Adoption

"We are all children of God!" Right? That's what most people say when confronted with aberrant lifestyles.  Wrong!

Because we're human and all descendants of Adam, we belong to Satan:

John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."

Although all men are created by God, once breath flows into our lungs and our mind reasons, we become a child of the devil.

What happens to children of the devil if they die before they know right from wrong? What happens to those who are mentally handicapped? Remember, "God is a merciful God!" (Deuteronomy 4:31).

There is no "age of accountability" although Jews reckon it to be twelve. There is no supporting scripture for that, but since God is graceful, it stands to reason that his mercy extends to those who yet do not understand his will. It's not a particular age, but it is at an age of understanding, different for each person. The Jews, when in sin, like the pagans, ritually burned infants to the god Moloch in the belly of the idol. Here that god, a Baal is the heathen god to whom the sacrifice was made:

Jeremiah 19:4 "...they ((people of Jerusalem) have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents; 5a They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not..."

Infants, as can be seen here were deemed "innocents". They were not guilty of sin. They were not yet old enough to understand The Law!

Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.)"

"Imputed" is when something is "credited to" or "blamed" on a person. Since children are not old enough to understand legality nor salvation, then it stands to reason, that they are not blamed for sin, although everyone is born with "original sin", which is our propensity to do wrong because we are of the line of Adam.

On the other hand, righteousness may be "imputed". Jesus had not yet been incarnated, let alone sacrificed, but Abraham believed that would happen:

Romans 4:20 "He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

Abraham, instructed by The Word (Jesus) was willing to sacrifice his son for his own sins! Because of that faith in the coming Jesus, God imputed (credited) Abraham with righteousness. Although Christ had yet to be born, Abraham was a Christian!

Like Abraham, who was innocent because of faith, God can impute righteousness to "the innocents" because of their inability to understand right from wrong, thus are not held accountable for their sins! God is gracious indeed! It would be horrible if newborn babies went to hell for nothing other than because they "are". However, God imputes righteousness to them. He likens adult belief unto that of "little children":

Luke 18:16 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."

It's apparent that little children, innocents, were coming to Jesus, not because they understood the call of salvation, but just because they saw Jesus in a loving light! That's grace in action! Jesus told the adults to do the same!

Recapitulating, mankind are children of the devil the instant they are born. Their tendency is always to sin, but because they haven't the capacity to understand, they are temporarily "adopted" by God, until sin is imputed to them. That's not at any given age, but is when they realize right from wrong! Whenever that time occurs, Satan assumes custody of the young person. He becomes their father and master, since he is temporary ruler of their world. They follow him:

 Ephesians 2:2 "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience..."

This scripture says much. It appears that innocent children, when sin becomes imputed to them (blamed), they become foster children of Satan. They have "a spirit of disobedience" and do the will of Satan rather than the will of God!  They are slaves to Satan in effect! What needs to be done? A loving Father needs to find them a home! Jesus goes to the door of that orphan child and knocks. If the child answers that door, then righteousness is imputed (credited) to him (or her). Jesus adopts the person has his own!

Galatians 4:5 "(Jesus) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

This scripture is powerful! Not only have you found a new Father when you answer his knock, but you become his prodigal son, the wayward son who has returned! Now you are part of the family of God and have a new spirit. In effect, you are "born again" through faith! It's a new start! Not only have you a new Father, but you are no longer a slave to your old master. The orphan you has been adopted. You are no longer a foster child working tirelessly for an evil parent.

The adoption is not a formal ritual. You merely follow Jesus: Since Jesus is "good" he gives you a gift. That gift is grace. He loves you even though your master is his enemy and is willing to take you into his home with only one condition:

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

There is something you must do to be adopted! You must put yourself up for adoption. You must want to become part of the family and have a new Father! You're tired of your dysfunctional family and seek solace in the Holy Spirit who can comfort you. In short, you trust in Jesus to calm your soul and save you from the evil foster parent. He will do that. It's his gift to you and Jesus bought that gift by his own sacrifice. Do you believe that Jesus died on the Cross in your place? Do you trust in him and realize that he is the Way and only Way to salvation? If you believe this and trust in Jesus, then you have just been adopted!

Normally orphans, when they find a happy  home, are joyous! They want to tell everybody about how happy they are in their new family. How shall they tell the world about their new birth, their adoption into the family of God? They get baptized. The dirt from the foster parents and slave-master is washed clean as they are immersed, and they arise from the water a new person. Baptism is the affirmation that the orphan appreciates the new family with Jesus at the head! The "orphan" is no longer the same slave, but becomes free and a happy child of God!

Romans 6:3 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him(Jesus) by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"

This baptism describes our adoption unto Christ. Adopted children "have a new life"! We no longer "should serve sin". Baptism is our pledge to be a good child. A prodigal son redeemed by the Father! As an adopted child, saved from a wretched foster parent, "we also should live with him (Christ)!

Adopted children, when taken into a "good" home to show affection for the adopted Father who saved them from slavery, show love for the Father. How is that done?

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

With adoption your life is not over; it has just begun. You belong now to a functional and loving family with a just patriarch! You are obligated and willing to show that love by obeying the Father who saved your from the old mean foster parent and slave-master. Because you're saved from the evil parent's destruction, you are to love the loving Father! To show that love, you do his will. It becomes more than an obligation, but with the assistance of the family (the Holy Spirit) your love comes easy if you're truly thankful!

That's adoption! I'm adopted. I'm grateful.  I try to show my love to my Father by doing his will. Sometimes, often, I fail him, but my Father understands! He's one of us and God too!