Adopted January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , trackbackI knew a family who had adopted three children into their home and raised the children as their own. The children were all different, and were raised through adulthood. They took the family name. They became part of that family, though not born into it biologically. The sons could legitimately claim they were sons of the father because they were adopted. They all have rights to inherit the property and land of the father after the parents pass away. In fact, they were purposely chosen by the parents, not an accident of some back seat romance, they were chosen to be part of the family and given all the rights of the family.
Perhaps the most beautiful statement about adoption concerns Michal, the wife of King David. According to the Bible, she never had children all her life (2 Samuel 6:23); yet the Bible also mentions her five sons (2 Samuel 21:8). (Noticing this appearance of discrepancy,) the Talmud remarks, “Her sister Merab gave birth to them and she raised them, therefore they are called by her name. This teaches that whoever brings up an orphan in his home is regarded, according to Scripture, as though the child had been born to him.” (Sanhedrin 19b) A similar passage occurs in the midrash, where the question arises about what Hebrew name to use for a woman raised by a foster father. The decision is to use the foster father’s name, because “he who brings up a child is to be called its father, not he who gave birth.” (Exodus Rabbah 46:5) Despite the importance of lineage, ultimately the true parents are the ones who raise the child, imparting their values and wisdom, their nurture and their love. By Jewish law, the child is called by their name.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)
Now this family as they grew up with their adopted father, growing up in communion with him, adopted traits and likenesses of their father from their interactions. Unfortunately many of the traits were personality disorders due to lack of discipline, but that is not the issue or point. These children from different cultures, all grew up reflecting the father because of the time they spent in communion with him.
Again, we must understand the bible in historic and redemptive perspective to get the picture of our adoption and who we are in Christ.Under Jewish law, if a child is born of a gentile birth mother, many adoption issues among tribes do not hold. However, the child will need formal conversion to Judaism. This includes brit milah or a symbolic brit for a boy, and immersion in a kosher mikvah for both a boy and girl. Most rabbis prefer to arrange the conversion at a very young age, even infancy, long before the child has understanding as to what is happening. The Talmud questions why the rabbis have the right to convert a child before the age of consent. The answer is based on the Talmudic principle, zachin leadam shelo befanav, “we can act to someone’s advantage even without their permission.” (Ketubbot 11a) However, at the age of Bar/ Bat Mitzvah, the child has the right either to reaffirm or to protest the conversion. Many rabbis see the Bar/ Bat Mitzvah ceremony itself as a reaffirmation, thus giving it special significance for an adopted child.
Our adoption into the family of God has taken away the birth rights of Adam and Eve, even though we are of their bloodline, and when born from above (John 3) places us legally into the family of God. Many resist adoption and election, but even the Jewish customs (therefore the Jews themselves would glean what this adoption in Christ means) perform the right of conversion before the child can act on its own. This is the very picture that transcends both time and space constrictions, in our being hand selected by the Godhead before the earth was formed, for his purposes and ‘acting to our advantage even without our permission’. When the Jews came into adulthood, they acknowledged the covenant or rejected it. These compartives are examples of how the Jewish converts would have understood the salvation process of election and adoption in a historical first century setting and their application to redemption. In a time when new theories are circulating twenty centuries later, it is important we go back and view the historical customs and understanding of that culture to better equip ourselves from a historic redemptive approach.
I believe we could consider this also in historical perspective of why we claim the promise of our children in baptism at their infancy, as baptism now included both male and female, as circumscision was only males on day 8. But when a non-Jew was adopted into a Jewish household(grafted into the vine correlative) they were coverted as infants declaring them as of the Jewish faith without their assent or consent. When they became of age they affirmed by taking the rites or not. We claim our children for God as children in baptism, believing in His covenental promises, and raising them in a godly home and instruction. When they come of age they affirm by joining the church or rejecting Christ and leaving the church.
Now the family I tell the story of may or may not outlive their children, each child may or may not get their inheritance due to death prior to the parent, the parent could lose everything, there are many circumstances involved in earthly matters and the outcome is predicated on that.
But our adoption in the Lord is final. Our inheritance has been laid aside. He lives forever and is on the throne until He comes back for the saints. We will never outlive the living God, yet we will get our inheritance in Christ, and will not receive our earned reward in Adam (our works).
John 10:27-ff speaks to the permanent nature of our adoption/election My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Joh 17: 6-10 in Christ’s Priestly Prayer says, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. “.
Understanding who we are in Christ is such joy. I can’t lose my salvation like my car keys or wallet. I have an inheritence that can not be corrupted. Think being adopted by Bill Gates would make you the most fortunate person in the world? No, because whatever you”own” here you just leave for someone else or consume and is temporal. This adoption is into the owner of the universes family and He has gone before us to prepare a place for us that is eternal.
Everytime I think about who I am in Christ I am humbled. I think of the works I won’t be rewarded for. I think of all I have contributed to my salvation out of my own free will, all for naught. (Praise God!) And I am overcome with joy that my works of sin and need for salvation have been forgiven and satisfied and I am part of His family. When God looks at me He will see me through the prism of His son, cloaked in His righteousness, purchased by His Son who imputed His righteousness to my account. This brings joy unspeakable to the soul!
“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, Who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, and says to Zion, YOUR GOD REIGNS!” (Isaiah 52:7).
Christ Alone!
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