Who Are "We"?

Dr. Couch, Who are the 'we' in Romans 1:5? ANSWER:  The "we" would possibly be the apostles but it could also include the church saints to whom Paul is writing. Note verse 6 where he writes "among whom YOU ALSO (the church saints) are the called of Jesus Christ." The larger body of church saints are added to the "through whom we (the apostles) have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake" (v. 5).    Paul then adds, "To all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints ..." (v. 7).    Good question; thanks for asking.    --Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

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