Interesting. But since we are sealed and our adoption is, according to Scripture, a done deal --in our position in God's eyes, although awaiting a change in our actual condition (ie: possession of our eternal, incorruptible bodies)-- are we not complicating things by attempting to break down a legal process that takes place in a place, a condition, and an order that is beyond our limited human comprehension at this time? Are we not at risk of creating great and doubt in some believers about their actual security as heirs by essentially splitting hairs (for example the correct understanding of the subjunctive in Titus 3:11)?
Is all this really productive for the average Christian? That is my chief concern-- the God-given security of the believer and their ability to enjoy an increasingly intimate relationship with their God and Savior who loves them beyond measure. For many Christians that knowledge and security of their relationship with God is, at this moment, still tenuous. And I fear in such deep discussions as this that we can shake a young believer's confidence in their guaranteed standing before God.
So, while biblical adoption followed a certain process (which we are taking as a type), are the mechanics of that process when applied to our spiritual adoption (the anti-type) necessary for a believer to understand in this life? You seem to suggest it is. And while I do not wish to dispute your learning or disparage your studies in any way, in this case, and for the security of ALL believers, I must stand for the simplicity of the Gospel. Surely the bottom line is that at the very moment of placing their faith in Jesus Christ and what He did for us at Calvary, a believer is instantly translated from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, forgiven, redeemed, adopted, and sealed for all eternity. And is that not enough? The mechanics of it all are up to God; surely, brother, we just need to accept the gift and live in complete confidence in the result.
Addressing the eternal security of the believer is quite a change of topic. As far as I am aware, I am not breaking down anything, but God is and it seems simple to me, and not complicated.
If I have received it all, then I don't hope for it. It is as you say, a done deal and there is nothing more to hope for or to be done. I go to heaven for what? What does Biblical hope mean? It means to expect a future fulfillment on top of our present experience...
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
And what exactly are we hoping for, waiting for with patience?
we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
How can I be waiting for the rapture, the redemption of my body, but not be also waiting for my adoption. The two are bound together and inseparable.
You ask, Are we not at risk of creating great and doubt in some believers about their actual security as heirs by essentially splitting hairs (for example the correct understanding of the subjunctive in
Titus 3:11)?
Not according to the Scriptures when taught properly, and my post was not about teaching the security of the believer which is a completely different topic. In fact hope ought to be an essential tenet of teaching our security in God and what it means to be an heir to a new believer asap...
Colossians 1:23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be
not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.
What is this hope? Well we read how it begins with the redemption of the body and our adoption. Can a new believer be secure in this hope?
Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who
have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
What are these two immutable things that give us strong consolation in our hope? What is this hope set before us?
It is God's promise and guarantee. There can be no greater security that the Father's promise and giving us the guarantee deposit of the Holy Spirit in us. To be sure...
13 In him you also,
when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
and believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Eph.1:13-14
I am an heir of God waiting for my inheritance and I wait eagerly in hope...
2nd Thessalonians 2:16
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath
given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.
Here we are, eagerly waiting on the rapture, the redemption of our bodies and our adoption, so how does God expect the believer to live? Like this...
1st Peter 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Do I have grace now? Of course I do. I was saved by grace. Do I need to hope for more grace when the rapture happens? You bet I do!
For
the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Colossians 1:23
When we are discussing the eternal security of the believer, it is a different topic, but one essential element is to be well grounded in the promise and guarantee of what is to come at the revelation of Jesus in the rapture.
Am I the righteousness of God in Christ here and now? Of course I am. But only because of the hope God has given me that I place my faith in...
Galatians 5:5
For
we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Paul is quite blunt about this...
1st Corinthians 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
To every young believer I'd be teaching..
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
And making it clear what our hope is...
Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
There are so many depressed believers, oppressed by difficult circumstances and what they need is an injection of hope for the glory ahead of us, and that begins with the redemption of our bodies at the rapture and our adoption as heirs and joint heirs with the Son.
Titus 3:7
That
being justified by his grace,
we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
1st John 3:3
And
every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
The only force that is stronger than the hope God gives us is the love of God, and it is the love of God that brings us hope. The hope that we have is...
God, desiring even more to demonstrate to the heirs of the promise the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath,
18so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us.
19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a
hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil,
20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Heb.6
The soul is our mind, will and emotion, and the God of all hope gives us hope for what is to come as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast. So in my mind, teaching about the hope in the redemption of the body and our adoption, when fully explained, is the one thing that gives security to all believer because it proves the love of God doesn't end at the cross, it was only the beginning!
Adoption is a beginning, God has much more is store for us!
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