Monday, May 19, 2014

Adoption as Sons -by Dennis Hogg




Scripture often uses symbolism to illustrate spiritual principles. As with all Divine symbolism, the correspondence between the symbol and the actual principle is perfect. For this reason we can thoroughly analyze a symbol and thereby discover a deeper understanding of the spiritual principle as long as we analyze the symbol as given and remain consistent with the rest of Scripture.

Paul uses the Roman custom of adoption to illustrate the salvation and resulting position of the believer. Adoption was a very common practice as even a father's natural born children had to be adopted before they became sons and heirs. This is illustrated in Galatians 4:1-7...

"Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying, 'Abba' Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." 

The characteristics here show us several things. The position of the child before adoption is paralleled with that of a slave. The two terms are so similar that they are almost completely interchangeable in this metaphor. Slaves were like property since they had no control over their own destiny. The child or slave had essentially no rights, and no power with which to change that situation. The power to change the future for a slave or child rested entirely with the father.

The father made the choice as to whom he would adopt. In many cases the natural firstborn child was not necessarily the heir. A natural born child may well expect that someday he would be adopted as a son, but a slave would never have any reason to expect to become an heir. (By working hard a slave could not merit adoption, because it was his duty to work hard in the first place. See Luke 17:7-9) The father was perfectly within his rights to adopt whomever he chose, and if a slave was adopted this was an unrequired act of kindness on the part of the father. Adopting one slave did not imply that the father had to adopt any other slave.

The result of the adoption was a new relationship between the father and the newly adopted son. This new closeness allows the son to call his father "Abba". The use of this title, essentially equivalent to the English "Daddy", was never permitted by a slave.  The son was now also the heir, and had a vast amount of rights and privileges that he would otherwise not enjoy. The father-son relationship is also permanent. A wife could be divorced, and a slave could be sold, but a son is a son forever.

The metaphor of adoption illustrates Christian salvation perfectly. We started out as slaves to sin. Galatians 4:7. ' We had no rights before God. Even if we could have done good works these were never a reason why God should save us. God chose to demonstrate His love and His kindness in us and has saved us even though we were totally undeserving of this kindness.

"He predestined us to adoption as sons through Christ Jesus 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." Ephesians 1 :5,6

Just as with adoption, this choice lies entirely with the father and not the sinner. Also, God is completely within His rights to save some and to allow others to remain in sin. There is no injustice towards the sinner, just as the slave who remains a slave is not mistreated. This demonstrates the sovereignty of God.

This should impact the way we view ourselves before God. God chose us because it pleased Him, not because we wanted to be saved, or because we asked to be saved. (We were incapable of wanting or asking for this salvation. Romans 3:11; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4)

This unmerited adoption now puts us into a new relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the 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 bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ, if we indeed suffer with Him in order that we may be glorified with Him. Romans 8:14-17

Now we can approach God and without fear approach Him as Father or "Daddy". 'We are free to come into His presence and can talk with God on this personal Father-son level.

Associated with the Father-son relationship is an inheritance. We cannot even begin to imagine what God has in store for us.

"And has raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."  Ephesians 2:6,7

God will use us as a showpiece throughout all eternity to demonstrate how loving and kind He can be. 

"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him."  1 Corinthians 2:9

Any attempt to describe this would be futile.

Our position, in this inheritance is guaranteed. (Recall that once adopted a son cannot be cast away,) Not only this, but "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit" (Romans 8:l6) that we are adopted. Since the Holy Spirit is eternal, we have a witness forever that we are sons and heirs of God the Father, Our position is as secure as God is eternal.


How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.

Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


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