Hello, I am sorry for delay in getting to this blog.
I would like to start by looking at something very fundamental to having a childlike perspective when it comes to God. It comes from Romans 8:15 that says:
"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!"
Question, when we hear the word adoption, what do we hear? Traditionally, I have viewed the word to mean something like one step away from being a 'real' child or having 'real' parents. If this is the case, if even only subconsciously, we may perceive an unspoken distance between ourselves and God. It is helpful to keep in mind that Paul was a Roman citizen and when he wrote this, he had the benefit of Roman culture to contextualize what he meant. For example, did you know that Octavius was adopted by Julius Cesar to be the next Cesar? This mean that the whole reason for the adoption was to pass along an inheritance, in this case the Roman empire. Did you know that it was a Roman practice to adopt with the intention of passing along one's inheritance.
" Two of the most striking differences between modern Western adoptions and the ancient Roman practice are related. First, the adoptee in Rome was usually an adult male (p. 25). Second, the reason for adoption was usually to pass on one’s inheritance..."
Therefore, when God tells us we have been given a spirit of adoption, we should keep in mind that we have been given an inheritance. Salvation, righteousness and all of God's promises have been given to us. We are not not one step removed from God but rather we have been brought closer.
I would like to start by looking at something very fundamental to having a childlike perspective when it comes to God. It comes from Romans 8:15 that says:
"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!"
Question, when we hear the word adoption, what do we hear? Traditionally, I have viewed the word to mean something like one step away from being a 'real' child or having 'real' parents. If this is the case, if even only subconsciously, we may perceive an unspoken distance between ourselves and God. It is helpful to keep in mind that Paul was a Roman citizen and when he wrote this, he had the benefit of Roman culture to contextualize what he meant. For example, did you know that Octavius was adopted by Julius Cesar to be the next Cesar? This mean that the whole reason for the adoption was to pass along an inheritance, in this case the Roman empire. Did you know that it was a Roman practice to adopt with the intention of passing along one's inheritance.
" Two of the most striking differences between modern Western adoptions and the ancient Roman practice are related. First, the adoptee in Rome was usually an adult male (p. 25). Second, the reason for adoption was usually to pass on one’s inheritance..."
Therefore, when God tells us we have been given a spirit of adoption, we should keep in mind that we have been given an inheritance. Salvation, righteousness and all of God's promises have been given to us. We are not not one step removed from God but rather we have been brought closer.
Lindsay, Hugh. Adoption in the Roman World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Accessed July 16, 2014. http://www.dts.edu/reviews/hugh-lindsay-adoption-in-the-roman-world/.
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