ADOPTION
CHECK IT OUT
By John W. White
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;"
Deuteronomy 7:6,7 "For thou
art an holy people unto the LORD
thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen
thee to be a special people unto
himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor
choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye
were the fewest of all people:"
Deuteronomy 14:2
"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath
chosen thee to be a peculiar
people unto himself, above all the
nations that are upon the earth."
Deuteronomy 28:9, 10 "The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto
himself..." "And all people of the
earth... shall be afraid of thee."
Deuteronomy 28:13 "And the LORD shall make thee the
head, and not the tail; and thou
shalt be above only, and thou shalt
not be beneath; if that thou
hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this
day, to observe and to do them:" Matthew 21:42, 43 "Jesus saith unto them...The stone which the
builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner... Therefore say
I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation
bringing forth the fruits thereof."
1
Peter 2:8-10 "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense,
even to them [Israel]
which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed. But ye [Gentiles] are a
chosen [e>klekto>v
= elect] generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his
marvellous light: Which in time past
were not a people, but
are
now the
people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but NOW have obtained mercy."
Ephesians 3:5, 6 "Which in
other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is
now revealed unto his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit; That the
Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his
promise in Christ by the gospel:"
Keep in mind that Gentiles have always been able to be saved. Rahab the harlot
of Jericho was a Gentile and part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Nineveh was
a Gentile city and they were saved through the preaching of Jonah. Gentiles
were not promised a heavenly inheritance but an earthly inheritance.
Ezekiel 47:22 "And it shall come to
pass, that ye shall divide it by lot
for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers.... they shall have
inheritance with you among the
tribes of Israel." There is a list of a few in Hebrews chapter 11 that were
living
by faith and were
anticipating a heavenly inheritance.
Hebrews 11:16 "But now they
desire a better country, that is, an
heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath
prepared for them a city."
When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we are
saved as in Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved, and thy house." The children of God are those who have been
born, from above, into His family. In 1
Peter 2:2 "As newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" we should
desire to grow spiritually beginning with the milk of the Word. In Isaiah 28
we find out that we should not continue on milk but we need to be weaned.
Isaiah 28:9, 10
"Whom shall he teach knowledge?
and whom shall he make to understand
doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line
upon line; here a little, and there a little:"
Hebrews
5:13 "For every one that
useth milk is unskillful in the word
of righteousness: for he is a babe." We are expected to mature spiritually and
grow in the Word until we are eating the meat of the Word.
Hebrews 5:14 "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of
full
age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." We
are told that Emmanuel will eat butter and honey in
Isaiah 7:15
"Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil,
and choose the good." We find out how to make butter in
Proverbs 30:33
"Surely the churning of milk bringeth
forth butter..." The churning of milk to make butter is hard work. The meat of
the word is IN the milk of the word. It just takes hard work to get those
nuggets of truth to come together. Our ability to discern between good and
evil is what will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive
the things done in
his body, according to that he hath done, whether
it be good or bad [evil]."
Responsibility and accountability comes with maturity in the word.
Luke 12:48 ".....For unto
whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have
committed much, of him they will ask the more." The main thing that we need to
do is to grow. 2 Peter 3:18
"But grow in grace, and in
the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him
be glory both now and for ever.
Amen."
When we read or hear the word "Adoption", we immediately think of a child being born into a family
and then that child, through a legal process, becomes a member of another
family. There are those who teach that when we are saved we are adopted into
the family of God. This concept
of adoption does not agree with
what we find in John 3:3
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again [from above],
he cannot see the kingdom of God." When we receive Jesus Christ as our
personal saviour we are born from above into the family of God. Being born
into the family God, means adoption is not necessary. In Ephesians 1:5 we find
the word adoption in context with
the word children. "Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his
will," The phrase "Adoption of children" is the translation of one Greek word,
uijoqesi>an. This word is the same word that is used in Romans
8:15, and is a compound word
containing the words
uijoJ"
and
tiqhmi. The word
uijoJ"
means "son". The word
tiqhmi means
"to put", "to lay", "to appoint" and "to ordain". There is not a single hint
to suggest that the word
uioqesian means "adoption." The word "Adoption" means "To
appoint as a son" or "To ordain to sonship".
The appointment was made before the foundation of
the world, (Ephesians 1:4) but when does the appointment take effect?
Romans 8:19, and
23 can help us with this question.
Romans 8:19 "For the earnest
expectation of the creature [creation]
waiteth for the manifestation [Greek
ajpokaluyin = the revelation, or the unveiling] of the sons of
God." In Romans 8:23 The
manifestation of the sons of God will take place when our bodies are raised
from the dead. "...We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the
adoption, to wit [that is to say], the
redemption of our body." Jesus Christ was declared the
Son of God with power at His resurrection:
Romans 1:4 "And
declared [oJri>zw
= appoint]
to be [This verb is not in the Gr. text.]
The Son of God with power,
according to the spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead:" In
Philippians 3:21 we are given some
insight into what will happen at the resurrection of the body. "Who shall
change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto
himself."
Galatians 4:1, 2
"Now I say, That the
heir, as long as he
is a child, differeth nothing from
a servant, though he be lord of
all; But is under
tutors and governors
until the appointed time of the Father." A contemporary illustration
of this is when a Jewish boy, at age 13, becomes a 'son of the commandment'
and a full member of the synagogue at his bar mitzvah. The Hebrew word
bar means "son", and the word
mitzvah means "command" and the
root word,
tsavah means to "enjoin" and is translated "appoint", "charge",
"put" or "command". Just as a
Jewish boy would be placed into the family as a son, so also in the family of
God, many of the children of God will be
declared sons of God and will no
longer be servants under tutors and governors. Until the Lord takes us home to
be with him we are either being profitable or unprofitable servants.
Matthew 25:23
"His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Luke 17:10 "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things
which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that
which was our duty
to
do."
The first occurrence of the word "Adoption" is
found in Romans 8:14,15 "For as
many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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." In verse 14 we have the statement "They are the sons of God".
If those that "Are lead by the Spirit of God....are the sons of God", this
seems to indicate that the sons of God have been manifested and the body has
been redeemed. This has not happened. For us to understand what is being said
in verse 14, we will have to study two verbs in that verse. The two verbs are
"Are led" and "They are". Both are in the present tense, which means the
actions of these verbs is continuous. You graph the action of the present
tense with a straight line (¾). We need
to translate the verb (Gr.
a[gw)
"Are led" to reflect the present tense and passive voice: "For as many as
are being led by Spirit of God...".
The passive voice means the subject, "As many as", receives the action of the
verb, "Being led." Because the
present tense expresses continuous action, the action of
" being led by Spirit of God" can continue for a while then be
terminated. The other verb (Gr.
ei>mi) "They are" is also in the present tense, and it
is the verb "to be" in English. This word can be translated "they
are being." As long as
the Spirit of God is leading us, we are
being the
sons of
God. As soon as we stop being led
by the Spirit of God, we are no longer being, behaving or conducting ourselves
as sons of God. We have similar uses of the present tense in
Romans 8:5 and 8. Romans
8:5 "For
they that are [present
active participle of
ei>mi,
they are being] after the flesh
do mind [present active of
du>namia, they are
minding] the things of the flesh..." Those who are behaving themselves in
the flesh are being mindful of fleshly things.
Romans 8:7
"Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed
can be." If we are not subject to the law of God neither are we subject to the
Spirit of God. We have become lawless.
Romans 8:8 "So then
they that are [present
active participle of
ei>mi,
they are being] in the flesh [This
is not referring to being in the flesh literally, but minding the things of
the flesh as in verse 5.] cannot
[Two Greek words "Can" and "Not". The word "Can" is present passive of
du>namia,
"They are being able"; plus the Greek word:
ouj, the
emphatic "Not" ] please God." To be
led by the Spirit of God is to "Be spiritually minded" (Romans 8:6), and to
behave ourselves as sons of God, and to live in such a way as to please Him.
Again, if Romans 8:14 is making the
statement that we are now sons of God, then the sons of God have been revealed
and we are in our glorified bodies. This just simply is not the case.
Galatians 4:6, 7 "And because
ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou
art [present active of
ei>mi, ye are being] no more a servant, but a son; and
if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." The verb "Ye are" is present
active of
ei>mi,
and should be translated "ye are being
sons", just as it is in Romans 8:14.
The verb "Thou art" in verse 7 is also present active of
ei>mi, and should be translated
" ye are being no more
servants." It is obvious that we cannot say that we are the sons of God
literally, just as we cannot say literally that we are no longer servants of
God. We are still in this body of death.
Jesus Christ is our example. The following
is selected verses that will show His example.
1 Peter 2:21 "For even hereunto
were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his
steps: Who did no sin, neither was
guile found in his mouth: Who, when
he was reviled, reviled not again;
when he suffered, he threatened not;
but committed
himself to him that judgeth
righteously:" Philippians 2:5, 6-8
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"; "Who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in
fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross." Hebrews
5:8 "Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered;"
John 4:34 "Jesus saith unto them,
My meat is to do the will of him
that sent me, and to finish his work."
Mark 14:36 "And he said, Abba,
Father, all things are possible unto
thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou
wilt." Matthew 10:24 "The disciple
is not above his master, nor the
servant above his lord." We can cry Abba, Father also.
Romans 8:15 "For ye have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the
sprit of adoption, whereby we cry,
Abba, Father." Galatians 4:6 "And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the
spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our
faith [ability to please Him]; who
for the joy that was set before him
[a good and faithful servant]
endured the cross [not just the crucifixion],
despising the shame [that comes for
disobedience], and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God [overcomer]."
2
Timothy 1:7 "For God hath..
given us the spirit... of power,
and of love, and of a
sound mind."
POWER -
"ALL things are possible unto Thee." LOVE
- "Not what I will but
what thou wilt."
SOUND MIND - Isaiah 33:6
"And wisdom and knowledge
shall be the stability of thy
times, and
strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD
is his treasure."
Job
1:6
"Now there was a day when the sons of
God [These are angels.] came to present themselves before the LORD, and
Satan came also among them." Dan 10:13
"But the prince of the kingdom of
Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo,
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained
there with the kings of Persia."
Ephesians 6:12
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places." These passages show that the angels of God, whether they
be fallen or not, are known as the sons of God and they are the
principalities, rulers, and powers in the heavens today.
Revelation 12:9
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil,
and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth,
and his angels were cast out with him." About the middle of the tribulation
the principalities and powers in heavenly places will be kicked out of heaven.
Those who have been appointed to sonship will begin to rule from the heavens.
Revelation 2:26, 27 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the
end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a
rod of iron..." Who is with Him when He comes to make war? Revelation 17:14
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them:
for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are
called, and
chosen, and faithful."
The words called,
chosen,
and faithful
are
adjectives describing the kings and lords that are with him. The promise made
to the apostles: Matthew 19:27,28 "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee;
what shall we have therefore?" "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto
you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration
WHEN the son of man
shall sit in the
throne of His glory, ye also
shall sit upon twelve thrones,
judging the twelve
tribes of Israel." This is during the 1000-year reign of Christ over the
earth.
Revelation 21:7
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he
shall be my son."
Hebrews 11:16 "But now they
desire a better country, that is, an
heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed
to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." 1
Corinthians 15:57, 58 "But
thanks be to God, which giveth us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be ye
stedfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your
labour is not in vain in the Lord."
CHECK IT OUT TRACTS
2210 Lincoln St. NE Minneapolis MN 55418
email:
jwwhite@check-it-out-tracts.org
web page: www.check-it-out-tracts.org