May 26 – Permanent Adoption

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”  - Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV) 

Our promise in our verse today is a promise of adoption.  We are promised adoption into God’s family and this is full adoption as an heir.  It is helpful to know that this adoption the Apostle Paul speaks of is not like adoption we have in our world today.  When a couple seeks to adopt, it is a child they are hoping to adopt.  From newborn up into any age that a minor child may be.  But in the time of Paul’s letter to the Galatians and Romans, adoption was done only with adult males.  It was for many reasons but the main purpose was to designate an heir who would be the chosen heir of a family’s estate and fortune.  All that Christ did after being sent into this world as a human, was done in order to fulfill this promise of our adoption into God’s family.  Our adoption is promised by God and once adopted; we will never lose that blessing.  In the time of Paul, by Roman law*, natural born children could be disowned. but those once adopted into a Roman family could never be disowned.  Our adoption into God's family is even more secure. 

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*There was a power in ancient Rome called patria potestas, which essentially says “the father’s power.” Definition of patria potestas  : the power of the head of a Roman family over his wife, children, agnatic descendants, slaves, and freedmen including originally the right to punish by death and always embracing complete control over the limited personal and private rights and duties of all members of the family

“Patria potestas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patria%20potestas. Accessed 2 May. 2020.