ADOPTION of Sons,

not orphans!

          We have been taught that God’s family consists of the Jews or Israel and when we are born again, we are adopted into His already established family! Now we belong to God’s people! We need to go back to the culture and times of the early Church and try to grasp what the first hearers understood by the terms used. ‘Re-think’ No. 23 covers the ‘sons’ part of the phrase ‘the Sons of God’ and should be read in conjunction with this ‘re-think’. Aramaic was mostly spoken but the Greek language was used for writing . . . Paul used Greek for his letters to the Christian Churches.

            First, we need to grasp the meaning of the word ‘adoption’ in the Greek. It is HUIOTHESIA  and means THE PLACING OF A (mature) SON.  The modern meaning of the English word is not applicable. Bible adoption  has nothing to do with putting an orphan into a foster home!

            There are five scriptures where this word occurs: you will observe that Paul is the only  one who mentions this subject. Paul was called forth to be the Apostle to bring in a depth to the message of the Kingdom of God.  He was ‘caught up’ and was given revelation that was different and which didn’t appear to fit with what had previously been taught. It did fit and it does fit.

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

            The ‘spirit of adoption’ is the opposite to the ‘spirit of bondage’. Bondage is coupled with ‘fear’ while ‘adoption’ is associated with a relationship with Father.  ‘Abba’ was a Chaldean word that was used in prayer and the Greek language incorporated it and added the Greek word for ‘Father’ with it.

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. One who has experienced the ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’ and is moving in the first expressions of such an essential blessing, will find themselves ‘groaning deep within’ for more!  The ‘adoption’ experience  will eventually  have a ‘resurrection touch’ upon their bodies.  Here we are introduced to an aspect of adoption . . . that of seeing our body changed.

Romans 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;             This was a promise from God to ‘the seed’ of Abraham.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children ( SONS) by Jesus Christ to (Greek is  EIS = into) himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

            We need to take a look at the meaning of ‘predestination’ which is far more exciting than what traditions teaches!

 PREDESTINATED . . .Gk.  PROORIZO:        PRO = before and ORIZO = determine, appoint, mark out.  So ‘predestined’ means “to put the mark on beforehand” (refer to ‘re-think No.26). Predestination is God’s Supreme perogative; being God He knows the beginning from the end. . . He therefore knows just where each one of is in relation to Him. He simply desires to bring us up into Himself so that we move as ONE  with Him which is the same as walking  AS Him.         People back in the days that Jesus walked the earth, they knew what was meant by these terms. We need to look into what they understood, so that we might also understand.                       

Adoption — Illustration:         

             There is a father who has a lovely wife, four sons, say, and two daughters plus a number of servants. The boys would work with dad and carry out his wishes. Even though they were his sons they had to work just like the servants did. Their father would tell them to tell servant number 6 to do a certain thing. That child would go and declare to that certain servant, ‘My father wants you to do this and that’. The whole operation of his farm/business would go on smoothly as each child and each servant carried out the desires of the Boss.

             While all this was happening, his eldest son, who had been with him the longest, would be learning just how his father did things; saw his dad make certain wise decisions; saw how he handled his servants; observed how he used his resources; and how he, gently but firmly, handled the whole household. Time wore on and the eldest son reached maturity. He had observed and learned just how his father spoke and did things.

            The father saw the maturity in his first-born son and decided to ‘adopt’ him. So he set  a date and invited all the relatives, business associates and family to this important ceremony. On the appointed day when all were set, the father would call his first-born son to come to him on the dais/platform. He would place sandals on his feet, a ring on his finger and a robe around his shoulders. The father would then  place his hand on his son’s head and pronounce the correct words over his son. “This is my son in whom I am well pleased. Today I adopt him”.

            This meant that from that moment on, this first-born son would move as his father. He would receive father’s full authority, father’s full resources which would also release from within him, father’s full nature that had been building in him over the years. No longer would he have to say to the servants, ‘My father says for you to do this’, he would simply move in his new position and declare what he wanted done. In one aspect, his father could now ‘retire’ because he had a fully mature, responsible son to carry on for him. (This is why God can ‘rest’ on His 7th. - 1000 year, Day).

            Most ‘adoptions’ in the natural scene would take place when the first-born son was around twenty or so. We shall see for Jesus, the timing was when He became 30 as it also had to fit in with being made a priest. 

                                                        GALATIONS  4: 1-7

(1) Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

‘child’ = Gk. NEPIOS = small child. This ‘nepios’ is treated the same as a servant. Bear in mind there is a big difference between a ‘servant’ and a ‘son’. (2) But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Father is watching over the development of His children . . . using tutors from among God’s people and the governors of circumstances  . . . for all things work together for this good. (3) Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

WE RECEIVE THIS ‘ADOPTION’

            While we are ‘as children’ we are in  the place of  ‘having to’ obey in order to receive blessings. (4) But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons  (mature HUIOS sons).

            Now since Jesus fulfilled the ‘law’. . . He in us will grow us up to this maturity (if we cooperate!) that we MIGHT receive this adoption . . . with such provision, we shall be able to do the things that Jesus did and greater accomplishing God’s great plan for mankind.

(6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.             Mature ‘sons’ will be seen as those who have a relationship with their Father that is close. Such a close walk with or in Him, will produce the Christ-likeness which will show that you have grown up from being a ‘servant’ to becoming a ‘son’.  There will be a deep cry from within for such a oneness! (7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

  THE  ADOPTION  OF  JESUS  BY  HIS  FATHER

Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: The ‘hand’ of the father  like a dove — i.e. the full anointing of the Father (not just the ‘in-part realm’) —  the Holy Spirit came UPON Him.

(17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.    The ‘adoption’ ceremony words were spoken and Jesus was adopted . . . He was then, at that precise moment, placed as God’s mature Son.  Notice how “Father was ‘pleased’ and how it lines up with Ephesians 1:5 . . . that gave God ‘pleasure’.

            He then received . . .  for He did not have  such up until this time . . . 

1. Father’s full nature (He had it all along by birth, but it had not been fully released as yet). John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (A pastor check-up here?).

2. Father’s full resources. Luke 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

3. Father’s full authority. John 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Authority from relationship.

            From this point on Jesus was equipped for the ministry that Father God had ordained for Him. He was able to be tempted (tested) in the wilderness and come through unscathed . . .100%.

            The ‘redemption’ of His Body in the ‘seed’ form took place at Calvary some 3 1/2 years later (see John 20: 17+19).  The redemption of His Body (corporate) will come forth as His ‘first-born’ son is adopted into the fullness of God. This is seen in – 

            MATTHEW  17: 1- 8

After 6 x 1000 year days . . . the scene: the mount of transfiguration.

(1)   And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. (3) And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. (5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 

GOD’S Corporate SON ADOPTED

            Did you notice the ‘them’ that the cloud of Father’s presence covered.  Out of His manifest presence, Father spoke the words of adoption over this corporate son.  This ‘beloved son’ (harvest of the Seed)  is corporate consisting here as a pattern, of Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John.  It was NOT speaking just of Jesus, as He was already adopted . . . and one cannot be adopted twice!  Bear in mind that God sees His first-born as corporate . . . Exodus 4:22.

(8) And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

            The effect of an adoption ceremony is that one does no any longer see ‘man’ operating . . . simply Jesus.

   THE  HIGH  CALLING  OF  GOD

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

(14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

            Paul, at the end of his life, knew he had not laid hold of what he had been shown. . . but he pressed towards being a part of the adopted fully mature ‘son’ equipped to complete Father’s purposes. It is all recorded that we might press in also. §

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