Adoption: The Heart of the Gospel

Here is an excellent message from John Piper on Adoption: The Heart of the Gospel (55 min).

Taking Gal. 4:4-8 and Rom. 8:14-17 as his main texts, Piper demonstrates eight similarities between God's adopting of us and our adopting of children:

1. Adoption was for God, and is for us, costly (Gal. 4:4-5; Gal. 3:13).
2. Adoption did for God, and does for us, involve the legal status of the child (Gal. 4:4-6).
3. Adoption was blessed, and is blessed, with God's pouring out a spirit of sonship (Gal. 4:6).
4. Adoption was for God, and is for us, marked by moral transformation through the Spirit (Rom. 8:14).
5. Adoption brought us, and brings our children, the rights of being heirs of the father (Gal. 4:4-6; Rom. 8:16-17; 1 Cor. 3:21-23).
6. Adoption was for God, and is for us, seriously planned (Eph. 1:4-6).
7. Adoption was for God, and often is for us, from very bad situations (Eph. 2:3).
8. Adoption meant for all Christians, and means for parents, that we suffer now, and experience the glory later(Rom. 8:22-23).

He also reads a letter that he wrote to his wife, confirming the decision to adopt their daughter, Talitha. (You can read an excerpt of the letter embedded in this sermon.)

Though I haven't listened to it yet, Mike Bullmore recently delivered a sermon called "Adopted into the Family" (stream | download), based on 1 John 3:1-2, that has been recommended as well.

(HT: Jeff Brewer)