Let’s Talk About Adoption

 

 

 

 

 

Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. (Luke 2:1 NASB)

Issue of Caesar Augustus

Julia the Elder
Gaius Caesar (adopted)
Lucius Caesar (adopted)
Agrippa Postumus (adopted)
Tiberius (adopted)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus

As I was reading through Luke's gospel account for my daily devotions, I took a rabbit trail to find out more about Caesar Augustus and noticed this account of his "issue." Note that, except for Julia the Elder, all were "adopted." This gives us a picture of adoption that differs from the usual interpretation of adoption, simply taking a child from one family into another family. This interpretation is insufficient to understand Gal 4:1-7.

Even Octavian was adopted by Julius Caesar, being named in Caesar's will. To be the "adopted son" was to be heir apparent. It meant wealth, status, prestige, and most importantly, loyalty to the reigning monarch who, in our case, is our Lord Jesus Christ. For Octavian, this involved the love of the will (agape) to follow and obey his King. Gaius Octavius, when he ascended to the rank of  Princeps Civitatis ("First Citizen") of the Roman Principate, he took the name Gaius Julius Caesar in honor of his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, who had adopted Octavian in his will.

The term for adoption in the New Testament is huiothesia and simply means, "son-placing." As adopted sons of God, chosen by God, heirs in God's family, we are old enough to understand and obey our heavenly Father's will. We need to focus on what this means every day of our lives. Consider the following verses:

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. (Gal 4:1-7 NASB)

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" (Rom 8:14-15 NASB)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:4-10 NASB)

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (Col 3:1-4 NASB)

So to be adopted as a Christian means, not taking from one family and placing that person into another. It means to be taken into a relationship with God as one who, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, is now able to understand and obey our heavenly Father's will. "Abba! Father!" is not the cry of a baby saying da, da. But a response of a child of God who is old enough to know and obey our Heavenly Father's will. This is what love (agape) is, choosing God's will in every set of circumstances and toward everyone with whom we come in contact.