Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

MOVIE MESSAGES
A Bible Study of the Topics<br>
That Inspired Your Favorite Films
(Sundays @ 10am)
Hillcrest Baptist Church
www.HillcrestAustin.org

Divine Adoption
by Tom Goodman
February 5, 2014

Washed. Ransomed. Awakened. Purchased. Rescued.

God must have known we'd need help understanding his work for our salvation, because he inspired the biblical writers to use a range of "word pictures" to describe that work. Each of them is a bright facet in the jewel of our salvation, but there's one word that stands out as dearest.

Adopted.

How precious to know we were wanted. We were sought. We belong.

"God sent his Son . . . to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship," Paul wrote. "So you are . . . God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir." (Galatians 4:4-7, NIV)

It's an image of grace, costliness, and privilege all at once.

To say that we've been adopted by God is, first, an image of grace. We are not his by any claim we can make on him. He has freely chosen us. In fact, his decision to adopt us was made long before you existed, let alone before you started doing anything that could impress him. "Long before he laid down earth's foundations," Paul wrote, "he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 1:4-5, Msg)

To speak of adoption reminds us, second, of the price paid to make us God's children. Anyone who has adopted a child can tell you the huge costs, both financial and emotional. In Galatians 4, Paul tells us what it cost God: We are told God's Son was sent to redeem us. The death of Christ was like a price paid to set a captive free.

Third, "adoption" is a word picture that reminds us of privilege. We were paupers taken off the street to become sons and daughters of the King. We now have the honor to come into his presence with our prayers here and to inherit eternal joy hereafter.

I got a little glimpse of the wonder of this adoption when I first saw The Blind Side.

The 2009 film recounts the true story of NFL star, Michael Oher. As a teenager, Oher was down and out until Leigh Anne Tuohy cared enough to take him in and become his legal guardian.

It's the second film in our new sermon series, Movie Messages. We're looking at what the Bible says about the themes of some popular films. Catch up with the series at HillcrestAustin.org/Sermons, and join us for the next installment at 10 a.m. this Sunday. Bring a friend!

--Tom

Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here.

Check out my weblog here.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.

FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org

LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here.

MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.

Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
Manage Your Subscription -- Subscribe/Unsubscribe	Contact Us About Your Subscription
Divine Adoption by Tom Goodman February 5, 2014 Washed. Ransomed. Awakened. Purchased. Rescued. God must have known we'd need help understanding his work for our salvation, because he inspired the biblical writers to use a range of "word pictures" to describe that work. Each of them is a bright facet in the jewel of our salvation, but there's one word that stands out as dearest. Adopted. How precious to know we were wanted. We were sought. We belong. "God sent his Son . . . to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship," Paul wrote. "So you are . . . God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir." (Galatians 4:4-7, NIV) It's an image of grace, costliness, and privilege all at once. To say that we've been adopted by God is, first, an image of grace. We are not his by any claim we can make on him. He has freely chosen us. In fact, his decision to adopt us was made long before you existed, let alone before you started doing anything that could impress him. "Long before he laid down earth's foundations," Paul wrote, "he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 1:4-5, Msg) To speak of adoption reminds us, second, of the price paid to make us God's children. Anyone who has adopted a child can tell you the huge costs, both financial and emotional. In Galatians 4, Paul tells us what it cost God: We are told God's Son was sent to redeem us. The death of Christ was like a price paid to set a captive free. Third, "adoption" is a word picture that reminds us of privilege. We were paupers taken off the street to become sons and daughters of the King. We now have the honor to come into his presence with our prayers here and to inherit eternal joy hereafter. I got a little glimpse of the wonder of this adoption when I first saw The Blind Side. The 2009 film recounts the true story of NFL star, Michael Oher. As a teenager, Oher was down and out until Leigh Anne Tuohy cared enough to take him in and become his legal guardian. It's the second film in our new sermon series, Movie Messages. We're looking at what the Bible says about the themes of some popular films. Catch up with the series at HillcrestAustin.org/Sermons, and join us for the next installment at 10 a.m. this Sunday. Bring a friend! --Tom Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here. Check out my weblog here. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.