7/58 The Roman Custom to Adoption
In writing to the Galatians, Paul used a Greek word, “luiothesia” to describe our adoption by Father God. He described adoption as an act of God, whereby a born-again child is placed into the family as a Son, and given the full privileges of sonship, Galatians 4:1-2.
Paul was using the common terns of the Roman custom to raise their sons in the care of slaves, guardians and tutors until they reached the age of maturity, usually around 15 or 16. Then they were formally adopted and given the full rights and responsibilities of a grown son in the household.
Paul also defined adoption as a stage of spiritual growth, growing from newborn, through childhood onto maturity.
Spiritual Childhood means:
- Desiring the milk of the Word, 1 Peter 2:2,
- Being more carnal than spiritual, 1 Corinthians 3:1,
- Immature in thoughts and actions, 1 Corinthians 13:1,
- Unstable, tossed with every wind of doctrine, Ephesians 4:14,
- Unskilled in the Word, Hebrews 5:12-14.
Mature Spiritual Growth:
- Led by the Spirit of God, Romans 8:14-16
- Expressing the likeness of Christ, Col. 3:10, Romans 8:28.
- Sharing in Christ’s sufferings, Romans 8:17.
- Expressing the love of God, 1 John 4:7-8, 5:1.
- Expressing the divine nature, 2 Peter 1:4.
- Leading a separated life, 2 Corinthians 6:8.
Just as the human baby learns ‘Basic Trust’ in their environment, so too the growing babe must learn that God is faithful, and even when events look their darkest, He is still there. Unshakable faith must be built at this stage also.
The Benefits of Adoption:
- Taking on a new family name: Ephesians 3:14-15, 1 John 3:1, Revelations 2:17, 3:12.
- Becoming heirs to an eternal inheritance, 1 Peter 1:3-4, Romans 8:17.
- Recipients of divine comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
- Leading and direction of the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:14.
- Partakers of divine discipline, Hebrews 12:5-8.
- Subjects of divine provision, Matthew 6:32-33.
- Delivered from the bondage of the law, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:4-5
- Given the Spirit of Adoption, Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:15.
- Total redemption of the body at Christ’s return, Romans 8:19-23.
Father God planned for our rescue, even setting up the concept of adoption. In Him we can now start over. Adoption means facing Father God not as a slave or even as a steward of His kingdom. We now can see His discipline as a child, find more areas of growth from baby to child onwards. We step into more depth in renewing the mind, dealing with the trauma and receiving more inner healing. We are more open to the transforming experience into Godly wisdom.
We have all had imperfect fathers.
At first we relate to our heavenly Father as though He was imperfect too.
Recently, I worked with a crying young woman, ‘Sally” who was trying to understand how 
God could come and help her face the issues surrounding her. I ‘saw’ a young child, struggling with a toy block set with all her might. Then a loving Father stepped in, picked her up and helped her fix the blocks together.
Sad to say for ‘Sally’ though, since this had never happened in her dysfunctional family, it was hard for her Heart to even have a concept that a loving Father God would do that for her.
Part of the journey is finding out that Father God is not like our Earthly father. He has given us a tremendous inheritance and some of the promises we can tap into in the here and now. We are entitled to the “earnest of our inheritance” NOW – that 10% down we can grow into in our Christian walk NOW. One challenge is to find out what that inheritance really means.
Susanne Fengler, Blog Author
www.christianfoundations.jesus-treeoflife.info
Tags: Roman adoption
Filed under: From Slave to Sonship
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