Adopting the Rebel | Romans 8:1-17

Adoption is not just a sentimental issue; it is a gospel issue. The sermon begins with the reality of earthly adoption and the fatherless, but it moves quickly to something even deeper: God Himself is a Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, and a God who hears the cries of the vulnerable. His people cannot be indifferent to what He loves. A church shaped by the heart of God should not develop a disdain for the difficult, but should welcome, celebrate, and support a spirit of adoption, foster care, respite care, mentoring, and care for those coming from broken homes. The personal adoption story displays this truth in real life. What began as hesitation, selfishness, and fear became a testimony of God’s providence. A child’s picture stirred the heart, the financial need seemed impossible, and yet the Lord provided exactly what was needed—down to the penny. Adoption was not pursued because it was easy or affordable, but because God made His will clear and supplied the grace to obey. The difficult did not disappear, but God revealed His heart through it. Yet the sermon does not reduce adoption to a moral cause or emotional appeal. The deeper foundation is the gospel. Christians rejoice in forgiveness and justification, and rightly so, because the guilty sinner stands before the Judge and hears no condemnation in Christ. But the gospel goes further: the Judge does not merely declare the sinner righteous and send him away free. He brings the rebel into His own house and makes him a son or daughter. That is the wonder of adoption. God becomes Father. Rebels become children. Those who were spiritually orphaned are brought into the family of God by the Spirit of adoption, crying, “Abba, Father.” This changes identity, and a changed identity should produce changed compassion. Those adopted by God should increasingly reflect the Father’s heart toward the fatherless. Not every Christian is necessarily called to adopt in the same way, but no Christian is free to ignore God’s concern for orphans, widows, and the vulnerable. Scripture plainly reveals the Father’s care for them, and the specific obedience may look different depending on providence, gifts, resources, and calling. But the heart of the matter is clear: those who have been adopted by grace should live as children of the Father, loving what He loves and caring for those He calls precious. Do you want to support Church of The Word? https://cotwstl.org/give/ Check out our church here! https://cotwstl.org/ #biblestudy #faith