AWAITING OUR FULL ADOPTION
LAST WEEK I SPOKE ABOUT ROMAN ADOPTION, AND THAT A CHILD WOULD BE TREATED AS HIS OWN CHILD. THIS IS A PICTURE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US AS SONS/DAUGHTERS OF GOD: WE ARE ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.
THERE WAS A SECOND ADOPTION PROCESS OFTEN UNDERTAKEN IN ROMAN CULTURE. THIS PROCESS WAS UNDERTAKEN IN PUBLIC; THE CHILD WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE AUTHORITIES AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE ORDINARY GARMENTS OF THE ADOPTED CHILD WERE TO BE TAKEN OFF IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY, AND THE ADOPTING FATHER WOULD PUT ON HIM NEW GARMENTS THAT SUITED HIS NEW WAY OF LIFE.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS ‘TO BE WAITING FOR OUR ADOPTION’. THERE IS COMING A TIME WHEN WE WILL BE FULLY ADOPTED INTO GOD'S FAMILY BEFORE THE SPECTATORS OF THE WORLD – JESUS WILL RETURN TO PUBLICLY OWN US AT
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