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Adopted Sons of God
Preface
The practice of civil or legal adoption was exemplified in the Old Testament in the adoption of Moses (Exodus 2:10; Acts 7:21) and of Esther (Esther 2:7, 15). The Nuzu tablets reveal that during the patriarchal times the ancient Near East practiced something akin to adoption. While no laws of adoption are found formulated in the Old Testament, such a custom may well be reflected in the relationship of Abraham and Eliezer (Genesis 15:2-4). Such may also be seen in respect to Jacob’s grandsons Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48:5), i.e., “let my name be named on them,” as is stated in verse 16. Other cases of adoptive practices may be found throughout the Old Testament.
Adoption was a common practice of the Graeco-Roman way of life. When a person had no natural heir, he could adopt a son to whom he could give his inheritance. Once a child was adopted, the natural father had absolutely no more authority over him, and the adoptive father had complete control over his new son.
Believers—Adopted Sons of God
Reflecting this understanding of adoption that existed in the Hellenistic world, the apostle Paul employed the term to denote that legal act of God’s grace by which believers become sons of God. Once a person places his faith (total trust, confidence) in Jesus Christ—and nothing else—for his personal eternal salvation, he instantly becomes an adopted son of God, which is an absolutely permanent (eternal) relationship.
His relationship as a child of God results from the new birth:
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12, 13)
His relationship as an adult son of God is positionally established by adoption:
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to 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 your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:1-7)
His relationship as an adult son of God becomes experiential fulfilling, when by consumption of and inculcation by the Holy Spirit of Bible doctrine within him, he spiritually matures enough to permit the Holy Spirit to have control in his life:
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." (Romans 8:14, 15)
The Greek word for “son” in this passage is huios, which carries the meaning of a person who possesses the same rights and owes the same obligations as a natural son. The Greek word for “adoption as sons” is huiothesia, which is used only by the apostle Paul in the New Testament, and then only five times (Romans 8:15, 23; 9:4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). The usage in the Galatians’ passage above, a term specifically applied to believers in Christ, is in contrast with the designation of unique (“only begotten”); signifying the sonship of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God by nature (John 1:14).
This adoption differed from Roman culture adoption in that New Testament adoption placed believers instantly into the position of mature sons with all the responsibilities and privileges of that position. In order that those who are sons of God might realize the dignity of this position, the indwelling Holy Spirit enables each one to address God the Father as Abba, Father—a term of distinct and familiar endearment, combining the Aramaic and Greek words for “father.”
Positionally, the believer is no longer a slave under the law. Through faith alone in Christ alone he has become a mature son of God. And since Christ, as God’s unique or “only begotten” (natural) Son, is the heir of all God’s riches, the believer is also an heir of God through (in) Christ (Galatians 4:7).
Yet it is unfortunate that experientially it is possible for the believer to fail to live up to his position as a mature son of God, choosing rather to stay as a child (infant) of God. Although under grace the whole inheritance is his as a positional mature son of God, he can resort back to legalism and self-effort in living the spiritual life; which, if continued, will produce only failure in living for God and dire consequences at the Judgment Seat of Christ and during the coming Millennial Kingdom.
On the other hand, should the believer understand his adopted position as a mature son of God and that wherein it is his right to be treated as an adult who is not under the law, he may and should chose to live “by grace” allowing the Holy Spirit who indwells him to take charge of his life in order to please His Father in heaven and accomplish God’s will in all thoughts, speech, and actions.
Adoption Aspects of the Believer’s Adoption
As in civil adoption, so in a spiritual sense, the following features may be noted:
1. Adoption is taking one for a son who was not so by nature and birth.
2. It is being adopted to an inheritance—in the spiritual sense, an inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled (Rom 8:15-17; Gal 4:5-7).
3. It is the voluntary act of the adopter—spiritually the heavenly Father exercises His sovereign will in the matter (Eph 1:5)—mediated by Christ through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit (Gal 4:4-6).
4. It means that the adopted bears the name of the adopter and can call him “Father” (Isa 56:5;62:2; 65:15; Rev 2:17; Rom 8:15; 1 Jn 3:1).
5. It means that the adopted becomes the recipient of the compassion and care of his heavenly Father (Eph 1:3-6; cf. Lk 11:11-13), and is accepted into full family rights and privileges, received back as a son and not a servant in the case of the prodigal (Lk 15:19-24).
6. In the eschatological aspect the entire creation will benefit from the adopted one receiving the deliverance of his body from decay and death (Rom 8:23). (Wycliffe Bible Dictionary, Hendrickson Publishers, 2000)
Summation
A number of transactions take place when a person places his faith (trust, confidence) in Jesus Christ for personal salvation, e.g., forgiveness, redemption, imputation, expiation, reconciliation, regeneration, propitiation, justification, sanctification, and glorification. Added to these marvelous truths is adoption.
All work together to insure that the new believer becomes the recipient of God’s grace and is forever secure as both a child and son of God. It is the grace-action of God that secures his adoption into the family of God, such that he becomes positionally a mature son of God with full rights and responsibilities in Christ and a recipient to all of God’s riches and grace.
But while on earth the believer may only experientially realize his position as a mature son of God by “dying to self” and permitting the Holy Spirit to take control of his life. It is only then that he will fulfill the responsibilities with which he is charged. But should he obtain this degree of spiritual maturity, he will be well-rewarded when he appears before the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10) and will secure his place along side Christ during His reign in the coming Millennial Kingdom upon earth (2 Timothy 2:12). |