Adopted, Heir, Justified, and Regenerated

Dr. Couch, what is the relationship between being adopted, made an heir, and being justified or regenerated? ANSWER:  Good question. The issue of becoming an heir is found in many passages of Scripture. The word is two words put together = "Legally called, or, designated." "klaro=called, nomos=law, legally." "To be legally designated."    Paul writes "If our inheritance be of the law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise" (Gal. 3:18). The inheritance has to do with salvation, and redemption. Paul adds, 'God gave us a pledge of our "inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:14). And, "from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance ..." (Col. 3:24).' The inheritance is eternal (Heb. 9:15) and it is incorruptible (1 Pet. 1:4).    The word "adoption" ties into the idea of an inheritance. The word is used only five times in the NT. The word is a combination of two words, Son + placement. Or, "to be designated or placed as a son" (whyo [son] + thesia [placement]). "To have all the rights and privileges as a son."    An adopted child has all the rights and privileges as a son. In ancient days, even as today, there were a lot of illegitimate children, or slave children, but they could be adopted and given all the rights and blessings of a child naturally born into the family. So with us, we are adopted into the family of God and given all the privileges of a natural born child.    Paul says we have received "the Spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Rom. 8:15). Or, "Daddy Father!" The apostle then ties it all together in the two verses that follow: The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him" (vv. 16-17).    This adoption then makes us "children by Jesus Christ to Himself" (Eph. 1:5). "Legal adoption, heirship, justification and regeneration" all tie together in the verses we've looked at. What a blessing given to us by the process of salvation that comes to us through the Lord Jesus!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (6-10)

Israel Adopted as a Child of God

Dr. Couch, there is no passage in the OT that says Israel is adopted as a child of God, though there are verses that speak of the church saints being adopted unto the Lord. What about this issue? ANSWER:  There is one passage that speaks of Israel being adopted and that is Romans 9:4: "Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises." Gill and other old great scholars point out that this is "national" adoption for Israel and is not a personal adoption, but is a corporate adoption. It is true that here the Jews are seen as "sons" yet they are also seen as a group, "God's son."    Israel is seen as a youth, loved of God and "called out of Egypt as God's son" (singular) (Hosea 11:1). It is more common for the church saints to be seen as individual sons of God who have received "a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!'" (Rom. 8:14-15). While we are now adopted spiritually speaking as sons, we still wait for the final adoption when we leave this life (8:23). We receive this adoption (Gal. 4:5) and we are predestinated to this adoption as sons (Eph. 1:5).     The word "adoption" is two Greek words put together: "son-placement." We are placed as sons in God's family. We are then considered truly sons with all the rights and privileges of sons!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch