Another Family to Which we Belong

Not all of us were born into awesome families. Yet, I suspect that even some of us who’ve been part of amazing families have on occasion thought it would be nice to be part of another family. It might not be about discontentment with our own, just curiosity about the other ‘perfect’ or nice relationships we see from the outside. For those among us who’ve been fostered or adopted into other’s families, we may have first hand knowledge of what this is like. And I pray that the experience – if/when it came – was worthwhile. Whatever our experience of family has been, we all have another family to which we belong. Sometimes it isn’t as clear, but God … Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.

Romans 8:15 NIV

[15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Adopted

Some of us don’t hear the word adopted with pleasure. It brings thoughts and/or memories of selection and rejection processes that may have been harrowing. Not all adoption processes are horrible however; and we might be aware of adoptions, legal or unofficial, that have been success stories.

Self-Check

Do we look at adopted persons any differently from those born into a family? If given the opportunity, would we adopt a child?

Digging Deeper

From my understanding of the times when this letter was written to the Roman church, I suspect that adoption had a wholly different meaning.

Firstly, under Roman law, adults were more often among adoptees. This is most definitely not the case in traditional law today.

Secondly, adoption was rooted in wealth distribution and power, as it was focused more on inheritance of assets and male succession in a very patriarchal system.

This meant that, thirdly, power and vested authority was officially in the male domain. This does not mean women has zero rights. Many owned property, but as women, it was more often the case that the wealthy would adopt a male heir, rather than have a woman fully responsible for managing the inheritance.

These three points are noteworthy to the extent that they are not wholly the case in our current legal systems, but held lots of sway in the Roman context. When we are told that we have been adopted into God’s family, it is important that we realize all that this implies.

Sin distances us from access to all that belongs to God. Although we are still caretakers, God’s creation is not legally ours. Moreover, God has a heir – Y’shua, the Christ. He was, and is, the True heir because He remains sinless. Additionally, God chose Israel as the first adoptees. We see more on that in the various covenants God made with Abram (aka Abraham), Isaac, and Jacob (aka Israel). Interestingly, none of these covenant holders were firstborn children. Abram had an older brother, Isaac was a technical firstborn – if we only focus on Sara, as Ishmael preceded him. And Jacob succeeded Esau. Under the Laws of Primogeniture, the firstborn (primo – first; geniture- born/genetic match) male would inherit the bulk of the father’s estate. Yet, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all chosen by God as heirs to various promises from God.

As Gentiles, most of us were not included in the inheritance plan: even if we were males. But, the exception that resulted in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob being chosen over their brothers justifies our inclusion, and thus our adoption. Under Roman law we aren’t obliged to be physically born into God’s family, nor do we have to be literal firstborn. With the precedent set with Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, God was not violating God’s laws either. In fact, although Y’shua transcends time having been at Creation with God (see John 1:1-4), by becoming human, Christ became the Second Adam, and He became God’s heir (see 1 Corinthians 15:45) to all we lost with expulsion from the Garden. Again the Law of Primogeniture is slightly disturbed. Yet, being there at the beginning also secured firstborn access, so the Jews are also included.

Remember that in those days, adoption was primarily about inheritance. So someone had to die in order that the full effect of adoption as God’s heirs could come to fruition. Y’shua died nearly 2,000 years ago for us to become heirs, and upon resurrection, He passed the authority of firstborn inheritance to us (see Matthew 28:18-20).

Let’s let that sink in.

God’s plan did not exclude us.

We are heirs, with full rank and status as firstborn sons. Our adoption was legalised not only through Christ’s death, but also through God’s Spirit, Who lives in us and identifies us as God’s own. God’s Spirit marks us as God’s own when we yield to Christ’s lordship over our lives.

Adults or not, male or not, Christ’s death legitimates our adoption, so that we are part of the most important family of all: the family of God. I believe that such news is worth celebrating, regardless of how lovely our earthly family is.

Point to Ponder

What does it mean to us that we are each heirs to God’s property? Might we help others know that they can also be recognized as God’s heirs?

Praise Break

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May all we seek be found in Christ