Wednesday: The Privileges of Adoption
Galatians 4:5-7
In Galatians 4:5-7, Paul expands on his theme, stressing that Christ has now “redeemed those who were under the law” (vss. 4, 5, ESV). The word to redeem means “to buy back.” It referred to the price paid to buy the freedom of either a hostage or a slave. As this context indicates, redemption implies a negative background: a person is in need of being liberated.
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From what, though, do we need to be freed? The New Testament presents four things among others: (1) freed from the devil and his wiles (Heb. 2:14-15), (2) freed from death (1 Cor. 15:56-57), (3) freed from the power of sin that enslaves us by nature (Rom. 6:22), and (4) freed from the condemnation of the law (Rom. 3:19-24, Gal. 3:13, Gal. 4:5).
What positive purpose has Christ achieved for us through the redemption we have in Him? Gal. 4:5-7; Eph. 1:5; Rom. 8:15-16; Rom. 8:23; Rom. 9:4-5.
We often speak about what Christ has accomplished for us as “salvation.” Though true, this word is not nearly as vivid and descriptive as Paul’s unique use of the word adoption (huiothesia). Although Paul is the only New Testament author to use this word, adoption was a well-known legal procedure in the Greco-Roman world. Several Roman emperors during Paul’s life used adoption as the means of choosing a successor when they had no legal heir. Adoption guaranteed a number of privileges: “(1) The adopted son become[s] the true son . . . of his adopter. . . . (2) The adopter agrees to bring up the child properly and to provide the necessities of food and clothing. (3) The adopter cannot repudiate his adopted son. (4) The child cannot be reduced to slavery. (5) The child’s natural parents have no right to reclaim him. (6) The adoption establishes the right to inherit.” — Derek R. Moore-Crispin, “Galatians 4:1-9: The Use and Abuse of Parallels,” The Evangelical Quarterly, vol. LXI/No. 3 (1989), p. 216.
If these rights are guaranteed on an earthly level, just imagine how much greater are the privileges we have as the adopted children of God!
| Read Galatians 4:6, realizing that the Hebrew word Abba was the intimate word children used to address their father, like the word Daddy or Papa today. Jesus used it in prayer (Mark 14:36), and as God’s children we have the privilege of calling God “Abba,” as well. Do you enjoy that kind of intimate closeness to God in your own life? If not, what’s the problem? What can you change to bring about this closeness? |
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It is such a comfort to know that I can come to God and cry 'Abba' Father. My earthly father was such a disappointment in every way and although he professed to be 'godly' there was always the abuse to me that went with it. I pray that he made things right with his God and I try not to judge him but I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father Abba. I can't wait to meet Him one day soon.
For me, what's really keeping me from 100% closeness with God is that I still doubt certain things about the Bible, and I also feel like some of my previous sins make me a hypocrite to call myself a true believer. But, just as the lesson highlighted the fact that adoption meant that the original parents of the child have no legal claim to the child after he/she is adopted by another, My previous sins no longer have custody over me now that God is with me!
I hear you, Lee! We are no longer slaves to sin or servants of sin. When the fullness of sin is come, there is death. But we are slaves of righteousness (Rom. 6:18) heirs of Christ! And the fullness of that is life eternal. We should no longer say things such as I am still struggling with this or that, we ought to claim the victory that we have in Jesus our Abba, because He was wounded for our transgressions and by His stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5). I thank God for the victory even though it may not feel that way, but His truth is greater than my feelings!!
During a time of war, President FDR gave a State of the Union address on January 6,1941 in which he outlined four universal freedoms, and subsequently they were illustrated by Norman Rockwell in his Four Freedoms painting. I like to think of this lesson as our spiritual Four Freedoms Act, a spiritual Emancipation Proclamation from our Redeemer.
* Free from the devil and his wiles
* Free from death
* Free from the power of sin that seeks to enslave us
* Free from the condemnation of the Law
I look forward to that day when in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we may all join in the words of that Negro Spiritual, Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty I am Free at last.
Even so come quickly Lord Jesus.
God always has it in His mind to save us. I thank Him for the effort that brought me to light of knowing His intention toward me all this time. May His Name remain in my life always. In Jesus Name Amen
My earthly father died when I was 5. It was a great trauma! It still is sometimes! But God has always been here for me. When earthly feelings of disappointment come He is always ready to listen, embrace me and always answer with what's right for me (not always what I think is best, but with better things yet!). He gave me a wonderful family. His adoption and guidness is available to all. It is necessary only to accept! Thank You God for Your love!!!
I grew up without having a father figure in my life and life for me was not easy. Although my mum did her utmost best in bringing me up in the way of the Lord, not having someone to call daddy always felt like something was missing in my life. Therefore to know that I now have a father who I can have an intimate relationship with, someone who understands me better than anyone else, someone I can relate to, someone who accepts me for who I am, brings me joy beyond compare.
It is so comforting to know that Jesus death frees me from the power of sin,so I that I can be an overcomer rather than a slave to sin. Steven Reichert's comment hits the nail on the head. Freedom, sweet freedom, I embrace it all. Thank you Jesus!
I thought that an adopted child could not be disinherited until we made a will with an attorney. This question came up and he said that an adopted child can be disinherited the same as a biological child.
Don - disinherited in the beneficial sense only; they still remain sons/daughters with equal rights to inheritance. To give it credence, the parent often gives a reason as to why they may not benefit under the terms of the Will. So it is with our loving Father - he gives deep consideration to why the wayward cannot inherit. It is not done on a whim. Blessings.
In Galatians 4:5 Two metaphors of salvation are used. First redemption and then adoption in that sequence. It seems to me this is a process not one thing. Paul says "to redeem them that are under the law that we might receive the adoption of the son." Under the law should not be used to " deny the authority of the law of God, urging that we are released from obligation to keep the commandments.
Maybe verse four is the key to unlock verse five. If it doesn't, then another text will definitely do. Verse four says "God sent out his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,"(Easy to read Bible). Does this then mean the woman was the one under the law or Jesus himself? So if Jesus Christ too was made of a woman, made under the law, then this phrase "under the law" does not mean the obligations of the law of God. Even the father of faith, Abraham also maintained the authority of God's law. The testimony of God was, “Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws" Genesis 26:5.
Galatians 3:13 spells this clearly "Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation]by [Himself] becoming a curse for us. . ."(Amplified Bible). This phrase "under the law" refers to curse pronounced for breaking the law [(committing sin). Rom 6:23. "Becoming a curse for us" means He took upon himself that curse [(doom)" That is: He freed man from the consequences of sin. Man's redemption therefore is from this curse, but man is still under obligation to keep the law. Christ does not redeem man from the authority of His law which is the trascript of his character. Man receive the adoption of the son because he is no longer under the curse of the law (which caused him to "come short of the glory of God") but is compatible with the law. "If ye love me, keep my commandments " John 14:15.
Therefore the process of salvation begins by being freed from this curse/ condemnation by being by the atoning blood of the Jesus the Christ which is the gift of God's grace. Only after that we receive the spirit of adoption of the son (have the status of sonship conferred to us) through faith in Him. The gift of redemption is for all but it seems adoption is not for all. Only those who understand that "to redeem them that are under the law" doesn't mean independence from the law of God.
It is not just crying Abba that saves. Ellen White says "I saw that the angels of God are never to control the will. God sets before man life and death. He can have his choice. Many desire life, but still continue to walk in the broad road. They choose to rebel against God’s government, notwithstanding His great mercy and compassion in giving His Son to die for them. Those who do not choose to accept of the salvation so dearly purchased, must be punished. But I saw that God would not shut them up in hell to endure endless misery, neither will He take them to heaven; for to bring them into the company of the pure and holy would make them exceedingly miserable. But He will destroy them utterly and cause them to be as if they had not been...Amen!” EW 221.1
Perhaps no other story in the gospel can sum up the the compassion of adoption as children of God more than the story of a "woman in the city who was a sinner" Luke 8:37 whose name was Mary, John 12:3 and with whom the disciples were indignant Matthew 26:8, "And they criticized her sharply. Mark 14:5
Yet yet Jesus told them to "Let her alone" Mark 14:6 and told her, "Your sins are forgiven" Luke 8:48 and after His resurrection called her by name, "Mary!" John 20: 16
As I read the lesson and the comments, I wholeheartedly agreed with everything without exception. I also agree with Paul.
However, another thought came to me. It is not an opposing thought but a complementary concept.
In this modern day of technological advances, individuals who have been adopted frequently (not always) want to do a search for their birth parents. Then in some of the cases there is a reconciliation – not a repudiation of the adoptive parents, but folks want to meet their blood parents, for a variety of reasons – medical history, genes, siblings, etc.
When we have been adopted by God, it’s a different kind of adoption. The old man has died Rom 6:6-11, and we have risen as new creatures, now re-born of the water and the Spirit. We have truly new “parents” and we have no desire to search for our “old parents.” Our re-birth ends our connection with the old parents.
We are new in Christ – not tied to the flesh, but born of the Spirit. John 3:6.
2 Cor 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
I thank God for the new birth experience. Praise God!
Adoption has a lot more to do with the adopter than the adoptee in the whole process. The adopter plans, initiates, sacrifices/risks & pays for the whole process. The adoptee has the same inheritance and previledges of a biological child and the same set of choices in life to make of this previledge. In our case, God makes all the moves to make us heirs to His kingdom. We only have to accept his offer of Salvation freely through Jesus!
Abba! Father! What a personal God who says, “Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee..” (Jer 1:5),
I love to call my Heavenly father my "Loving Heavenly Father", because I m so very thankful that He loves me, despite my sinful life!