“我们这有圣灵初结果子的，也是自己心里叹息，等候得着儿子的名分 …。” – 罗 8:23
罗马书这段经文说，藉着耶稣基督作成的工和圣灵持续不断的工作，我们蒙神领养加入祂的大家庭，因此我们便成为“神的后嗣，和基督同作后嗣”了。真是令人惊喜！
血缘能决定谁人属于某个家庭，但领养也能使人成为家庭的一份子。领养关乎爱 – 无条件的爱 – 再加上深厚、持久、和忠诚的承诺。神对我们的爱和承诺，为我们的生命提供了最好不过的根基。
藉着基督耶稣和圣灵的工作，我们得蒙父神的领养，真是一个非常好的消息。藉着耶稣和圣灵，我们正式成为神家里的儿子和女儿。我们的兄长耶稣带领我们进入这个家庭，祂向我们许下承诺，祂甚至付上自己的生命来把我们从罪和死亡的咒诅中释放出来，好叫祂能够带领我们以父神儿女的身份得享丰盛的生命。
神领养我们时对我们说“是的”：“是的，你是属于我的。是的，我与你同在。是的，我永远爱你。”神的爱和承诺是无限量的。感谢耶稣和圣灵带领的工作，我们能够成为神所有应许和福气的后嗣。
祷告
我们的兄长耶稣，感谢你帮助我们能够被神领养做祂的儿女。我们知道你现今正坐在父的右边，认领我们成为神的家庭的一份子。我们不再与神分开了，我们乃是祂所爱的儿女。阿们。
罗马书 8:14-17；22-25
14因为凡被神的灵引导的，都是神的儿子。
15你们所受的不是奴仆的心，仍旧害怕；所受的乃是儿子的心，因此我们呼叫：“阿爸！父！”
16圣灵与我们的心同证我们是神的儿女。
17既是儿女，便是后嗣，就是神的后嗣，和基督同做后嗣。如果我们和他一同受苦，也必和他一同得荣耀。
22我们知道，一切受造之物一同叹息、劳苦，直到如今。
23不但如此，就是我们这有圣灵初结果子的，也是自己心里叹息，等候得着儿子的名分，乃是我们的身体得赎。
24我们得救是在乎盼望。只是所见的盼望不是盼望。谁还盼望他所见的呢？
25但我们若盼望那所不见的，就必忍耐等候。
We Are Adopted
“We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption. . . .” – Romans 8:23
This passage in Romans says that we become adopted into God’s family through the finished work of Jesus Christ and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. This makes us “heirs of God and coheirs with Christ.” Amazing!
So, while blood relation can determine who is part of a family, so can adoption. And this involves love—unconditional love—as well as deep, lasting, faithful commitment. God’s love and commitment to us provide the best possible foundation for our lives.
It is indeed good news that we are adopted by God the Father through the work of Christ Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus and the Spirit, we become full sons and daughters in the family of God. Jesus, our older brother, brings us into the family. His commitment to us is so great that he gave up his life to free us from the curse of sin and death so that he could bring us into full life as children of God the Father.
In our adoption God says yes to us: “Yes, you are mine. Yes, I am with you. Yes, I love you forever.” God’s love and commitment are immeasurable. Thanks to Jesus and the guiding work of the Spirit, we are heirs to all of God’s promises and blessings.
Prayer
Brother Jesus, thank you for making our adoption as children of God possible. We know that you are now seated at the right hand of the Father, claiming us as part of God’s family. We are no longer estranged, but beloved children. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
