“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 KJV
“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 KJV
The English word “adoption” used in these texts is from the Greek word “huiothesia”. The first half is “huios,” the common noun for a kin, child, offspring, or son. The latter half is “thesia,” meaning a placement, an appointment, installation, a setting of a person or a thing in its place.
So we are examining what the eastern culture thinks of the word adoption, the PLACING OF A SON. The concordant version of these texts uses the words "you got the spirit of sonship" and "that we may be getting the PLACE of a son." “Getting to the right place” is closer to understanding the real significance of these passages.
So, to better understand scriptural reference to the adoption of sons, it is helpful to have some background of the customs of the middle east in regard to the “adoption of a son” which differs from our own western concepts. Here in America, adoption is taking a CHILD OF OTHER PARENTS and making it a member of their own family.
The Roman Empire, however, accepted the middle eastern customs for adoption (placing) by having a ceremony in which their OWN SONS were acknowledged publicly as having reached a measure of manhood. This custom started with a proclamation that gave the son more certain privileges that were not enjoyed by him before this time.
These privileges were very important to their life, and teach us much of another way of seeing more closely what God revealed in texts about ADOPTION of sons. At the eastern adoption ceremony, the primary right granted is to USE HIS FATHER’S NAME. He was granted power to buy or sell in doing business for the household of his father.
Secondly, the son was given a portion of his INHERITANCE. The father's wealth was entrusted to him. Thirdly, the son was promoted to STAND WITHIN HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS. None of this was possessed by his birthright, but only at the adoption, at his placement as a mature son. This attainment was received following years under developing disciplines and proper growth that trained him through experience.
It is tremendously important to God that His sons consider to know that the candlestick church realm is an in-part realm, of in-part understanding of the Word. The candlestick churches have been limited on purpose to conditions of immature spirituality, where Christians only become “babes in Christ”. Within the multitudes found in candlestick churches, most are not fully placed as developed sons—mature, adopted, and placed to do the Father’s will. Paul dealt with this problem in the churches:
"I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshy, as to minors in Christ. Milk I give you to drink, not solid food, for not as yet were you able. Nay, still, not even now are you able, for you are still fleshly. For where there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and walking according to man?" I Corinthians 3:1-2
“For out of an installment are we knowing, and out of an installment are we prophesying." I Corinthians 13:9 concordant
Christians who overcome the carnal errors found within the heart of worshipping God in the candlestick church realm have their own heart written daily upon by God’s Word. He renews our inner man by revealing the Father’s name, worshipping God at this time not as minors, tossed to and fro, but as sons without strife. These are placed in spiritual Mt. Zion, expressing the doing of our Father’s will as sons and daughters.
The hour has wonderfully come for those who can see. It is close at hand, for God’s ADOPTION of disciplined Christian sons are being PLACED in full measure of authority. Sons will have the full stature of the mature complement of Christ, a completing MANIFESTATION of God the Father to His Sons. God’s King brings the complete measure ruling each son and daughter God has been preparing for the past 2000 years, enduring the dispensation of the fallen church.
Early on the third day, Jesus arose and what a day this next THIRD DAY dispensation shall be for the sons God places to judge the whole world. All creation unknowingly groans and travails in darkness to be delivered into a state of incorruption, just like granted sons who are mature enough to put on Christ. God is making a kingdom of priests free from corruption, enjoying new levels of spiritual adoption as new understanding about our Father develops within them.
God is placing us in proper places of understanding Him. The spirit of truth makes us free and is available to us even now. But the greatest numbers of Christian people are members of the candlestick churches which have been limited in growth to produce only a “60 fold” partial maturity in Christ. CHILDREN of God are still babes in Christ who are challenged to move on toward the FULL STATURE of Christ to receive an ADOPTION, to be placed as a mature SON, like Jesus.
When our Father judges us as developed enough to do His business for His family, He grants a measure of inheritance that will work for us to make major changes that redeem even our earthly natural bodies:
“For the spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption – the Spirit producing Sonship – in the bliss of which we cry, Abba, Father!” Romans 8:15 Amplified
The measure of the Holy Spirit given Christian people for two thousand years is but an earnest of the guarantee, just the down payment of all that God has in store, has planned and reserved for us. We are to receive placement as sons and a portion of eminent power as an inheritance from our Father. Kingdom glory comes with a more complete measure of SPIRITUAL ADOPTION that produces sonship within those who cry, “ABBA, FATHER”.
We are deeply connected within: Abba God IS my Father! Thus, God has Fathered many things within our inner man by the Holy Spirit sent to us to teach, instruct, and guide us to a truth which brings about our liberty. That liberty belongs to sons of God who know God is far more important to them than temporal “blessings” that heal and prosper our natural life.
God helps us have a better earthly life when we hold on to the Kingdom truth we get. He adds everything we need when we seek first His Kingdom. Meanwhile, religious hucksters are getting fat bank accounts by establishing followings in every kind of church fellowship while we break bread daily with the Father's mind, nature, and life in our life. This works a producing of sonship, inner discipleship that is intended to teach us how to know what’s right. We are taught in order to be placed in a mind as complete as our brother, Jesus, and the family in which God works by His Spirit.
A child is born, but a son is DEVELOPED. Sons grow beyond the boundaries of church traditions and in-part practices of past church generations. Sons are to receive God’s CHARACTER and ABILITY within their spirit to know God as a son. Jesus passed through thirty years of development under the inner dealings of His Father, learning WAYS of complete obedience until adopted in a public ceremony at Jordan openly as HIS SON:
“And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
From that day forward Jesus assumed responsible business in His Father’s house. His authority was displayed, His wealth of wisdom, His inner spiritual power became manifested on this planet as being the firstborn of many brethren who glorify the Father in word and in deed. New birth in Christ starts at being born again, but that is just the beginning of our spiritual awakening.
The life God grants to His Christian children is a free gift of His unmerited mercy and favor. Attainment of higher callings in Christ grants spiritual wealth and celestial power to know God’s lasting glory. Kingdom priests are useful instruments in doing His will throughout the rest of time. They follow Jesus to a GROWTH IN REALIZATION:
“…we should all attain to the unity of the faith and of the realization of the son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the complement of the Christ, that we may by no means still be minors, surging hither and thither and being carried about by every wind of teaching by human caprice, by craftiness with a view to the systematizing of the deception.” Ephesians 4:13-14 concordant
Paul reveals more of God's deep purposes in the following sacredly inspired words:
"For I am reckoning that the sufferings of the current era do not deserve the glory about to be revealed for us. For the premonition of the creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God. For vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
For we are aware that the entire creation is groaning and travailing together until now. Yet not only so, but we ourselves also, who (only) have the first fruit of the spirit, we ourselves also, are groaning in ourselves, awaiting the sonship (adoption), the deliverance of our body. Romans 8:19-23 concordant
Church revivalists advocate and pray for a move of God that returns from time to time. Mature sons, however, view the presence and rule of God as perpetually indwelling, constant, progressive – never vacillating and never retrogressing. Our Father is God, abiding with our inner man, progressively taking us from glory to glory, from realm to realm, from age to age.
We are not sleeping in ignorance, but awakened within our spiritual connection to the constant light of God Fathering us. The mature Christian allows God to place truth in his temple. This truth should save our soul, then change our body to be inhabited permanently. His sons and daughters are not people God relates to just occasionally. The words of Jesus teaches truth still:
“Anyone who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make a home in him.” John 14:23 NJB
God has brought many to a PLACING as they are sealed with His Name. Within them He tabernacles, enthroned with the same spiritual maturity that is found in the firstborn son. Our Lord Jesus Christ has built together a people who are led by His spirit. They are numbered in tens of thousands, spiritually consisting and unified with the New Jerusalem order. Another move of the Spirit and work of God is DESCENDING from the New Jerusalem order, transcending by far anything that the candlestick churches have done on this earth.
We are at the hour of the FEAST OF TABERNACLES, an example that brings Christians to a new third Feast, the third Day, a mature “100 fold” realm. God’s saints have long awaited the promised Day in which His manifestation frees Christians from every bondage to decay: body, soul, and spirit. Our Father has placed sons to help set creation totally free from death. This long awaited Kingdom government will liberate babes in Christ from all bondage of past heavens, and every false teachings that eats as decay to hold Christians short of the mark.
Certainly the hour has come for the KINGDOM GOVERNMENT TO BE SEEN UPON THE SHOULDERS OF HIS BODY. Only one order, one heavenly rank is to endure and never be destroyed or pass away. It shall reign to consume and destroy forever all other domains. As the King appears, it will change today's Christian people in the candlestick church systems. Some nations of the earth shall quickly come to see, to know, and serve the Lord.
Jesus is coming, bringing peace to our earth and goodwill toward ALL other men, with judgment that is just and equitable for all, for it is GOD’S ABUNDANT LIFE FOR ALL:
"For a Boy, He is born to us; A Son, He is given to us, And the chieftainship shall come to be on His shoulder, And one shall call His name Marvelous; Counsel to the master shall He bring, unto the chief, well-being. To the increase of the chieftainship and to the well-being there will be no end; On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to brace it with right judgment and with justice, henceforth and in the future eon, The zeal of Yahweh of hosts, it shall achieve this." Isaiah 9:6-7 concordant
Our Father has set up many certain people as ensigns for the nations, and He will assemble all the outcasts of Israel. From the ends of the seen earth to the depths of the unseen universe, all shall come to Him as the Lord gathers His children, all Christians, and ALL DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. ALL ISRAEL AND ALL THE NATIONS shall come to sit in the lasting heavens of the King.
God Himself has promised. He asked us to willingly take our cross and follow Him on a highway for all the scattered and dispersed peoples of the earth. All Israel’s many sons like the sand of the sea shall come to draw water out of the wells of salvation with joy and thanksgiving, praising the Lord, and exalting His name correctly, as the Lord’s people in Zion are shouting for all to hear:
"I am acclaiming You, O Yahweh; Indeed You have been angry with me, May Your anger reverse that You may comfort me. Behold, El is my Salvation; I shall trust in Him and not be afraid, For my Strength and my Melody is Yah, Yahweh, And He became mine for salvation. Then you will draw forth water with elation from the springs of salvation. And you will say in that day,
Acclaim Yahweh! Call on His Name! Make known His actions among the peoples! Mention that His Name is impregnable. Make melody to Yahweh, For He has done august things, Making this known in the entire earth. Make a noise and be jubilant, dweller of Zion, For great among you is the Holy One of Israel.." Isaiah 12:1-6 concordant
The wonderful refreshings found in past generations of church goers have been only an "earnest of spirit." They have been an IN-PART measure, limited for the last two thousand years to that measure we Christians know as only the down payment, THE EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT:
"For we also, who are in the tabernacle, are groaning, being burdened, on which we are not wanting to be stripped, but to be dressed, that the mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now He Who produces us for this same longing is God, Who is also giving us the earnest of the spirit." II Corinthians 5:5 concordant
In due time, early on the third day, Jesus arose higher than ever before. He was outside every religious camp and received ALL OF THE FATHER’S AUTHORITY as a placed son, later raised to His right hand. We adopted sons are placed with the mind of the head of the house, to stand in matters of business which for Christians is obedience to our heavenly Father’s will. A complete seven-fold complement of the Spirit is sent to instruct saints how to be placed as sons, clothed with our heavenly garments as being joined to Jesus as one spirit. The Body of Christ is comprised of “just men being made perfect” members of that one body, all sons of God:
"…you have come to mount Zion, and the city of the living God, celestial Jerusalem, and to ten thousand messengers, to a universal convocation, and to the ecclesia of the firstborn, ‘registered’ in the heavens, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just perfected, and to Jesus, the Mediator of a fresh covenant." Hebrews 12:22-23 concordant
The Bride of Christ Jesus is now to be raised up to the third thousand year day, a day the Lord eats a new feast with His people who mount up and receive their wedding garments. Our inner spiritual man is being clothed like a garment by God. God deposits HIMSELF in His sons. They are placed to minister truth to members who need washed by His word. God wants us cleansed from the understandings of the previous ages found in the images of a fallen church holding and clutching their minds with dark cloaks of untrue stuff about God.
We Christians are to be NO MORE MINORS, surging hither and thither and being carried away by every wind of teaching of human caprice by craftiness of religious men having a “view to the systematizing of deceptions” (Ephesians 14) in church. All this is happening in the harlot woman, the religious system named Mystery Babylon.
The Lord has been gathering His people to Zion during the church age. Now and ahead is a new age which supersedes the ever so popular 2000 year old church age. The times ahead are called "the oncoming eons" in the concordant version of scripture. RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS is spoken of by all the holy prophets since the world began and shall commence with overtaking power to completely fulfill these abundant promises given of God. We are assured:
"…yet, God, being rich in mercy, because of His vast love with which He loves us, (we also being dead to the offenses and the lusts), vivifies us together in Christ (in grace are you saved!) and rouses us together and seats us together among the celestial, in Christ Jesus, that, in the oncoming eons, He should be displaying the transcendent riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7 concordant
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who blesses us with every spiritual blessing among the celestials, in Christ, according as He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world, we to be holy and flawless in His sight, in love designating us beforehand for the place of a son for Him through Christ Jesus; in accord with the delight of His will, for the laud of the glory of His grace, which graces us in the Beloved:
in Whom we are having the deliverance through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses in accord with the riches of His grace, which He lavishes on us in all wisdom and prudence making known to us the secret of His will (in accord with His delight, which He purposed in Him) to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to head up all in the Christ-both that in the heavens and that on the earth-in Him in Whom our lot was cast also, being designated beforehand according to the purpose of the One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of His will, that we should be for the laud of His glory, who are pre-expectant in the Christ." Ephesians 1:3-12 concordant
"The intelligent shall warn as the warning of the atmosphere, and those turning many to righteousness will be as the stars for the eon and further." Daniel 12:3 concordant
Our spiritual being can shine as a star in the Lord forever as we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. In the light of rich and abundant promises, promises with great opportunity to see His face, we earnestly strive to partake of spiritual blessings. We are having an ADOPTION by hearing His heavenly call to seek His mind until commissioned with daily understanding of the divine name. We are to inherit a river of life that flows abundantly from the skilled sons who are about the Father's business.