Christian Message Boards: Adopted

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Posted by KnowHim (Member # 1) on :

Colossians 3:1-12 (King James Version)

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

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In ancient Rome, adoption was occasionally used by the emperors to pass on succession to competent heirs. Augustus Caesar was adopted by his great-uncle Julius Caesar. Other notable adoptees include the emperors Tiberius, Trajan, and Hadrian. All of them proved to be strong rulers because each lived like a child of his adoptive father.

Every Christian is an adopted child of the King of kings. We are greatly indebted to Him for His favor. But God, who has everything, does not need us to repay Him.

What does God desire? He wants us to live in a way that befits His children. Activities and values that are not in keeping with our position as God’s children must be done away with (Col. 3:5). Selfish and destructive ways are to be replaced by activities and values that showcase our gratitude and love for God and reflect our status as His children. Paul wrote, “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” (v.12).

Can others around you tell that you are indeed a child of the King? Ask the Holy Spirit what you need to put off and put on in your life so that you can reflect more truly your status as God’s adopted child. — C. P. Hia

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice and an alien by birth;
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down—
An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown. —Buell

We honor God’s name when we call Him our Father and live like His children.

http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/06/05/devotion.aspx

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Posted by Found in Him (Member # 7596) on :

Good post [thumbsup2]

Posted by Keeper (Member # 7675) on :

Good post.

I have a question. What does the bible say about cremation ? If it says anything I missed it.

Posted by Carol Swenson (Member # 6929) on :

Abraham’s tomb (Gen. 23:17-20).

The key phrase in the chapter, used seven times, is “bury my [the, thy] dead.” Even though Sarah was gone, Abraham showed respect for her body and wanted to give it a proper burial. This is the pattern for God’s people throughout the Scriptures. Neither the Old Testament Jews nor the New Testament Christians cremated their dead. Rather, they washed the body, wrapped it in clean cloth with spices, and placed it in the ground or in a tomb. While there may be some situations when cremation is the better way to dispose of the body, for the most part, Christians prefer burial. This is the way our Lord’s body was handled after His death (Matt. 27:57-61), and Paul seems to teach burial in 1 Corinthians 15:35-46.

In times of emergency, the Jews would burn corpses that were so mutilated and decayed they couldn’t be properly washed and anointed for burial; and then they would give honorable burial to the bones. After the people of Jabesh Gilead buried the bones, they fasted for seven days. It was their tribute to Saul and his sons.

Posted by Keeper (Member # 7675) on :

Thanks Carol. I remembered most of that stuff but I thought that there may be a reason not to cremate the body.

I get confused when I think about all the folks who have been burned to ash on purpose and in a fire the same as a cremation. I may be getting picky or asking too much but I heard a pastor speaking about this just the other day. He spoke of those who died in the deep, fire, cremation, etc., but I wasn't sold on his answer, nor could I justify it in the bible.

I guess my concern is more about the new body and what is it taken from.

Posted by Carol Swenson (Member # 6929) on :

Keeper, no need to be concerned. The ONE who created the entire universe can create new bodies when the time comes.

Adoption...

Did we notice that after each of the main sections in Ephesians 1:4-14, Paul has added the purpose behind these gifts? Why has God the Father chosen us, adopted us, and accepted us? “To the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph. 1:6). Why has the Son redeemed us, forgiven us, revealed God’s will to us, and made us part of God’s inheritance? “That we should be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:12). Why has God the Spirit sealed us and become the guarantee of our future blessing? “Unto the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:14).

We often have the idea that God saves sinners mainly because He pities them, or wants to rescue them from eternal judgment, but God’s main purpose is that He might be glorified. His creation reveals His wisdom and power, but His church reveals His love and grace. We cannot deserve or earn these spiritual riches; we can only receive them by grace, through faith.

“Son,” “children,” and “sons.” These words are used six times in Hebrews 12:5-8. They refer to adult sons and not little children. (The word “children” in Heb. 12:5 should be “sons.”) A parent who would repeatedly chasten an infant child would be considered a monster. God deals with us as adult sons because we have been adopted and given an adult standing in His family (see Rom. 8:14-18; Gal. 4:1-7). The fact that the Father chastens us is proof that we are maturing, and it is the means by which we can mature even more.

Chastening is the evidence of the Father’s love. Satan wants us to believe that the difficulties of life are proof that God does not love us, but just the opposite is true. Sometimes God’s chastening is seen in His rebukes from the Word or from circumstances. At other times He shows His love by punishing (“the Lord … scourgeth”) us with some physical suffering. Whatever the experience, we can be sure that His chastening hand is controlled by His loving heart. The Father does not want us to be pampered babies; He wants us to become mature adult sons and daughters who can be trusted with the responsibilities of life.

(Wiersbe)

Posted by Keeper (Member # 7675) on :

Best I can tell, no biblical laws regulate the process of taking a person into a person's family. Paul used the image of adoption to help believers understand the exciting implications of the Christians relationship with God. The Romans did have laws pertaining to adoption so Paul handily used them to compare.

In Roman law an adopted person's old relationships and responsibilities were severed. The new father was known as owner of all. He owned all of the adoptees possessions and had the right to control his behavior. The father was considered responsible for his children's actions. He also disciplined his new child. The adoptee's had benefits as well. The father committed himself and resources to his heirs. He offered advise and help.

Believers are no longer slaves, either to OT laws or to sin. We are full members of God's family. We owe full allegiance only to God our Father, and we can depend on him to support us with every resource at his command.