Legally Adopted (Ephesians 1:5)

EPHESIANS 1:5 says that our Father set out the limitless boundaries of our adoption; so limitless, that like the horizon, the closer you get to it, the more it demonstrates that it is ever expanding, and still as distant, and filled with possibilities, as when you first began moving toward it. This adoption occurred because He was, and is, always thinking good things; good thoughts about us, and His passion is favorable toward us. All of these good thoughts that He had toward us, compelled Him to act on our behalf, to create a world, for us to inhabit, so that He could demonstrate His positively wonderful thoughts toward us, in doing good for us and to us, through adoption (this is obviously a lengthy "amplified", paraphrased version, of Ephesians 1:5, in an attempt to capture the essence of meaning in the verse).

ADOPTED

I remember the true story, of an individual who related how, at a young age, struggled with the fact that he was adopted, and was being teased by others at school, because of his adoption. His adopted parents sat him down, and told him that it was true that he was adopted, but that he was very special, because of that fact. The parents of all the other children had to take what they got at birth, but they specifically chose him out of all the other children that they could have selected at the time of adoption, and that made him very special and important.

CHOSE US

There are a lot of similarities in the Father's choosing us, from an infinite number of possible selections; and because of the value and uniqueness of who we are; chose us, individually, to be part of His family.

GREEK

The Greek word used for adoption, is (huiothesia), 5206 [Strong's]. It is a compound word from (huios), 5207, meaning a "son", or speaking of 'that which shares the characteristics of another', such as "children of the light", as contrasted with "children of the night"; speaking of moral character and behavior, representative of their quality of origin. It's other compound word that it derives from, is (tithemi), 5087, meaning 'to put or place in a certain position'.

MEANING

The basic meaning from the Greek, is 'to place us in the position of sons, or children'.

LEGAL TRANSACTION

The word is a legal term whereby, in Greek and Roman custom, a totally unrelated child would be placed as a legal part of a family, to which they had no previous legal status or relation. This legal process was done very publicly, in front of at least 7 witnesses; to attest to the transaction.

ALWAYS GOOD

Our Father, that 'always speaks good concerning us', and 'has only good thoughts toward us', 'spoke good things about us, in the heavenly realm'; declared and witnessed before all spiritual beings; and made specific declarations of good, concerning our adoption, and entry into His family.

LEGAL REMOVAL

Part of the adoption process was the legal removal of the adopted child, from any association, and legal obligations, to the former parent. Recognized by law, the adopted child became totally disassociated with any previous relation to his or her former parents.

TRANSFERRED OUT

Once we walked according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit of the one operating in the children of disobedience (Eph.2:2), but we have been 'transferred out' and 'rescued from' all the authority of darkness, and changed over into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col.1:13).

LEGAL HEIR

One of the primary purposes of adoption, was the continuation of the estate of the adoptive parents. Even if there were heirs, the father of the family, in Greek and Roman culture, had absolute authority, and could chose to adopt a successor, even though they may already have children by blood. The son or daughter was not legally recognized, and given authority, in the affairs of the family, until the father declared it to be so. More common, however, was the situation where the parents had no heir to succeed them, and therefore chose to adopt a child, to carry on their name, and their estate, by inheritance.

SPIRIT of ADOPTION

We don't have a spirit of slavery, that leads to bondage and fear, but we have a spirit of adoption that cries out Daddy, Father. Since we are legally the Father's children, we are also heirs, and joint heirs of Christ, and all that encompasses the benefits of the Anointed One (Rom.8:15,17).

NEW IDENTITY

When this legal process took place, all previous debt, that may have been associated with the previous parent, according to law, was eradicated from the adopted child. The adopted child assumed a new identity; their past was totally wiped away; they were a brand new person, with a brand new name.

BECOME NEW

We are a new creation, the old has passed away, and all has become new (2 Cor.5:17). Just as Jesus was given a new name, by conquest, and inheritance, so we too enter into that new title and association; a new name, as victors in Christ, who is LORD of all creation, on the earth; above the earth, in the heavens; and below the earth (Phil.2:9-11).

LEGAL STATUS

At the moment the adoption took place, the adopted child gained the legal status of being the son or daughter of the father. They didn't have to wait, as the natural child may have had to, to be recognized as a legal heir, and being able to represent their father in legal transactions. Immediately, they gained the status of a fully mature; legal heir to the father. In fact, they became a full representative of the father, with all the rights and privileges of their adoptive parent. They were considered as another "self", of the father, one with authority and the legal right to take action.

LEGAL CHILDREN

We are the legal children of our Father, and as such, we are His representatives in every aspect (2 Cor.5:20). All that belongs to our Father, belongs to us, and is at our disposal. We bear His name, and we have the legal right to carry out, and fulfill His will, in the earth.

You are God's Best, and God's Best is Yours