One of the marks of the modern church is familiarity with God. The saints of old were very particular in the language used when approaching God in prayer. God must be approached with reverence and fear. There is a more casual approach advocated these days. The other error we fall into is to approach God in a cold and distant manner. Gal 4 and Rom 8 make much of the tern Abba. It is a term of affection and endearment. It marks a closeness with God. We must defend with all our soul that reverence and humility must be used in our approach to God. But we must also recognize that God has brought us into sonship so we can cry Abba Father. The Spirit by faith changes our legal standing before God but the Spirit also changes our experience with God where we can call him Father. We are to walk in the fear of God and in the comfort of the sonship we have by the Spirit (Acts 9:31).
Three statements of reflection 1. God has chosen to adopt us The servant did not deserve the adoption. We are utterly unreliable yet God is pleased to make us sons. It is God's sovereign choice out of infinite, unmerited love.
2. God is pleased to accept us Adoption denotes acceptation. We are welcomed into God's family. As sinners and rebels, we deserve to be kept away from God's family.
3. God has allowed us to approach him The slave lived in perpetual fear that the master might reject him. Not so God's child
Three final words of application 1. a word of reality You have received the Spirit of adoption. You have to embrace what you are and fight the devil who subverts that truth
2. a word of reassurance God is willing to hear, answer and provide
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