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In Romans chapter 8 verse 15 we read: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father." Verse 23: "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our bodies." Then in Ephesians chapter 1 Verse 5 Paul said to the church in Ephesus: "Having predestinated us unto the adoption..."

The word "adoption" is translated from two Greek words: ‘huiothesis’ and ‘huios.’ ‘Huios’ means a son, and the word ‘Thesis’ means a placing. Therefore the word adoption in the bible means a placing of a son.

We must realize that the word adoption has no reference to an orphan without parents. Nor does it refer to a childless couple who wish to adopt an orphan or an unwanted child. For example if we were going to have a child in the sense of which we normally think of adoption, we would choose the child that we wanted, go to the courts, and go through the procedure to legally adopt the child as our own. I was adopted in the natural; I never knew my real parents, until about 25 years ago when I met my biological mother.

So I am not of my adoptive parent's flesh and blood. I belong to them only because of the consent of the authorities of the government. However this is not the kind of adoption spoken of in the Bible. This spiritual adoption in the bible refers to a young man who has reached adulthood, not in years, but in the fullness of stature and maturity.

The number of years one has been a Christian has nothing to do with sonship; it has to do with maturity. Some people go through a maturing process in just a few years, while others who have been a Christians for 10, 20, or 30 years, are still in infancy. Chronological age has nothing to do with it. It is totally a spiritual thing, and you can mature as fast as you want.

Progressing From Age To Age

As a Christian, you have four ages: There is the chronological age, your actual age from the time you were born, which is measured in calendar years; and then your mental age. These two ages are in the natural. Then, in the realm of the Spirit, there is the born again age. Then there is a person’s spiritual maturity. Sad to say, many Christians have a born again age of 50, and a spiritual maturity age of an infant. I repeat, the chronological age has nothing to do with being adopted as a son, according to the bible.

When a young man grew up in Bible times, and demonstrated his maturity and ability to bear responsibility, as a result of the sound judgment of his father, he was placed into the family as a son in a public ceremony. This was the custom that the Hebrews had.

The father would call the elders into the gate and all the neighbors would come and the father would place his signet ring on his son in the presence of the elders of Israel. This was a very special occasion and the most important event in the young man's entire life up to that point. He came into maturity and he came into his inheritance. From that moment on everything changed for the young man. Just like a wedding today; after one is married in the natural, everything changes.

It was the same way in the life of Jesus. Before Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan, He had no ministry in operation that we are aware of. Then, within just a few hours, He was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness; and immediatly He came back performing miracles and teaching.

Even before his public adoption, the boy was the natural offspring of the father, even from his conception in his mother's womb. So, it is clear that this has nothing to do with the western idea of adoption.

When the young man was mature and able to hold responsibility, and the father could say, "I can trust this man. He knows all the particulars of the business; he will not waste money, etc." Then the young man was considered mature and he was adopted or placed as a son. But he had to be the natural offspring of his father and legal mother.

In the story of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15, the father did not go to the younger son and offer to give him his inheritance. It was the son who made the decision, and the father bent to the wishes of the young son. Then, the boy went out and squandered the money; he wasted it on riotous living.

This is an example of what would happen if God would give us the complete experience of our inheritance before we are mature; we would squander it. But our Father will not do that, He is too wise.

We must realize that we are potential sons of God waiting to be placed into the family, experientially, as sons. And it all hinges on maturity. We must mature; we must grow up.

Power to Become a Son

If there is a desire within you to be adopted as a son of God, then there must first be growth into advanced maturity. When you received Christ as Savior you were immediately given and endued with abilities which are yours to use. That is what the scripture says in John 1:12: "But as many as receive Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God..."

The moment you receive Christ as Savior, there was put within you that which you need to mature; now it is up to you. It is not, ^“Oh, God mature me." God said that when you received Christ, then you were given power and the ability to mature.

Of course, we come into the family as a child, but even in the natural when a baby is born, it has everything it needs to grow up. All the potential for it to grow is already there, and it is the same with us spiritually.

The Greek word for power is "exousia" in John 1:12. This means that when you are born again, you are given the power or ability to develop and grow.

The question is why are there some people who have accepted Christ, but do not grow? The reason is that they have not made a decision to grow, they do not "will" to grow. Then there are some who do not know that they are supposed to grow.

Within the privilege of being a child and within the child himself, are the abilities of growth and development into advanced maturity. This is just a stepping-stone which eventually leads to sonship. So the moment you begin to use the ability which you possess, you begin to grow, develop, and mature. As this happens you get increased revelation knowledge, and you are on your way to sonship.

Remember, this is not something God is going to do for us. We have to present our bodies on the altar of sacrifice by not being governed by the realm of appearance. Sonship is available to us, but God is not going to make us do it. In Isaiah chapter 1 verse 19 we read: "If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good..." If you refuse to grow, you will not grow. To live is to grow and to grow is to change. It is really an awakening.

The early Christians were severely reproved and sharply rebuked for not becoming what they had the right and privilege of becoming. Just because you know these truths, just because you hear them, just because you have a book or tape does not mean that you will automatically come into it; they must become a part of you.

In Hebrews chapter 5 verse 12, Paul gives these Christians a sharp rebuke: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not strong meat.”

Exercise Your Privilege - To Obtain Your Potential

There is a danger in not becoming what you have the right to become. In Hebrew chapter 4 verse 1 we read, "Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest any of you should seem to come short of it." The children of Israel had the right, the permission, and the privilege, to enter the Promised Land of rest and abundance. However, they perished in the wilderness because they refused to act on what God had said. They did not come into what they had a right to possess. The same is true same with sonship. If you refuse to act on this Word, you will not experience it.

The Corinthians also came short of what was rightfully theirs in Christ. In I Corinthians chapter 3, verses 1-2 we read: "And I brethren could not speak unto as spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ; I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it neither yet now are ye able."

This body of Corinthians had the manifestations of the Spirit in operation. The scripture in I Corinthians chapter 1 verse 7 says: "...ye come behind in no gift..." yet, they like the children of Israel failed to come into what they had a right and privilege to experience. Even though they had the gift ministries, they failed to come into advanced maturity. They were more interested in the gifts then the fruit.

Refusing To Grow Is Falling Short

When you refuse to grow, what you are really saying is, "I do not want to become a son of God; I do not want to reign with Christ; I do not want Christ to flow through me in a greater measure than it did in Jesus.”

Ministry after one's adoption into sonship can in no way be compared to ministry before one's adoption. There is no comparison between the ministry that comes out of your spirit after you are adopted as a son and the ministry before you are adopted.

A prime example of this truth is the ministry of Jesus; after His adoption as a Son at the River Jordan when He was baptized. He entered a ministry that for 3 1/2 years forever broke, paralyzed, canceled, bound, and destroyed the power of Satan. It was a ministry that shook the very foundations of hell; shook the foundations of earth; shook the foundations of the Sadducees and Pharisees; shook the nations and shook the Law of Moses. It shook everything, because it was such a dynamic ministry. That is the kind of ministry we will have when we are placed as sons.

Four Phases of Sonship

Now, you and I have not been fully placed as sons yet, even though we are sons; we are only the first fruits of sonship. Actually there are four phases of sonship:

1.Jesus the pattern.

2.The ministry of sons or the first fruits. In other words, we are experiencing some of the benefits of sonship, even though we have not yet arrived unto the experience of son -ship.

3.Being placed or adopted as sons.

4.Experiencing immortality as a result of living from the realm of immortality, eternality, and infinity

Then we will have no limitations at all. Then it will be complete.

For about 18 years, from the age of 12 until He reached the age of 30, there was no mention in the Bible of a ministry in the life of Jesus. However, after that there was a lot written about His ministry. The scripture in Matthew chapter 3 verses 16-17 says: "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven saying this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

As Jesus emerged from the water, He emerged under opened heavens; the spiritual universe was turned upside-down and everything was at His disposal. He came into His inheritance; He came into sonship at that time. This is beginning to happen to a people today.

The opened heaven in verse 16 is symbolic and has great spiritual significance. What does this opened heaven represent? It means all the miracles, the power, and the might is open, and can flow through you at any time the Spirit wills. So the spiritual universe which has been closed since the fall of man was opened to Jesus and is made available to the adopted sons of God.

Later on Jesus referred to this when he said, "All things are given unto my hands; all authority is given unto me both in heaven and in earth." He got it all at adoption. If this is true of Jesus, then it is true of all adopted sons.

It was prophesied centuries ago about the adoption of Jesus and the open heavens in Genesis 28:12, speaking of Jacob: "And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” It was Jesus, God Manifest in the flesh, in His life, work, ministry, death, and resurrection, upon the earth who built the ladder which gives us access to all the benefits of the spiritual universe.

The scripture says that the ladder was touching the earth and reaching to heaven and the angels of God, as messengers of God were bringing down blessings. There was an interchange, a mingling of heaven and earth. The heavens were opened and this is symbolic of what is beginning to happen to those who experience this sonship. Those who are living a spirit-led life have a foretaste of this now; we have the first-fruits.

The customs and procedures of adoption in the Bible lands in New Testament times were taken from the Roman culture. You may wonder if these customs are different from American customs, why they are not explained in the bible.

When the Apostle Paul wrote his epistles he was not writing to the American Christians of 1993; he was writing to people of those times who were familiar with those customs. Even if the Hebrew people did not practice these customs, the legal way of doing things was surely known. So Paul did not need to explain what adoption was, they understood. This is why we need to study the Word and do word studies.

The more you are spirit-controlled, the more you will hasten sonship. I John chapter 3 verse 3 says: "He, who has this hope in him, purifies himself." He purifies himself from carnality, from all corruption, and from a consciousness that is not renewed. He puts on the mind of Christ.

There is still more understanding on adoption from the Greek words for servant, tutor, lord, and governor as used in Galatians 4:1-7. The word for servant is "doulos" and it means a slave or a bond slave in submissive servitude; a person who serves and is very submissive. A child was legally in much the same position as a slave. He could perform any act only through his legal representative. Even though his father "owned the business," he had to go through a legal representative; ‘only when dad signed,’ even though he was heir of all.

The Greek word for Lord is "kurios.” This word carries the sense of an owner. That child is going to be the owner of all one of these days, but as long as he is a child, he must stay below. The Greek word for tutor, means a guardian of a minor or a child. People hire a tutor to guide or direct a child.

Then the word governor denotes being the steward of one's property. In this case the governor was the guardian of the child's property, like a trustee. Now, let's read the scripture in Galatians chapter 4 verses 1-7. Verse 1: "Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, or slave, one who serves and is submissive (though he be lord of all or owner of all one day.”) Verse 2: "But is under tutors [or guidance] and governors [or trustees] until the time appointed of the father” Verse 3: "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world." In other words, we held to a lot of "do's" and "don’ts" when we were children in the Lord.

No More a Servant - But a Son

Then in Verse 4: "But when the fullness of time was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,"

Verse 5: "To redeem those that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Verse 6 "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Verse 7: "Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son then an heir of God through Christ."

We must realize that nothing in the life of Jesus happened by accident. The events in His life were to serve as a pattern for the present body. Notice that Jesus in His immaturity was in subjection; He was subject to Joseph and Mary. Verse 1 says, in essence, "Though He be appointed by His Father's will, heir of all his possessions, yet until He arrived at the legal age, He is master of nothing, and does not differ from the common domestics." This is what happened to Jesus between the ages of 12 and 30.

Son - Equality in the Father

There were three benefits which came to the young man in the Bible times who was adopted or placed as a son:

1.He had the power of attorney, so he could use his father's name.

2.He received his full inheritance. That is, he received the right to use his father's complete wealth.

3.He had equality with his father. He had full use of his father's authority and power.

This third point is where a lot of people are confused; Equality in the Father. This is one area that carnal Christians really misunderstand because they say, "You are making us all gods."

Let's go through these three benefits in detail. First of all, let us look at Jesus. Did he demonstrate that He had these?

Did He demonstrate it by what He did, how He lived, and what He said?

Using Father's Name

When a person has the power of attorney, he can legally conduct the business of the one who gave him the power of attorney; to the signing of checks, contracts and so forth. So, he can actually conduct business just as if he were the person who gave him the right or power. Did Jesus have this right after His adoption?

In John chapter 5 verse 43: "I am come in my Father's name..." This was soon after His adoption. Then in John chapter 10 verse 25: "...the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me." It is very evident that Jesus did have this power of attorney. "The Works That I Do In My Father's Name..." Jesus was saying in so many words that He healed the man because He had the power of attorney to do so.

Using Father's Wealth

The second privilege of sonship is using the Father's wealth. After His adoption, Jesus went around handing out heaven [the Father's wealth]. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and did many wonderful works.

That is just what the sons of God are beginning to do as we come into sonship; exactly like Jesus did, we will hand out the Father's wealth, restoring all things back to God. He will be doing this in us, through us, and as us. Right now we just have a foretaste, a first fruit. When we pray for somebody, one may die and the next one be healed. As we pray, one may have it quickened unto them and one may receive no quickening

Matthew chapter 6 verse 16 makes a dynamic statement concerning Jesus coming into His Father's wealth. The scripture says that as soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water and at that moment heaven opened to Him. He came into the wealth of His Father.

If you had a son and you gave him free access to your bank account and your charge accounts, then all your wealth would be open to him. That is exactly what happened to Jesus when heaven opened. For 3 1/2 years Jesus went about dispensing His Father's wealth that He had inherited.

Everyone that came to Him and desired healing received it. Everyone who was spiritually hungry was filled. It is the same way, when we come into sonship, everyone who wants to receive will receive as they believe. When Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" what He was saying was: “The kingdom is right here in your midst; it is right here in my hand.” Then He passed all the benefits of that kingdom to us as sons of God.

In 1 John chapter 3 verse 13 we read: "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." How can no man ascend up to heaven but He that came down from heaven? How can Jesus be in heaven and on earth at the same time? The answer to that question is that there was no separation between heaven and earth for Jesus. Heaven was simply the realm of Spirit! Jesus was on earth and He was also in heaven. That is what is happening to the sons of God today. We are beginning to walk in the realm of the Spirit. When this takes place God is totally and completely manifested in the flesh. The invisible has become visible.

In 1 Peter chapter 1, Verses 3-5 we read: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Verse 4: "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you," Verse 5: "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

The Amplified Version says in Verses 4 and 5: "[Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied [pure], and unfading, reserved in heaven for you," Verse 5: "Who are being guarded [garrisoned] by God's power through [your] faith until you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time."

This scripture tells us that we are being preserved and kept by God's power until we fully experience our final salvation. What is our final salvation? Sonship! "...that is ready to be revealed." When? "...in the last time." It was not going to be revealed in Peter's time when this was written, but in the last time. We are living in the last time but also in a new day. I believe we are living in the time that Peter was speaking of. Moffat puts it this way, "...that is ready to be revealed in the last hour." It is beginning to come forth in this hour in which we live. We have already entered the threshold of this fullness.

Using Father's Authority, Power, and Ability

The third thing that adoption brought was equality with the Father, the use of the father's authority, and power. God the Father verified the fact of Jesus' sonship publicly. In Matthew chapter 3 verse 17 we read: "...This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." If you recall, the Pharisees and the Jewish leaders were shocked and angered at such a thought. In fact, they rose up to destroy this blasphemer, as they called Him.

Now let's see what happened because Jesus was given the use of His Father's authority, power, and ability. In John chapter 10, starting in verse 31 we read: "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him." Verse 32: "Jesus said unto them, Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me?" Verse 33: "The Jews answered Him saying, for a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."

Now listen to what Jesus replied to them, Verse 34: "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said ye are gods?" Verse 35: "If He called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;" Verse 36: "Say ye of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world Thou blasphemeth; because I said I am the Son of God?"

In verse 35 the scripture says that men are called gods [with a small "g"] by the law; those who the Word of God came to, who received God's message; Spirit leadership, living out of the mind of Christ, having our conscious awareness up, right on down the line. Have you received God's message? It also said "...the scripture cannot be broken, or annulled, or set aside." In other words God said, "Ye are gods, and that is final."

Who are these gods? It is those who are the message. James says, “Those who have this hope in them purify themselves, even as he is pure." So, here the word gods refers to the sons of God who are fully awake spiritually.

We find another point concerning equality in John chapter 5 and verse 18, "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God."

He put Himself on a level with God. Can you see why the bible says we will be persecuted? The carnal man does not like the Word of God. If God is our Father and He is God, then who are we? Should we not be gods too? Now, if you interpret this with the carnal thinking, you might say, "Oh boy, I can turn water into money and coal into gold." That is baby talk. We will be gods, but we will only manifest Him. We will manifest His mind; and everything that could be said of Jesus, will be said of us. We are pure, we are righteous, we are holy, etc.

If you have had all these teachings and you are living in them, walking in them, and being them, then you are manifesting Christ Jesus. Would you be pleased if your children followed in your footsteps? Then, if your name is Jane, you want all of your girls to be little ‘Janes.’ You are the capital "J" Jane, but you have a lot of little "j" ‘Janes’. You are tremendously pleased because they take after you. They live like you, they think like you, they have a renewed consciousness, and they walk in the Spirit.

This is the same way God is. He is pleased with His life. There is no disharmony, no sin, and no wickedness. So it stands to reason that God says, "If I am capital "G" God, I want a lot of small "g" gods just exactly like Me" Do you think that is a threat to God? No; but our concept has been so small.God is pleased that we live as Him. Jesus said, "Follow me." If we obey Jesus and follow Him, then we are little Christ’s.

In spite of the theologians and the religious leaders of Jesus' day, Jesus knew in His spirit who He was. Even though they rejected Him as the Son of God, Jesus said in His spirit, "I am the Son of God and I will not deny that truth." And whatever happened to Jesus will happen to us. He is the pattern.

When you know in your spirit who you are they may say you are wrong and you are crazy; but you must know in your spirit that you are right and you are walking in the spirit. You must determine in your heart that you are not going to bend. This truth must become a reality in your inner man. If it is just in your head, people will change your head.

Jesus became who we were, a human being. Jesus became a man so we could become "gods". A1l truth is parallel. We can become an expression of Him, and can live just like He lived.

Suffering with Him at Calvary - Brings Glorification

In Romans chapter 8 verses 17-19, Paul indirectly mentions the equality of the sons of God: "And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." Verse 18: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Verse 19, "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."

The Amplified puts this scripture like this: "And if we are His children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ - sharing His inheritance with Him; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory." Verse 18: "(But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time [this present life] are not worthy of being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us, and conferred on us." Verse 19: "For even the whole creation [all nature] waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known - waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their identity."

Notice verse 17 says that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Then it says that we must suffer like Him, if we get this inheritance. How did He suffer? He suffered through persecution, rejection, and excommunication. But all this suffering will not even compare with the glory which is about to be revealed to us, in us, for us, and conferred on us. Of course, this is speaking of sonship; the glory of the sons of God. But beyond this suffering He suffered at the cross. And because we were also crucified with Him, His suffering was our suffering. Therefore that is another aspect of our suffering which is vitally important.

Verse 19 ties the other into sonship: "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." Jesus was not well known at first, but when He matured and was adopted, He was revealed; "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Then, everybody knew it. The Greek text says, "This is my beloved Son in whom I was well pleased."

Verse 17 says that we are children, then heirs. In other words, we were children, but then as we grow, we will come into our inheritance as heirs. Then he breaks it down: we are heirs of God the Father, and joint heirs with Christ. Jesus has inherited all things from the Father. He said: "All things have been given unto me..." So, He has received everything from the Father, therefore the Father has nothing more to give.

If God has many sons, and He gave it all to one son, that means He has nothing more to give you. For example, if I have $1,000.00 and two sons, and I gave the whole amount to one son, there is nothing left to give my other son.

Now, God gave everything to Jesus, but then He went on to say that we are joint heirs with Christ. Therefore, everything that Jesus received from the Father is mine too; I have also inherited all that Jesus received. So, God says, "I do not have anything more to give you, I gave it all to My Son Jesus, but because you are joint heirs and are in Him, you got it too."

Heirs of God - Equal Heirs with Jesus

In verse 17 God still says we are His heirs. What does that mean? God said He would make us "gods"; and heirs of God. What else does He have to give? He gave it all to Jesus. So, God said, "I will make you as gods, you will walk in my deity, you will not be deity, but you will walk in it." We are heirs of God. He said prophetically in Hebrews: "I will walk in them and dwell in them..." He will walk in us and we will walk in Him, so we will walk in deity.

Revelation chapter 21 Verse 7 shows us some characteristics of those who are candidates for sonship: "He that over-cometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." We are over comers because we are in the overcoming one; however, as that becomes our experience that constitutes being an overcomer. In Colossians chapter 3 verses 12-14 we find out what we will overcome. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;" Verse 13: "forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Verse 14: "And above all these things, put on charity (love) which is the bond of perfectness [or maturity], of sonship."

Those who walk into sonship will totally overcome every death substance in their lives by realizing that Jesus already overcame every bit of death. They will manifest only the Spirit of God and not a mixture of flesh and Spirit.