Mysteries Revealed - ETMH - Section 41 - Adoption

Biblical adoption (huiothesia) carries a different meaning than our modern understanding—referring to the ceremony where a child transitions to an adult son with full authority in the family.

• The term "adoption" appears five times in the Bible and means "the placing of sons" in Greek
• Before faith, we were under the law as our pedagogue or nursemaid, like children with no authority
• At salvation, we receive the "spirit of adoption" that allows us to cry "Abba, Father"
• Complete adoption happens at the resurrection when our bodies are transformed
• We currently have the "earnest" or down payment of our adoption, but await its fullness
• Biblical adoption isn't about becoming God's children (we already are by election), but about position
• We are being trained now for our future role as kings and priests in the Millennium
• Nature and believers both groan as we await the complete adoption—the redemption of our bodies

In a new episode we will speak about the manifested sons of God, teaching from the Bible.

Transcript

Introduction to Biblical Adoption

Speaker 1 0:00

Mysteries Revealed the End Time Message Handbook , section 41 , adoption . Does the word adoption in the Bible carry the same meaning as our word for today about adoption ? Is there another experience besides the new birth and the resurrection that is coming to the bride at the end time ? The term adoption is used five times in the Bible . The term adoption is used five times in the Bible . It is in Romans 8 , verse 15 and 23, . Chapter 9 , verse 4 , galatians 4 , verse 5 , and Ephesians 1 , verse 5 . Romans 9.4 .

Speaker 1 0:41

There is very little context given as to meaning of this term . In the Greek language the term is huiothesia . Its meaning is the placing of sons . The term adoption in English obviously means the act of adopting . Adopting means to take by choice into a relationship , especially to take voluntarily a child of other parents as one's own child . It is granted that this word huiothesia , is used for the actual act of adopting someone into your family .

Speaker 1 1:10

In Greek history and literature , many theologians have written extensively about this subject . In this manner God takes us who are not his children , makes us his children . However , does the context of the Scriptures give us the same picture ? I want you to view the context of Galatians 4 to illuminate my point more clearly

Examining Adoption in Galatians

Speaker 1 1:34

Galatians 3 , 23-29 . But before faith came , we were kept under the law , shut up unto the faith , which should afterwards be revealed Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith . But after that faith is come , we are no longer under a schoolmaster , for you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus , for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ . There is neither Jew nor Greek , there is neither bond nor free , there is neither male nor female , for you are all one in Christ Jesus . And if ye be Christ , then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise . Galatians , chapter 4 , verses 1 through 5 . Now I say that the heir , as long as he is a child , differeth nothing from a servant , though he be Lord of all , but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father . Even so , we , when we were children , were in bondage under the elements of the world . 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 .

Speaker 1 2:40

Paul is writing that before we came to faith in Christ , we were kept under the law . Our schoolmaster the word is pedagogue in the Greek A pedagogue is what we consider a nursemaid in the English tradition . They were the servants that the Father hired to watch over the children , to teach them and guide them early in life and to care for them . The law acted as a servant that protected and cared for us . Then , in verse 26 , he says that we are all huios sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ . If we belong to Christ , then we are heirs of the promise .

Speaker 1 3:12

In chapter 4 and verse 1 , we see that Paul continues his illustration . He writes that the heir , which means the person that will inherit leadership , as long as he is a child the word child is nepios in the Greek and it means a minor , in other words someone that hasn't reached the age of maturity yet . The word nepior even suggests not speaking or silent , in other words , he has no say and no official position . Though he is master of all the servants , he continues to be under guardians and agents until the time that has been fixed for him to enter into his position as an adult son with authority in his home . The law here is called the elements of the world , that is , the ABCs , the alphabet . We were in bondage to the very basic principles of things . Christ came to put us

The Ceremony of Adult Sonship

Speaker 1 4:00

into a position where we could become adult sons .

Speaker 1 4:03

It is clear that adoption is being spoken of in the sense of the ceremony wherein a child becomes a man with the right of an adult son . Paul speaks of the heir being a minor and the time appointed . Let's review what Brother Branham spoke about the subject . Then the father had taken him out into the public street and then he put a special clothes on him . And then the father had a ceremony and adopted this , his son , into his family . Paul's saying here having predestinated us unto the adoption , see unto the adoption , moses a prefigure of it . And then this son , after he came out there , was given no longer . No longer was he just like the servant under a tutor , he was the boss . Amen , I hope this soaks real deep , going to leave you in a minute , let's get way down deep . This son was no more under a tutor , but he was like his father , and his father gave him certain things to do . The father might have told him you take care of this field over here or you do this over here . You take care of the slaves , you take care of whatever it was . He was in full possession , amen , for he was adopted into that family and his name on a check was just as good as his daddy's Galatians 4.6, .

Speaker 1 5:15

And because you are sons , god has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts , crying Abba , father . This further bolsters our understanding regarding the subject . Because you are huios , god has sent forth the spirit of his huios into your hearts , whereby you cry Abba , father . We do not become sons . We are always children of God by election . God chose us before this . Idea of the placing of an adult son Romans

Spirit of Adoption in Romans

Speaker 1 6:00

8 , 15 . Idea of the placing of an adult son Romans 8.15, . For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear , but you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba , father . We haven't received the spirit of slavery , we've received the spirit of placings of sons .

Speaker 1 6:14

Here , the receiving of the spirit of his huios , as in Galatians 4.6 , is referred to as the spirit of huiothesia . As in Galatians 4.6 , is referred to as the spirit of huiothesia . Before I comment any more on this verse , I want to refer you to the second instance of adoption in Romans 8 . And not only they , but ourselves also , which have the firstfruits of the Spirit , even we ourselves , grown within ourselves , waiting for the adoption , to wit the redemption of our body . We have already received the spirit of huiothesia , but in verse 23 , we are waiting for huiothesia .

Speaker 1 6:49

This huiothesia speaks of the redemption of our bodies . This shows us that huiothesia is ultimately future . What is the redemption of our body ? It is when this body is changed to be like unto Christ's glorified body and when this mortal shall put on immortality . At our new birth , we receive the spirit of huiothesia , and when we receive our immortal body , we are huiothesia . We have the down payment given to us of our huiothesia .

Speaker 1 7:21

We are in the process of sonship . We are always heirs because of God's sovereign plan for us , since we are in the mind of God before the foundation of the world and therefore a part of his life , we weren't in the position of sonship . At our new birth , we enter into the position of sonship , yet this is still not the final act . We enter into full sonship when we get our body changed . There is another sense wherein we are now being trained and taught by the Holy Spirit in preparation for entering into our position as kings and priests in the millennium . He has made us kings and priests now , but we enter into that position as kings and priests in the millennium , where we will rule over the nations with the rod of iron . Revelation 2.27 , brother Branham says in his throne , on the same basis that he overcame , and is set down in his

The Fullness of Adoption

Speaker 1 8:30

father's throne . Then we have to overcome to sit with him , and the little temporary suffering we go through now is not worthy to be compared to the tremendous glory that will be revealed in us when he comes .

Speaker 1 8:43

Is there a third experience distinct from the new birth and the transformation of our body , called adoption ? In the New Testament , there are times when we read Brother Branham's messages when that seems to be the case , as though the manifestation of the sons of God comes sometime at the end time before the rapture . However , I want to show the obvious references that the prophet gives , showing this is not the case . He did not teach the latter rain manifested sons doctrine . Now , the trees does not have it , nature does not have it , but yet we are still groaning with them because as yet we haven't received the fullness of our adoption .

Speaker 1 9:19

But we have the earnest of it that we were picked up from the things of the world and now become sons and daughters of God . What kind of people should we be ? Oh my , when we think of that , think of it Now . We have the earnest , our spirits groaning for the full adoption . But now we have the earnest of it and we receive the Holy Spirit . It is the earnest of our complete adoption , or complete salvation . Oh , how beautiful . I just love that .

Speaker 1 9:41

All right , we are waiting for the fullness of adoption . This will take place when , at the first resurrection , that's when our bodies will be changed from these vile creatures that we are and we'll have a body like his own , glorious body . For we shall see him as he is and we will be like him when he appears . We appear in his likeness . We will have a body like his , a glorious , glorified body , and all the trials and struggles of life will fade off into a little mist and blow away to never be no more . And not only they , but ourselves also , which have the firstfruits of the Spirit , even we ourselves , grown within

Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Speaker 1 10:15

ourselves , waiting for the adoption , to wit the redemption of our body .

Speaker 1 10:19

Oh my , oh my . Don't that make us old folks feel good ? It ought to make us all feel good waiting for this hour . We understand this will take place at the first resurrection . See , nature is groaning . We are groaning . Everything is groaning because we realize there's something not right and the only way you can groan and wait for it is because there has been new life . Come in here that speaks of a new world . In a new episode we will speak about the manifested sons of God , teaching from the Bible . For now , we will close this section on adoption .