We never considered adopting Anthony or Tina. Just foster-parenting them. But, we soon realized we couldn’t do even that. Stress on our own three-child family and frustration with the byzantine bureaucracy became unbearable.
In Galatians 4:4-7 Paul tells us a happier story. God redeemed us “so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:5).
God’s redemption-aim was to adopt us! We’ll unpack that next post. For now, let’s follow Paul’s words as he concludes his argument against “the circumcision party” (2:13). They were the Jews troubling the Galatia churches (Acts 13:13-14:48), insisting that circumcision and law-keeping (think: Ten Commandments) must be added to faith in Christ to be justified. No, cries Paul. ‘ , , , if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law” (3:21). Rather, ” . . . the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.” Faith in Christ plus works of law? No. Faith in Christ alone.
Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. [for] You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise (3:25-29).
Faith’s coming was an objective, historical event. We can mark it, date and place. We know that because Paul’s words in Galatians 4:4 are parallel to his words in 3:25—“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son . . . ” When Christ came, faith came. And when faith came, law’s supervision ceased.
I’d have expected Paul to write, “Now that faith has come . . . . you are all justified through faith in Christ Jesus.” Wouldn’t you? After all, justification has been his topic. Instead, however, he writes, “Now that faith has come . . . you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Imagine a courtroom. Now a family room. That’s the difference between justification and adoption. In justification God grants us right “legal” standing before him. He declares us “NOT GUILTY” for our sin. He gavels the decision final. Justification is a courtroom word. In adoption God makes us members of his “household”. He WELCOMES us home from our lost-ness. His arms open to pull us close. Adoption, therefore, is a family word. Even though Paul doesn’t use the word “adoption” until 4:5, it lies behind Paul’s announcement here: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Like justification, adoption comes by faith. We express this faith in baptism, which, Paul writes, is like clothing ourselves with Christ. Was Paul thinking of the prophet when writing that? “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness . . . ” (Isaiah 61:10). By faith expressed in baptism, the Lord strips off the filthy rags of our “righteousness” and dresses us up in Christ’s. His righteousness becomes ours.
When I read this image I see the dozens and dozens I baptized as a pastor. Every one I pulled up—whether in a lake, pool or baptistry—came back out dripping, covered with water. By faith expressed in baptism, Christ covers us with himself. He is the Son of God; we become sons of God. Members of our Father’s family with Jesus as our older brother. Jesus the “natural” Son, we the adopted, through him.
Suddenly our identity is changed. Secondary now is our race, social standing, sex. We’re still Jew or Greek or German or American. Still free or a prisoner of an unjust economic system. Still male or female. But first we’re Christ’s. The distinctions that divide us are swallowed up by the Son.
And this family is big. Bigger than our church. Bigger even than the world-wide church today. We have brothers and sisters from all times and places, even way back to Abraham. For ” . . . now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you” (NLT).
I can think of two problems with all of this.
One, we’re sin-nature-wired not to believe. Or, we’re sin-nature-wired to work. It’s hard for us to trustingly accept the free gifts of justification and adoption. Maybe it’s our pride. Can I really be so lost that there’s nothing I can do to save myself? We’re always wanting to tinker a bit with what God is doing, so we feel as if we’ve contributed. But we have nothing to bring but our sinful selves. All is God’s grace in Christ.
Two, God’s family seems insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The church in American society is of no account. Fellow believers aren’t always the cream of the crop. But we are still waiting for our “adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). Meanwhile, “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19). Let’s not be fooled into thinking that what we see of God’s family now is all we’ll ever be. There’s a day coming when the Son of God will come again. Then we will all be like him, “because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
Let’s end this on a majestic note. Celebrate in praise with the video above!
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