Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
The Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The biblical connotation of adoption is based on the Roman aristocratic function of adoption in the time when the New Testament was written. In Scripture adoption means to be recognized by God as an “adult” son positionally at salvation and an adult son “experientially” at maturity. Latin adoptia (English – adoption) = Greek huiothesia = to adopt as an adult son. 14:00
If their own children did not respond to this authority, they would look for someone else in society who was old enough to respond to authority and adopt them Roman style so that the family name would continue with aristocracy. 15:00
Adoption meant to pass the family fortune down and the family opportunities down to that person who was qualified to be a legitimate mature heir of the family inheritance.
Adoption was a way of recognizing that we have superiority and selectivity just like they had in the Roman society. 15:35
In the spiritual realm, for us imputations at salvation are made as part of the ceremony of recognizing that we now have a plan and purpose in life. 18:30
Being in union with Christ, we are joint-heirs with Christ, and are therefore adopted at the moment of salvation,GAL 3:26. 19:20
Adoption (Huiothesia) = to place a son in the home who would carry on a family business, the family estate, or whatever it was that was important; it meant recognition as an adult son.
Adoption was a system of selectivity for heirship, in which a capable person would succeed another capable person.
To place an adult son in the home was a Roman custom for aristocracy.
So just being the son of an aristocrat did not mean you would inherit your father’s land, wealth, or title; you had to be adopted.
The family fortune and opportunities were passed down through that adopted person.
Adoption was the ceremony of proclaiming the heir to the estate.
Adoption was brought about as a means of introducing a stronger society in early Rome.
The actual ceremony was called adrogatio.
Adoption meant selection to special privilege.
Adoption refers to our equal privilege and equal opportunity under predestination.
It also meant rank and aristocracy not necessarily based on physical birth.