Me: “Did you know that Ben is my son? Do you think he looks like me?
Yep, he is!
As my natural son, Ben is granted certain rights and privileges just for being born to me such as food, shelter and clothing is provided to him. As his parent, it is also my responsibility to share with him, teach him right and wrong and love him no matter what. As my child, Ben is considered to be my heir and he is entitled to an inheritance.
So, Ben, what’s an heir?”
Ben: “A person who inherits or is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate and/or possessions of another.”
Me: “What’s an inheritance?”
Ben: “Something that is or will be inherited; property that transfers at the owner’s death to his or her heir.”
Me: "Okay, ... so, what will Ben inherit from me? My house? Here is a nice room in the house ... my favorite room ...
The family car? Here is a likeness of our vehicle ... if that's still around, it will be part of Ben's inheritance.
And if there's any of this left ... well, that will part of the inheritance too!
Me: "Okay, ... so, what will Ben inherit from me? My house? Here is a nice room in the house ... my favorite room ...
The family car? Here is a likeness of our vehicle ... if that's still around, it will be part of Ben's inheritance.
And if there's any of this left ... well, that will part of the inheritance too!
Those things are fine, I guess ... but they're not worth all that much, are they? ... they're not indestructible, ... and they certainly won't last forever.
Me: “Hmm, … okay, are you with me so far?
Did you know that Molly is my daughter? Do you think she looks like me?
Molly isn’t my natural-born daughter – she’s adopted.
Molly, what does adopted mean?”
Molly: “To take into one’s family through legal means and to raise as one’s own child. My mama and baba adopted me and I got to live a new country with a new family; I got a new name and now I have a future inheritance!”
Me: “That's right! Molly’s rights and privileges as my daughter are exactly the same as Ben’s, just as if she had been born to me in the same way that Ben was. Isn't that cool? That's one of the uniquely special things about adoption!”
Ben: “hold on, uh, … Mom …”
Mom: “yes?”
Ben: “I’m adopted.”
Mom: “huh?”
Ben” “I’m adopted too …”
Mom: “what do you mean, you’re adopted? I should know whether or not I gave birth to you or if I adopted you.”
Ben: “I’m adopted by God.”
Me: “Ohhhh … you know what? Ben’s right! (He always WAS a smarty-pants!) Ben IS adopted by God! And not only has Molly been adopted by our family but she, too, has been adopted by God … even I have been adopted by God! Do you know why?”
“God’s unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5NLT)
“What does that mean? Well, we have to start at the beginning …
What is Sin? – SIN IS ANYTHING THAT SOMEONE DOES, THINKS OR SAYS THAT DOES NOT AGREE WITH WHAT GOD DOES, THINKS OR SAYS. (why? Because God is Creator and He sets the standard)
Who Sins? – EVERYONE “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Ben and Molly, when you do something wrong at home or at school, is there a consequence?”
Ben and Molly (in unison): “YES.”
What is the consequence for Sin? – “For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23a)
“So, what is the consequence? It's DEATH! What is death? It is eternal separation from God … so our sin certainly does NOT get us to heaven because that’s where he lives and our sin separates us from Him.
“But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b) …
... did you read the BUT in that verse?
... did you read the BUT in that verse?
So, what is this gift? And what is ‘eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’?
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“Believe in the LORD Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
… and there’s more to it …when we believe that Jesus is our LORD and Savior because God sent Him for us, to save us from our sins, we are guaranteed eternal life in heaven AND ...
“… to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, … but born of God.” (John 1:12)
“…[we] received God’s Spirit when he adopted [us] as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory.” (Romans 8:15b)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, … (1 Peter 1:3-4)
... we are also included in the same inheritance that Jesus Himself is given as the natural Son of our Heavenly Father!!! Can you imagine???
