. But from eternity, God had a
redemption plan. At the time of His sovereign
choice, He sent His Son, a gift of
grace. Jesus “gave himself for our sins, that
he might deliver us from the present evil
world” (Galatians 1:4). Through faith in
Jesus, our status as slaves is changed.
As if
deliverance were not enough, God adopts
believers into His family. “God sent forth the
Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying,
Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6). “Abba” is the
Aramaic word a Jewish boy might use
affectionately to call his father. Jesus
Himself used the word. (See Mark 14:36.) The
word characterizes the loving relationship
that the indwelling Spirit makes possible in
the family of God.
Are you in
the family? If not, may I share some
information that will help you make a decision
to become an adopted child of God.
Jesus said,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John
14:6 He is waiting for you now.
Admit to God
that you are a sinner. Repent, turning away
from your sin. See Acts 3:19; Romans 3:23 and
6:23.
By faith
receive Jesus Christ as God’s Son and accept
Jesus’ gift of forgiveness from sin. He took
the penalty for you sin by dying on the
cross. See John 3:16
Confess your
faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. See
Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 John 1:9.
Here is a
simple prayer you may want to voice as you
call on God to save you: “Dear God, I know
that You love me. I confess my sin and need of
salvation. I turn away from my sin and place
my faith in Jesus as my Savior and Lord. In
Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
After you
have received Jesus Christ into your life,
tell a pastor or another Christian about your
decision. Show others your faith in Christ by
asking for baptism by immersion in your local
church as a public expression of your faith.
If you are reading
this and have never accepted the Lord Jesus
Christ as your Savior, let me share some
scriptures with you.
Following
are many of the Scriptures mentioned above.
John 3:16 For God
so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting
life. (King James Version of the Holy Bible)
The following
verses are from The New International Version
of the Holy Bible.
Romans 1:16 I am
not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes;
Romans 3:23 for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God.
Romans 6:23 For
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 But God
demonstrated his own love to us in this: While
we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10: 9,
11, 13
That if you
confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and
believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with the
heart you believe and are justified, and it is
with your mouth you confess and are saved.
for, “Everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
There are
many more wonderful verses in the Bible for us
to study and share, but these from Romans are
sometimes called “The Romans Road to
Salvation”. Apostle Paul wrote these words
between A.D. 56 and 58 to the Christians
living in Rome. They are just as relevant
today as they were 2000 years ago.
My prayer is
this: May the sharing of the Scriptures and my
thoughts somehow touch your heart and bring
salvation to you.
