I Was Not Born a Christian; I Was Adopted Through Grace

Why is He called God’s only­ begotten Son, since I also am a child of God? 

Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God. 

John 1:1-3 

• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
• He was in the beginning with God. 
• All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 

John 1:14 

• And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 
• and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, 
• full of grace and truth. 

John 1:18 

• No one has seen God at any time. 
• The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, 
• He has declared Him. 

John 3:16 

• “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

Romans 8:32 

• He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, 
• how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

I, however, am a child of God by adoption, 

• Through grace, for Christ’s sake.

John 1:12 

• But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, 
• to those who believe in His name. 

Romans 8:14-17 

• For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 
• For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 
• The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 
• and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, 
• if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 

Ephesians 1:5,6 

• …having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 
• to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

Adapted Excerpt From Van Delden's Only By True Faith