Chapter XI
What It Means to God for Us to Be
“Born Again” Adopted Children?
A while back, I was watching Ravi Zacharias, a well-known worldwide Christian lecturer, teacher, apologist, etc., and his topic was “What Does It Mean to Be Human?” I went on the internet and entered that topic – WOW!!! Was there a lot of websites sharing their thoughts! But as I was thinking about this subject, God brought to my mind, “What Does It REALLY Mean to GOD for Us to Be His “Born Again” Adopted Children?”
As I was closing the preceding Chapter, I used the following Scripture which will help us to get started on, “What Does It REALLY Mean to GOD for Us to Be His Adopted Children?”
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new {moral and spiritual condition} has come! AMP
God foreknew that man would sin and provided the consequences of his action. As you study this Chapter, you will see God’s predestined and foreknown thoughts and plans for His redeemed adopted children and His creation to re-attain the same glorious freedom as original Adam and Eve had.
Romans 8:19-21 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]. 20 For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him {God} Who so subjected it — [yet] with the hope [Eccl 1:2.] 21 That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the {same} glorious freedom of God’s children. AMP
In this Chapter, you will see the numerous spiritual transformations starting with the above Scripture – 1 Corinthians 5:17b – “the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new {moral and spiritual condition} has come” – that takes place inside of you and ALL truly “Born Again” Saints who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. In order for your revitalized spirit to become one spirit with the Godhead Who lives in you, and for you to have communion {intimate fellowship} with God, you must renew the spirit of your mind to help you to become the “new creation.”
1 Corinthians 6:17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. AMP
John 14:23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. {God the Father and God the Son indwells us.} AMP
1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own. {These two Scriptures complete the “Godhead” who truly lives in ALL truly “Born Again” redeemed adopted children of God} AMP
Colossians 2:10 And you {God’s redeemed Saints} are in Him {Christ}, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. AMP
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. AMP
Ephesians 4:23-24 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], 24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s {spiritual} image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. AMP
Now to continue on, when you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you received a “new heart of flesh” which enables you to truly love, worship, and serve God and love and serve others. You also received a “newly invigorated spirit” who will enable you to be “one spirit” with God the Holy Spirit so you can walk in and keep God’s commandments heeding them as you became an adopted son or daughter of Jesus Christ. The following spiritual supernatural characteristics combine together to make you this “new spiritual creature!” This is why we MUST be continually praying for the “sound mind of Christ” to understand, accept, and apply our “new spiritual nature” as it is revealed!
Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a {spiritual} heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them {live a life that reflects Me!}. NKJV
Deuteronomy 30:6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your {spiritual} hearts and the {spiritual} hearts of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being, that you may live. AMP
Psalms 51:10 {King David asking God to} Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. AMP
Galatians 6:15 For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah]. AMP
