The Spirit Of AdoptionSample

The Apostle Paul by virtue of his own confession was a Roman citizen by birth. [Acts 21: 31 – 39/ 22: 25 - 29/ 23: 27] Therefore, to the people living in the predominantly Greek and Roman culture of the 1st Century A.D., the word huiothesia would bring to mind the ceremony of toga virilis, in which a 14-year-old boy went through an investiture ceremony with the adult male members of his family. At this ceremony, speeches of challenge to the youth would be made, and offerings would be made to the gods. Then, the boy would stand in the center of the group and take off the child's garment that he wore. A new adult man's robe, or toga, would be placed on him. This was the toga virilis, the "robe of a man".

A toga was a semi-circular piece of cloth made from wool measuring roughly 6 feet wide and up to 18 feet long; its cut was adapted over the years to accommodate different styles of draping. The toga was wrapped around the wearer's body, so that one end almost touched the ground in front of the body and the other was thrown over the left shoulder, brought under the right arm before being thrown over the left shoulder once more.

The toga was then held in place by the weight of the material and by keeping the left arm pressed against the body. It appears there were no hard and fast rules regarding how large a toga was; it was worn long or short depending on the wearer's taste and contemporary fashion. However, as time passed, how togas were draped became more elaborate. As togas grew larger and heavier, so they became more unwieldy. By the late 1st century, even the Roman upper classes tried to avoid wearing togas other than at formal occasions. 

The various kinds of toga indicated a man's status. A natural, undyed wool toga pura denoted Roman citizenship. A toga praetexta with a reddish purple striped border along one edge was for magistrates, some priests and liberi ingenui (freeborn boys). When a freeborn boy reached puberty, he would change to wearing a completely white toga, the toga virilis. A dark brown or brownish-black toga pulla was worn at times of mourning. A lacerna cloak was worn outside against bad weather and also as elegant attire at outdoor functions like the games. 

At this time of the ceremony, the 14-year-old was given adult privileges and responsibilities. He could conduct business in his own name, could buy and sell property, could marry, could vote in the Assembly, and in many other ways could carry on as an adult citizen. Of course, he was not mature enough or wise enough to exercise all of the privileges he had and he was not experienced enough to live up to all of the responsibilities. But the seriousness of his position as a citizen was impressed on him and, if he was intelligent and hard working, he would grow up to be an adult having integrity and character.

The spiritual use of the word "adoption" signifies the placing of a newborn child, in the spiritual sense, into the position of privilege and responsibility attached to an adult son. The question arises as to why a naturally born child needs to be adopted. Are we not, after all, "born again"? It is here that the true meaning of "adoption" comes in—because in the New Testament, "adoption" refers to a positional advance. The new believer is advanced positionally to his majority*, even though at the time of salvation he is spiritually immature, a "babe in Christ".

Because spiritual adoption takes place at the moment of salvation, there is really no period of childhood experience recognised for believers. The Christian has been placed into the privilege, liberty, and duty of a full-grown adult. Spiritual adoption imposes the same way of life on all children of God. This requirement is reasonable because the Christian life is to be lived in the sustaining and upholding power of the Holy Spirit. And this provision is available as much for one person as for another.

Remember: BY VIRTUE OF YOUR ADOPTION ‘IN CHRIST’ YOU HAVE BEEN POSITIONALLY ADVANCED IN GOD’S KINGDOM!