“ADOPTION”    (Eph. 1:1-5)

April 5, 1998

E-M  7-14-02

 

Int.     The Koine Greek term for adoption is huiothesia.

 

1.         It occurs only five  times in the New Testament, only in Paul's epistles.

 

            a.         (Rom 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."

 

            b.         (Rom 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."

 

            c.         (Rom 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;"

 

            d.         (Gal 4:5)  "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

 

            e.         (Eph 1:5)  "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"

 

2.          The term is always used for placing in sonship towards God, that is, the act or the result of the act of placing a mortal human being into a Father-son relationship with God.

 

            a.         Our relationship with Christ is sometimes referred to as a building or foundation. (Eph. 2;20-22; Col. 2:7; 1 Pet. 2:4,5)

 

            b.         Our relationship with Christ is sometimes referred to as a marriage. (Rom. 7:4; Eph 5:31,32; Rev. 19:7-9)

 

            c.         Our relationship with Christ is sometimes referred to as a union between the Vine and the Branches. (Jn 15:5; Rom 6:5)

 

            d.         Our relationship with Christ is sometimes referred to as the union between the Head and the body. (1 Cor. 6:15,19; 12:12; Eph. 1:22,23; 4:15,16).

 

            e.         Our relationship with Christ is sometimes referred to as the union between Adam and his descendedants. (Rom 5:12,21; 1 Cor. 15:22,49).

 

3.          The custom of adoption is not a particularly Jewish practice but was commonly practiced by the Romans.

            a.         Kennet’s Roman Antiquities says: “Among the Romans, the ceremony of Adoption signifies the act of receiving a stranger into a family, and conveying to him all the rights, privileges, and benefits belonging to a natural or legitimate child.

 

            b.         “Among the Romans the ceremony of adoption consisted in buying the child to be adopted from his parents for a sum of money formally given and taken.

 

                        1.         “The parties appeared before the magistrate in the presence of five Roman citizens; and the adopting father said to the child, “Art thou willing to become my son?” to which the child replied, “I am willing.”

 

                        2.         “Then the adopter, holding the money in his hand, and at the same time taking hold of the child, said, “I declare this child to be my son according to Roman law, and he is bought with this money,” which was given to the father as the price of his son.

 

                        3.         “Thus the relation was formed according to law; and the adopted son entered into the family of his new father, assumed his name, became subject to his authority, and was made a legal heir to the whole of the inheritance, or to a share of it if there were other sons. “

 

4.         By the rite of adoption, the adopted son became the heir of the adopted father, and renounced the name of his natural father.

 

5.          The ceremony was not valid without witnesses.

 

6.         Thomas Watson said: “A man adopts one for his son and heir that does not all resemble him; but whosover God adopts for His child is like Him; he not bears His heavenly Father’s name, but his image.

 

            a.         (Col 3:10)  "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"

 

7.         Thomas Gataker says: “The least degree of sincere sanctification, being an effect of regeneration, is a certain sign of adoption, and may minister sure argument to him that has it, that he is the adopted child of God.”

 

I.          ADOPTION TAKES IN ALL NATIONS.

 

            A.         THE JEWS WERE FIRST IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTION.

 

                        1.         (Rom 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;"

 

            B.         THE GENTILES ARE INCLUDED TODAY.

 

                        1.         (Acts 10:35)  "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

 

II.          ADOPTION TAKES IN BOTH SEXES, MALE AND FEMALE.

 

            A.         GOD HAS SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN HIS FAMILY.

 

                        1.         (2 Cor 6:18)  "And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

 

                                    a.         There used to be a law in France that a woman couldn’t inherit a crown.

 

III.         ADOPTION IS AN ACT OF PURE GRACE.

 

            A.         ADOPTION IS A MERCY SPUN OUT OF THE BOWELS OF PURE GRACE.

 

                        1.         (Eph 1:5)  "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"

 

                        2.         C. O. Jackson says:”ADOPTION is that privilege bestowed .upon those who are united with .Christ & justified .by faith, by which .they are admitted .into family of God.  Adoption .as his children, given the spirit .of adoption . & made joint-heirs with .his own Son.”

 

                        3.         All men as a result of the fall, are by nature strangers, and have no right to sonship.

 

                        4.         God is pleased to adopt one, and not another; to make one a vessel of glory, and another a vessel of wrath.

 

5.         This may be what Paul had in mind when he wrote that the Spirit "testifies" or "bears witness" that we are God's children (Rom 8:16).

 

6.          The choice of the word adoption to describe the believer's relationship to God is a very significant one.

 

IV.        NOTICE THE MEANING OF THE WORD ADOPTION.

 

            A.         NOTICE THE ORIGINAL MEANING.

 

                        1.         It is the taking in of a stranger into the relationship of a son and heir.

 

                                    a.         (Eph 2:12)  "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"

 

                                    b.         (Eph 2:19)  "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"

 

                        2.         Moses was the adopted son of King Pharoah’s daughter.

 

                                    a.         (Exo 2:10)  "And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water."

 

                        3.         Esther was the adopted child of her cousin Mordecai.

 

                                    a.         (Est 2:7)  "And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter."

 

                        4.         Thus God adopts us into the family of God, and in adopting us, does two things.

 

                                    a.         He  ennobles us with His name. (Rev 3:12)  "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."

 

                                    b.         He gives us a new nature. Man can adopt a child, but this he cannot do.

 

V.         CONSIDER OUR STATE BEFORE WE WERE ADOPTED.

 

            A.         WE WERE IN A STATE OF SIN AND MISERY.

 

                        1.         Pharaoh’s daughter took Moses from the bulrush in the Nile River.

 

                        2.         God took us from our blood.

                                    a.         (Ezek 16:6)  "And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live."

 

                        3.         God adopted us from a life of slavery...

 

                                    a.         It would be a mercy to redeem a slave; but to adopt one from slavery is much more.

 

VI.        TO WHAT STATE DOES GOD ADOPT HIS PEOPLE?

 

            A.         HE ADOPTS US TO A STATE OF EXCELLENCE.

 

                        1.         It is more than taking a piece of clod and making it a star.

 

                        2.         It is taking a piece of clay and sin and making it an heir.

 

                        3.         He provides for us our every need. (Phil 4:19)

 

                                    a.         (Psa 84:11)  "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

 

            B.         HE ADOPTS US TO A STATE OF LIBERTY.

 

                        1.         (Gal 4:7)  "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

 

                        2.         (Psa 23:6)  "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

 

            C.         HE ADOPTS US TO A STATE OF DIGNITY.

                       

                        1.         (Isa 43:4)  "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life."

 

                        2.         The Adopted son is God’s treasure.

 

                                    a.         (Exo 19:5)  "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:"

 

                                    b.         (Psa 121:5)  "The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand."

 

                        3.         We are called God’s Jewels.

 

                                    a.         (Mal 3:17)  "And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."

 

                        4.         We are called God’s First-born.

 

                                    a.         (Heb 12:23)  "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,"

 

                        5.         We have angels for life-gurards..

 

                                    a.         (Heb 1:14)  "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

 

                        6.         We are of the Blood-Royal of Heaven.

 

                                    a.          (1 John 3:9)  "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

 

            D.         THIS ADOPTIONS OF OUR INCLUDES AN INHERITANCE.

 

                        1.         Our Inheritance is sometimes called a Kingdom.

 

                                    a.         (Luke 12:32)  "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

 

                        2.         Notice the riches of this inheritance.

 

                                    a.         (Rev 21:21)  "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass."

 

                        3.         Notice the Tranquility of our Inheritance.

 

                                    a.         (Rev 19:6)  "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

                        4.         Notice the stability of our Inheritance.

 

                                    a.         (Heb 12:28)  "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:"

 

                                    b.         (Rev 22:5)  "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they ( we)     shall reign for ever and ever."

 

                                    c.         (Rom 8:17)  "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

 

                        5.         Notice that our Inheritance is an incorruptible Inheritance.

 

a.                                                                                                                                (1 Pet 1:4)  "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,"

 

VII.       CONSIDER WHAT WE WERE BEFORE GOD ADOPTED US.

 

            A.         WE WERE SPIRITUALLY DEFORMED.

 

                        1.         Mordecai adopted Esther, because she was fair.

 

 

a.                                                                                                                                (Est 2:7)  "And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter."

 

                        2.         It was the other way around with us.

 

                                    a.         (Ezek 16:1-3)  "Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, {2} Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, {3} And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite."

 

                        3.         It was no easy thing to make heirs of wrath into heirs of promise.

 

                        4.         Our Adoption was purchased at great expense.

 

                        5.         It is a difficult thing to adopt your enemies or the children of an enemy.

                                    a.         We were of our father the devil. (Jn. 8:44)

 

                                    b.         We were “children of wrath.”  (Eph 2:3)

 

                        6.         Men usually adopt but one heir; but God adopted many.

 

                        7.         David considered it an high honor to be the King’s Son in law; but we are more than that.  We are adopted into the family as “sons

 

            B.         THE    JEWS BOASTED OF BEING “SONS OF ABRAHAM.”

 

                        1.         (John 8:39)  "They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham."

 

                        2.         But Adoption doesn’t come by blood.

 

VIII.             THE EVIDENCE  OF OUR ADOPTION.

 

            A.         THE HOLY SPIRIT TESTIFIES TO OUR ADOPTION.

 

                        1.         (Rom 8:15-16)  "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. {16} The Spirit itself (Greek = Himself)  beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"

 

                        2.         (Gal 5:24)  "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

 

                        3.         (Gal 5:22-23)  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, {23} Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

 

                        4.         (Heb 6:11)  "And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:"

 

Conclusion:       Augustine said: “A crab-tree may bear fruit pretty to the eye, but the taste is sour because it does not come from a good root.