THE GREAT POINTS OF ADOPTION
2 Samuel 4:4 * 9:1-13


MEPHIBOSHETH SETS THE STAGE:

I.  Mephibosheth was accepted into royalty because of what someone else did not because of his deeds 
-We are saved and accepted into God's family because of what Christ did not because of anything we did!

II.  Mephibosheth was given a glorious heritage {2 Sam 9:9} 
-He was given glory and honor
-We had nothing before we were saved, but we will be given a King's heritage because of Christ

III.  Mephibosheth lived a life of self-denial when the king was gone {2 Sam 19:24} 
-He was waiting anxiously for the king's return
-His king picked him up and gave him life
-We live life for ourselves and forget about the King of kings and should remember what He has done

IV.  Mephibosheth was persecuted {2 Sam 19:26-27} 
-The world will try to damage our testimony, life, etc. while the King is gone

V.  Mephibosheth was not concerned with material goods {2 Sam 19:30} 
-Are we more concerned with material possessions or with the things of Christ?


POINTS OF ADOPTION:

I.  Adoption takes in all nations {Rom 9:4; Acts 10:34-35} 
-As with physical adoption, spiritual adoption has no boundaries

II.  Adoption takes in male and female {2 Cor 6:17-18}

III.  Adoption is an act of pure grace {Eph 1:5} 
-The adopter does so by his or her choice
-God saves us by His grace, we have no say in the matter

IV.  Adoption gives us a new name {Rev 3:12} 
-Christians were strangers (GENTILES) and God took us in


GOD'S GRACE IN ADOPTION:

I.  When God adopts us, He gives us His spiritual nature {2 Pet 1:4}

II.  God adopted us when He had a son of His own {Col 1:12-13} 
-In many instances people adopt because they can have no children of their own

III.  God had no need for more children, but He saw that we needed a Father {Heb 1:2-4} 
-God had a perfect son in Christ


WHAT WE WERE BEFORE WE WERE ADOPTED:

I.  We were spiritually deformed before God adopted us 
-God didn't look for healthy (MORAL) children, but for the deformed (IMMORAL) {Luke 5:31-32}

II.  God went to great expense to adopt us 
-It could only be accomplished by the blood of His son
-It was an awful price to pay for an unrighteous child

III.  God adopts His enemies 
-He pardoned us, made us heirs, and took us into His family

IV.  God is taking great numbers out of the devil's family {Heb 2:10}

V.  God would confer so great an honor upon us {1 Sam 18:18}