Come to Understanding

Come to Understanding

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding,

and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. — Isaiah 29:24

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,

and caused them to understand the reading. — Nehemiah 8:8

September 1, 2013
Volume 12 Number 17

The Spirit of Adoption

(Part 2)

The Spirit that God sent is the "Spirit of his Son," which cries out from our hearts "Abba, Father:"

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. -Galatians 4

This is the "Spirit of adoption," whereby we join with Him in crying out "Abba, Father!"

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. -Romans 8

As we are led by the "Spirit of God" through the "Spirit of his Son," the "Spirit of adoption" declares that we are the adopted "sons of God!"

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. -Romans 8

This is the revelation of the promise that the "Word of Yahweh" made to Abraham. He told him that He Himself is "your exceedingly great reward:"

1 After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceedingly great reward. -Genesis 15

Abraham believed the promise of the "Word of Yahweh" because he believed in Yahweh. His faith was counted to him as righteousness:

6 And he believed in Yahweh; and he counted it to him for righteousness. -Genesis 15

The promise was a mystery (secret) because it had not yet been shown to the world. Therefore, it could only be accepted by those that believed in Yahweh. It was the "secret of Yahweh," which is His covenant that He only reveals to those who, like Abraham, fear (believe) Him:

14 The secret of Yahweh is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant. -Psalms 25

Yahweh promises that the seed of those that fear Him "shall inherit the earth:"

12 What man is he that fears Yahweh? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. -Psalms 25

Yahshua spoke of the "secret" as the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" that can only be known by those that have "ears to hear." He spoke in parables so that only those that feared (believed) Yahweh could hear and understand the "mysteries" that He revealed:

9 Who has ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came, and said to him, Why speak you to them in parables?

11 He answered and said to them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. -Matthew 13

Using parables, He told them things which had "been kept secret from the foundation of the world:"

35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. -Matthew 13

What was this "secret" that Yahweh had not revealed since the "foundation of the world?" After Yahweh showed it to him, Paul called it the "mystery of godliness," which was that God (Yahweh) Himself was "manifest in the flesh!"

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. -1 Timothy 3

John also confirmed that the "Word" of Yahweh, which was "the only begotten of the Father" and was "full of grace and truth," "was made flesh, and dwelt among us:"

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. -John 1

As Paul said, those that prophesy cannot reveal more than they know. They can only tell that which Yahweh has shown to them:

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. -1 Corinthians 13

Therefore, the "mystery of godliness" can only be partially understood until it is revealed by Yahweh. Once our eyes are opened, then we will be able to see it clearly. Paul wrote:

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. -1 Corinthians 13

It was Yahshua that opened the eyes of His apostles to understand that the Scriptures were about Him:

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, -Luke 24

As eyes are opened, the "mystery" begins to unfold. Paul had stated only part of the "mystery" when he wrote that "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

More of the "mystery," which the Spirit of God revealed to Paul, was that the "Gentiles should be fellow heirs" and "partakers of his promise in the Messiah by the gospel:"

3 How that by revelation he made known to me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,

4 Whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of the Messiah)

5 Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in the Messiah by the gospel: -Ephesians 3

As Yahshua began to reveal the mystery, He said that the "kingdom of God" cannot be inherited through the flesh. He said that only those that are "born of the Spirit" of God can enter into the "kingdom of God:"

5 Yahshua answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. -John 3

Those that believe in the name of Yahshua (Yahweh the Savior) are the "sons of God:"

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. -John 1

The "sons of God" are His heirs through the Messiah:

7 Therefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through the Messiah. -Galatians 4

By faith in the Messiah Yahshua, we are the "children of God:"

26 For you are all the children of God by faith in the Messiah Yahshua. -Galatians 3

Long before He revealed His secret to the world, Yahweh had predestinated (predetermined) that He would adopt as His children those who believe in Yahshua the Messiah:

5 Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Yahshua the Messiah to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved. -Ephesians 1

Through His love ,"according to the riches of His grace," He has made us acceptable to become His children and to redeem us from the world as He forgives our sins through the blood of Yahshua the Messiah:

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; -Ephesians 1

Yahweh had predestinated (predetermined) that we would receive the promise of His inheritance by believing in Him through Yahshua the Messiah:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in the Messiah. -Ephesians 1

If we believe Him, having received the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, then He seals in us His promise by His "holy Spirit of promise:"

13 In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, -Ephesians 1

If the Spirit of the Messiah is in us, then we are "Abraham’s seed" and we are the heirs of the promise of the "exceedingly great reward" that was made to him:

29 And if you are the Messiah’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. -Galatians 3

We are heirs to the promise of His Spirit, which is the "blessing of Abraham" offered to the Gentiles and received by faith through Yahshua the Messiah:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Yahshua the Messiah; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. -Galatians 3

Those that overcome (have victory over) the world are those that believe that Yahshua is the Son of God:

5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Yahshua is the Son of God? -1 John 5

If we overcome the world, then we are among the adopted sons of God that shall inherit all things!

7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. –Revelation 21

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Scriptures are taken from the Proper Name Version of the King James Bible.