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."
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