Galatians 4:4-6 – But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Jesus came to make us part of His family. At just the right time, God sent His Son into our world, conceived by the Holy Spirit in a virgin’s womb. This unusual conception meant that Jesus’ blood was not tainted by Adam’s sin. He laid aside all His heavenly glory and entered our realm, fully God yet fully human.

Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and instead, took upon Himself our sin – indeed, the sins of the whole world – and nailed them to the cross. By His death as the perfect, sinless sacrifice, He made atonement acceptable to God. Now, we can take on His righteousness as surely as He took on our sins.

Those who repent of their sin and ask forgiveness in Jesus’ name and by His blood are granted the amazing, special privilege of becoming God’s family, with Jesus as our elder brother, the firstborn. We are co-heirs with Christ, having access to the Father as His beloved sons and daughters, whom He loves as He loves His own Son.

Because Jesus came, God became our “Abba Father.”

“Abba” is a term of endearment. Vines says, “Abba” is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; “father” expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child.

Did you know that slaves were not allowed to address the father of the household by this name?

But the children were!

How do you gain access to this family? You do the will of God, which is to behold His Son and believe, repenting of your sin and surrendering your life to Him. You stop trusting in your own good works and put all your faith in HIS work that was completed on the cross. The evidence that you are family is that you start to look like Jesus, acting, speaking, and thinking as a child of God.

Ephesians 1:5-6 – He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Hebrews 2:11 – For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.

Matthew 12:49-50 – And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

John 6:40 – For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.

1 John 2:17 – The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:5b-6 – By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Romans 8:14-17 – For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Have you opened the gift of being adopted into God’s family?

This family is forever, and it’s waiting for you.

***

So there you have it…twelve Christmas gifts that belong to us as those who belong to Jesus.

The gift of eternal life.

The gift of the Holy Spirit.

The gift of forgiveness.

The gift of peace.

The gift of a new identity.

The gift of joy.

The gift of wisdom.

The gift of hope.

The gift of purpose.

The gift of a new citizenship.

The gift of a home in heaven.

The gift of family.

Which gift do you need to open today?