Huiothesis

I got a note tonight from a good friend announcing that he had joined the 21st century by initiating his own blog. I thought, "Well geewhiz.......if he can do it, why not?" So, I clicked on to the website and began the process of setting up a blog page. I immediately ran into a snag-they wanted to know what I wanted to call my blog. Call it something, I'm not even sure I know what it is or why I need one - now I gotta give it a name?"


Currently, I have been teaching through the book of Ephesians. Verse by verse, almost word by word we have started working our way through this great book by the apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus. In the very first sermon I developed for this series I encountered an absolutely dynamic concept that has become the theme for the entire series and the heartbeat of what the Spirit of God is speaking to my heart for the church. In Epesians 1:5 Paul writes, "In love, having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the pleasure of His good will." The phrase "the adoption of children" comes from a piece of Greek terminology (huiothesis) which interpreted literally means "the placing of an adult child."

Of course, in the west the term adoption brings about the image of an orphan child, an unwanted infant who is graciously received by an adoptive parent. However, for those of us who are believers in Christ and who desire to become faithful disciples we understand that we were born into the family of God, not adopted. A child who is born into a family doesn't need to be adopted. The term huiothesis doesn't refer to the fact of becoming a child of God, but the reality of taking our place in the family of God as a grown up, mature, adult member of the family; not only possessing the privleges of adulthood, but accepting the responsibilities of that adulthood.

Paul is telling us that the predetermined destiny for the believer if to take his place in the family as an adult child; an heir who is ready to assume his responsibilities in the family. No longer an infant (brephos) who requires constant nurture and protection or a toddler or young child (teknon) who requires diligent supervision and restraint - but a grown up member of the family who is self-governed and spiritually motivated toward the interests of the family.

In the course of my studies I learned of toga virilis. When a young man reached the age of 13 he accompanied his father to the forum or gate of the city where they were joined by the other men of the community for a ceremony in which the men would make challenging speeches to the young man and at the end of the ceremony his play clothes would be removed and in their place he would receive the garments (toga) of a man (virilis). From that moment, the young man would become fully a Roman citizen with all of the privileges and responsibilities of that citizenship. He could own property, make war, take a wife, borrow money and vote. Obviously, his experiences would not allow him to fully appropriate all of the privilege nor would his maturity enable him to fully engage his responsibilities. But, from that moment - he was a man and began to move toward functioning as a man.

The western church is filled with infant believers and toddler disciples who require constant nurture and supervision and an inordinate level of maintainence. Modern believers in the west have more material resources in the form of books, tapes, dvds, small groups, conferences, support ministries than any genration in history, but remain biblically iliterate. We have "swords" of every shape size and description and training abouds, yet we remain unable and unwilling to engage the enemy or the culture on an appropriately adult level.

So, this blog is put forth seeking believers who are ready for the toga virilis - the garments of a man. I intend to post words that will challenge our childhood and ilicit conversation that will cause all who participate (including and especially me) to accept the "adoption of children" - the huiothesis - which is our destiny, predestined before the foundations of the earth.

I do not put my self forward as one who has mastered the concepts, but as one who has a passion for seeing a generation of believers raised up who can comprehend and govern themselves through the Kingdom principles revealed in the Word of God and who hunger to move in the power of the Spirit to confront the kingdoms of this world in every arena and subject them to the claims of Christ and the authority of His Word.

So, blessings to you and honor to Him.
Michael Gantt