What happens when we're adopted into God's family? Well, from this passage in Ephesians 1:5-6 and from other passages of Scripture, it's evident that adoption brings five benefits to us as believers.

1. You get a new name.

2. You get a new legal standing.

3. You get a new family relationship.

4. You get a new image. Now you're a part of the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

5. You get a new spirit, the Holy Spirit!

10. Give money to the church or to the poor.

9. Attend some sort of religious service like Mass or Communion or worship or something.

8. They think they have to read their Bible and pray. (That'll get them saved.)

7. A lot of people think they have to keep as many of the Ten Commandments as they can.

6. People think they have to live a moral life to be saved.

5. You have to have your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds. (That's a popular one isn't it?)

4. You have to be christened or baptized or splashed with something.

3. You have to do some sort of penance in order for God to receive you.

2. There are people who believe you have to go to church.

1. There are people who believe you just have to be a nice person, and being a nice person is all that God requires for your salvation.

Any work you do, anything you do--any act, any deed, anything accomplished by you--is unacceptable to God for your salvation. Salvation is not something you do; it's something Jesus Christ already has done for you at Calvary.

He died for you. He paid the penalty for your sin; and now to receive God's gift of salvation, you must believe that what Jesus did is all that God required and trust Jesus to be your Savior instead of yourself. What He did, instead of what you are currently doing. That's what the Bible says, friends, and that's what the Bible means.

Visit our Jesus Who page for more information.

"Our failure to think of prayer as a privilege may be partly due to the fact that we can pray at any time. The door to prayer is open so continuously that we fail to avail ourselves an opportunity which is always there." (by Harry Emerson Fosdick, author of The Meaning of Prayer)

Now, here's the standard equipment for a Christian. (from Ephesians 5)

1. He says, "Be a follower of God."

2. He says, "Walk in a loving manner." That's standard operational procedure for a Christian.

3. He says, "Give off a Christ-like aroma" That's sacrifice.

1. Rouse ourselves from sleep. Wake up to Christ's light in your life!

2. Arise from the dead. Live as one who has life in Jesus Christ.

3. Walk in the light to receive the truth of God. Spend time with God daily!

4. Walk like a cat. Be cautious so you don't step on the minefields of life!

5. Redeem every opportunity for Christ. We don't have much time, so don't waste any of it!

Luke 2:40
John 7:8
John 15:11
Acts 19:21 *The word that's translated "accomplished" is the word pleroo.
Acts 24:27 *The word "after" is the word pleroo.
Romans 15:19
Ephesians 3:19
Philippians 4:18-19 *Pleroo is translated to "supply".
2 Timothy 1:4
1 John 1:4

1. Be strong in the power of the Lord.

2. Don't go to war without your gear Ephesians calls it "the armor of God."

3. Don't fight an enemy until you understand his tactics.

The way to know your enemy is to read the truth about him in God's Word. If you want to know the truth about Satan, the first thing you must do is go to a place where you're sure you're being told the truth. And in God's Word, you're being told the truth.

Get to know how Satan works and how he thinks by reading passages both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Passages that ought to be helpful to you would include Genesis 3 and Isaiah 14, Matthew 4, Ephesians 6, 2 Corinthians 2, Ezekiel 28 and Revelation 12.