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Elements City Church

God Is For You - week 3 (God Adopts You: Romans 8:15-17)

Our identity has an enormous impact on our life. A positive identity can be a source of optimism and strength, while a negative identity can be an equally powerful force holding us back. The good news of this series is that our truest identity is gifted to us, not built by us. It is an identity found—and never lost—in Christ. Romans 8 is regarded by some as the greatest chapter in the Bible. Its 39 verses contain the practical truths and amazing assurance that are foundational to the Christian life. These messages will deepen our understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ and how God truly sees us and wants to relate with us. We'll explore what it means to walk in our new life in Christ, free from condemnation and separation because of what Jesus accomplished for us. ...You're invited to live with an unshakable hope that GOD IS FOR YOU.

Locations & Times

1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA

Sunday 5:00 PM

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Martin Luther (500 years ago) called Romans chapter 8 the greatest chapter in the entire Bible...

The apostle Paul is resounding some foundational truths from the beginning to the very end of this incredible chapter…
Romans 8 - begins with no condemnation
Romans 8 - ends with no separation

Review:
Romans 8:1
"There is now NO CONDEMNATION for those that are in Christ Jesus…"

In life we will face consequences but, thanks to Jesus, we do not have to live under condemnation.

Your past can humble you, but God doesn't want your past to haunt you…

We've been empowered by the Spirit of God.
The empowered life > the exhausted life

God has also changed our very life situation and circumstance by gifting us a NEW identity.

He has ADOPTED US into the family of God.

Adoption changes everything!

Romans 8:15-17 NIV

When Paul writes to the church and says that in love, God adopted them, he is writing to a people very familiar with an abandonment culture.

…Somethings never change…
that just might be one of the most destructive realities of our culture today… a culture of abandonment…a culture quick to “cancel” - a culture that casts aside those it disagrees with or is offended by…some things in our broken human nature never seem to change.

If you have now come to know Jesus, your most defining moment isn’t who threw you OUT — but WHO has taken you IN.

Adoption – offers new hope, a new start — a renewed future, a real relationship, a second chance, a solid security…

Our Heavenly Father has adopted YOU…and that changes everything!

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Romans 8:16-17a
16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs.

The minute you become a Christian, you gained intimacy of relationship with God. You have an unconditional relationship. Our adoption means we are loved like Christ is loved. We are honored like he is honored. Your circumstances cannot hinder or threaten that promise. The Apostle Paul is NOT promising you better & perfected life circumstances; he is affirming you now have a far better reality - you have a life of being a child of the King…

Quotes:
"My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it"

“Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self.
Every other identity is illusion.”
- Brennan Manning

J.I. Packer, in his book, Knowing God, said it best when he taught that adoption “is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification.” It is one thing for God the Father to forgive sinners. It is entirely another to adopt them into his family.

Thank you to all our financial partners!

Thank you for enabling us to be the Church in our city! Your gifts help fuel the mission of Elements City Church, as well as our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis. You can give online at the link below or through the Elements app.

http://elementscitychurch.org/give

Thanks for worshipping with us tonight! We invite you back next week as we continue our series going through Romans 8, showing us the truth that GOD IS FOR YOU.

**Check the app for upcoming events. Sign up for our Church Potluck fundraiser on Sunday May 28th for Students summer camp.