THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO APOSTLE PAUL - Part 4

 

We have seen so far that the Gospel of Paul was based on Faith, the New Covenant and Reconciliation.

Now we come to the fourth aspect of the gospel according to Apostle Paul.

4.       IT IS A GOSPEL BASED ON ADOPTION

Following the thought of being reconciled to God in 2 Corinthians 5:18, Paul continues in 2 Corinthians 6:18 saying, “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”  We are adopted by God and that is good news.

We see in Romans 8:14–16 – “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  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.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

God has adopted us to be His sons and daughters and Paul encourages us to call God as Abba Father.  The translators chose not to translate the Aramaic Hebrew word ‘Abba’, because in Modern Hebrew ‘Abba’ means Daddy.  So, we see a sense of intimacy and closeness.  Even Holy Spirit bears witness to this fact.  Holy Spirit in us affirms that we are indeed the children of God.

In another sense, we become brothers to Jesus Christ.  Don’t be surprised when I say that – please read Rom 8:29 – “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren”.  If he was the firstborn then we who are born again are his 'brothers'.

Paul repeats the same truth to the Galatian Church – “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:4-7)

We are no more servants that are required to keep rules (the law); we are sons and we walk as heirs of God.  This consciousness changes the way we think, which will in turn change the way we live.  

Right thinking leads to right living.

There is a sense of permanence in any adoption process.  Remember, you cannot be adopted today and abandoned tomorrow.  Our Father may discipline us but will never disown us.  That is good news!

to be continued.............