From forum to family: the adoption of sons and daughters

From forum to family: the adoption of sons and daughters

Thomas Watson said:

“[God] Adopts us to a state of excellence. It were much for God to take a cloud of dust and make it a star; it is more for Him to take a piece of clay and sin adopt it for His heir.”

and

"God's decree is the very pillar and basis on which the saint's perseverance depends. That decree ties the knot of adoption so fast, that neither sin, death, nor hell, can break it asunder."

To the forum

In the divine order of things, which is so difficult for us mere creatures to understand, the Scriptures make it clear that: first, God chose us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world; second, He effectually calls us to Himself, by ordering all of our lives, our circumstances and our hearts to hear the gospel; third, He sends the Spirit of Christ into our heart and regenerates us, giving us a new heart, and heart that is no longer chained to sin, and dead to the things of God; fourth, with our new heart we have faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, and receive his work; and fifth, having faith in the work of Jesus Christ, at the courtroom (forum) we are pardoned from our sin, because it was placed (imputed) upon Christ at the cross, and accepts us as having the righteousness of Christ, and puts (imputes) this righteousness on us.

Thus, when this has happened, we now stand in the forum (courtroom) having been given a sentence that is favorable for us, because Jesus Christ took our punishment. So we don't have to be sent off to the jail and then the execution block, because Jesus was sent there for us. So relief has been given from the weight of our guilt.

While this is a good place to be, as opposed to being judged, condemned and sentenced, that would be a great salvation for us, but we would still stand without relation to the judge, and so would not be punished, but wouldn't have much to go off of. Because, when a person is convicted of a crime, many times they lose all of their possessions having to pay fees, fines and all the like. So while they would be free, they wouldn't have much.

But this is not the end of the story in Christianity, because we actually go from the forum to the family.

To the family

Romans 8:12-17

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 

Here then is where the great love of God is shown. God takes us from the forum (courtroom) to the family. He adopts us.

If we were not adopted, we would merely be servants. But as adopted sons and daughters, we have many, many benefits.

What is this adoption relating to God?

I will answer this question by thinking about what actually happens in three points.

First. It is a gracious act. It is not merited, or deserved. God is not compelled to adopt us, just as he is not compelled to redeem us in Christ.

Second. It is a movement from legal acceptance, justification, to filial (family) relation. No longer are we looked at as subjects that the judge has exercised a verdict on, rather, we are looked at as children.

Third. It is grounded in Christ's work. He paid such a great price for us, it wasn't just for us to be good citizens, but rather for us to be brought into relation and sweet communion with Him. It is only for the sake of Christ that we are adopted.

What does it mean to be adopted?

I will look at this from two perspectives. The first is the perspective of what we become. The second is the perspective as to what we get.

What we become

This is an absolutely amazing thought. Read Romans 8:12-17, and think deeply on what it is saying.

We are given a change of relation legally. Prior to our justification before God, we were actually sons of the first Adam in his rebellion. We were sons of the Devil. We shared the traits and family values of Satan. We shared his desire to be God, his desire to have everything that he wants, his love of lying for gain, and his absolute love of evil. We were children of wrath, because the wrath of God was revealed against righteousness.

Now, the legal change of relation comes in. God adopts us. God brings us into His family through the work of our elder brother, Jesus Christ. Jesus was the righteous elder brother that instead of being angry when the prodigal son came home, had actually left his work and went out to seek the younger, rebellious brother.

We are actually brought into the family of God. We become members of it. What this means is that God places his name on us. In other words, my name is James Pavlic. My family name is Pavlic, and I am identified by it. I am part of John Pavlic's family. I share in his traits, and I am considered his son. He loved me, cared for me, prays for me, and he has me in his will.

So, when God adopts us he gives us his name. Thus, upon adoption, my name is no longer just "James Pavlic", but now my name is, "James Pavlic, son of God", whose elder brother is "Jesus Christ", Son of God. I will speak shortly on the benefits of it, but in the meantime, it suffices us to meditate on this.

Wow! A son of God. God has placed his name on me!

But this isn't it, now that I have been adopted, I share in the family traits. How? I have been given the spirit of the children of God. What is this spirit? Well, it is a righteousness that God has put in me, because He has actually changed my heart from stone to flesh. His Holy Spirit, sent from the Father and the Son, lives in my heart, and I am now a different person.

So, now that I have been redeemed, and adopted, I now have the family traits, I look and act like my Father, and elder Brother, Jesus Christ, who is the express image of God.

This thought is so magnificent, so wonderful that my heart is about to explode as I ponder this. What greater benefit could there be in the universe then to be made like God!

It would be an absolute shame to not at this point bow our hearts in worship to Jesus Christ. It was Christ on the cross, bearing the infinite wrath of God, hell, for us. He did this because he loved us. Wonder of wonders. Marvel of marvel. To Jesus Christ be all glory and honor and majesty and power and glory.

1 Timothy 1:17

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

What we get

Briefly now, we will meditate on the benefits or privileges that flow from being named children of the most High God, and younger brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.

First. We have bold access to our Father. Just as little children can go and ask their dad for things, food, money, the car keys, etc. So we can talk to our Father, asking Him anything that we need. We can ask for privileges that others can't. We can know when we ask him that he has our best interests in mind. He will give us things that are advantageous to us, and things we need and want so long as  He sees it as loving to give us these things.

Second. We can actually call Him Father. We can call Him this in a tender way. Wow! To call the King of the universe Father, and to know that He is loving us. To know that He has made all things, and all things do what He wants, and He uses all things for our good!

Third. We are pitied by God. God cares for us. God is concerned for us. Just as an earthly father sees his child struggling with homework, being made fun of, or anything else, and enters into their grief, struggles and pain, and tries to help, to teach and to move things out of the way. So God does this.

Fourth. We are protected by our Father, God. God watches out for us. He will not allow a single thing happen to us that is not ultimately good for us. He will not allow us to dash our foot on a stone. Not that we may not be hurt, but rather, that nothing evil or terrible will happen to us that will not grow us or prepare us to be with Him in His heavenly abode.

Fifth. We are provided for. God gives us good gifts. Just as an earthly father, if it is needful, will give a child a car in order for them to venture out in the great world, or give them money to pay for school, or provides their food as they grow up. So God provides and cares for us.

Sixth. We are corrected. God leads us on a good path by correcting us when we need it. He disciplines us in order to cut out the evil things that we are doing that will hurt us and separate us from Him. He disciplines us so that our evil practices our cut out so that we can grow into "mature adulthood" in Him. This discipline is proof positive that He loves us. He does all this to grow us. And all the "negative" things in this life are really blessings designed by a master planner to do us good.

Seventh. We are secure. We are safe in Him. Because of Christ's work, and our adoption, we will never be rejected. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Our names our written in the Lamb's book of life. Really, the book of the family. The family tree shows our name and has our picture next to it!

Eighth, and last. We have an inheritance. God has given us salvation. God has given us riches and honor and glory. The King of the universe has included our name in his will! We are seated with Christ on the throne. And all his riches are our riches.

Let us worship God in and through Christ for so great and rich a salvation. Jesus Christ, Son of God, was not so greedy that He would not share His inheritance with us. Rather, He lovingly sacrificed Himself in order to share His great wealth with us! Oh, Wonder of wonder, Miracle of miracle.