Spirit Of Adoption (13)

Christ and Huiothesia

In the life of the average Hebrew boy there were three major events which drew broad public attention to him. This was true in the life of Christ and also in the lives of God's children. We have written on this in previous chapters but will add these thoughts, some of which are repetitious. We may call these events "the stages of manhood" or "rites of passage." 

The first of these events was his "Circumcision," which occurred when he was an infant, at eight days old. This was the moment that he was marked as a "covenant man" in Israel, and was celebrated throughout the community. So Luke writes: "And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb." (Luke 2: 21 nkjv) Paul also speaks of himself as being "circumcised the eighth day" (Phil. 3: 5).

In the work of a believer being begotten of the Lord, the Lord also circumcises his heart and spirit.

"In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ." (Col.2: 11 nkjv)

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." (Rom. 2: 28-29 nkjv)

The second major event was his "Bar-Mitzvah," which took place as he was about to enter into puberty. The word Bar-Mitzvah actually means "a son accountable," and this signified the time, not only when he was held accountable for keeping the Commandments of God, but also when he was to become an apprentice under his father in the family business. This, too, was celebrated as a very special event in the life of the child, just as it is today. We see this alluded to in the life of Jesus when he was about twelve years of age. Notice what the Gospel record says:

"And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2: 42-49 nkjv)

After Bar Mitzvah the child began to spend less time under tutors and to spend more time with his father and learning firsthand the family business and to imitate the father. It was a point where a child went through a rite of passage and took a giant step towards sonship and likeness to his father. We see this in the life of those who are born of the Spirit. After their new birth and circumcision they spend their spiritual childhood under teachers and caregivers. Paul speaks of them in these texts:

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children..." (Eph. 4: 11-14 nkjv)

"Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father." (Gal. 4: 1-2 nkjv)

As we have seen in previous chapters, no child of God is perfected in this life. Many seem to be stuck in childhood all of their lives. Others reach an intermediate age following years of growth in Christ, corresponding to the years following Bar Mitzvah. In their first years following their new birth they are under tutors. They also still need teachers in their post Bar Mitzvah stage, but they are under more direct teaching of their Father. This would correspond to the more mature study of the word of God apart from his teachers. We might compare this to the three stages of education in most school systems where we first go to "grammar" or "elementary" school, then to "middle school," and then to "high school" and to college. Notice these words of the apostle along this line:

"11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb. 5: 11-14 nkjv)

The question then becomes - "how mature can a child of God become in this life?" Or, "does a child of God reach full growth in this life or in the next?" The above text in Ephesians chapter four seems to imply that becoming full grown men who are fully conformed to the image of the Son of God will not occur until the day of the resurrection, which as we have seen, is the day when they will be installed (or son placed) into their inheritance. That is when they will become a "perfect man" and attain the full stature of their sonship. That is also when all the saints will be unified in the faith and in the knowledge of God.

The third event was what was known as the "Huiothesia," or the (young man's) "adoption ceremony." The word "Huiothesia" means "Son Placement," and indicates the time when a male child reached what was considered to be the age of maturity (somewhere around 30). At this time, the father of the young man would place his hand on the head of his son and openly proclaim, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased! I bestow upon him now all of my riches and power and authority (through power of attorney) so that he might act on my behalf in all of my affairs." This would correspond to the resurrection day as Paul said in Romans 8: 23. In a previous chapter we mentioned all the futuristic expressions in that chapter that are connected with this coming ceremony, involving the revelation of the sons of God and of their being honored and glorified and given right to fully possess their inheritance and to rule over it. It is the day when they obtain "the full realization of adult sonship." It is that day when Christ "brings many sons unto glory." (Heb. 2: 10) It is when the Father and Son say to his children "well done." (Matt. 25: 21)

Jesus was of full age when he began his public ministry. This also marks the time when he was perfected and able to speak and act on behalf of his Father. It was during this stage that we heard the Father witness to his Son Jesus by saying "this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt. 3: 16-17; Mark 1: 11; Luke 3: 22)

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matt. 17: 5)

There will be similar formal declarations made before the grand assize when Christ comes again. Christ will make a kind of "emancipation declaration." He will acknowledge that his children have reached the end of their growth and education. Paul alludes to such when he says - "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it" (I Cor. 3: 13 kjv).  In the previous chapters we showed how the huiothesian ceremony, like the Bar Mitzvah or Toga Virillis ceremonies, involved a father making public declarations. This is the huiothesia proper.

A "son" is one who has been behaving as a mature obedient son, maturing more and more into the Father's image. The Son of God in his divinity was never at any single moment any more or less the "Son of God" than he has been immutably from eternity. But, as respects his human preparation for being the "Son of God" in every way, he needed to be perfected, go from being a babe and child to a full grown man who was entitled to rule with his Father. This is his "being made perfect."

The Man Child of the Apocalypse

"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." (Rev. 12: 5)

Who is this "man child"? Many think it is Christ and alludes to his being persecuted and then as having been caught up (his ascension) into heaven and who is destined to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Others believe that the man child is a figure of the body of saved people. Others, like I do, see how the man child is fulfilled in Christ and also in his people. 

Vincent's Word Studies: "A man-child (υἱὸν ἄῤῥενα) Lit., a son, a male. The correct reading is ἄρσεν, the neuter, not agreeing with the masculine individual (υἱὸν son) but with the neuter of the genus. The object is to emphasize, not the sex, but the peculiar qualities of masculinity - power and vigor. Rev., a son, a man-child. Compare John 16:21; Jeremiah 20:15."

"Of special note is the double emphasis of masculinity here. Alexander Campbell translated this, "She bore a masculine son." Alexander Campbell, as quoted by James D. Strauss, The Seer, the Saviour, and the Saved (Joplin, Missouri: College Press, 1972), p. 162. Pieters rendered it, "A son, a he-man, a fierce assertion of the virility of Christ." Albertus Pieters, op. cit., p. 159." (As cited here)

The Bible portrays Jesus as the perfect model for what it means to be a man. No one "measures up to" him, although after the resurrection and glorification of believers, they will attain to his stature, being then wholly, in body and spirit, conformed to the image of Christ. He is eminently a masculine man and all that is signified by being such, which includes the attributes of strength, endurance, wisdom and knowledge, leadership, etc. Jesus was no sissy nor effeminate. He was no coward either. 

Believers are to become just as perfect a man as is Christ. Christ stands before us as the ideal of manly greatness and beauty. The church has not yet grown to maturity, but is destined to be like Him, to be as perfect as he is, as Paul said in the above passage in Ephesians: "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

Here are some other passages which speak of the people of God striving to be, and one day obtaining, to adult status.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Cor. 16: 13-14).

"When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways." (I Cor. 13: 11)

"Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (I Cor. 14: 20 kjv)

On the first text Albert Barnes has this to say in his commentary:

"Quit you like men - (ἀνδρίζεσθε andrizesthe, from ἀνήρ anēr, a man). The word occurs no where else in the New Testament. In the Septuagint it occurs in Joshua 1:6-7, Joshua 1:9,Joshua 1:18; 1 Chronicles 28:20; 2 Chronicles 32:7; Nehemiah 2:1; and in 18 other places. See Trommius' Concordance. It occurs also in the classic authors; see Xenophon, Oec. Nehemiah 5:4. It means, to render one manly or brave; to show oneself a man; that is, not to be a coward, or timid, or alarmed at enemies, but to be bold and brave. We have a similar phrase in common use: "Be a man," or "Show yourself a man;" that is, be not mean, or be not cowardly."

Believers, after they have been "born of God" should grow up in Christ. But, even the fastest growing believers do not reach full growth and maturity in their lives. That will not come to their soul or spirits until they enter in spirit into heaven's paradise. It will not occur to their mortal bodies until the resurrection. Not till the second coming of Christ will believes become the "perfect man" and be completely conformed in their sonship to the sonship of Christ.

This of course also teaches us that those who have died in infancy and gone to heaven do not remain babes but instantly grow up, either when they enter paradise in their spirits or when their bodies are also conformed to the glorious body of the Son of God.

Another text that bears upon this idea of attaining adult status and perfection, and of masculine attributes, is in a text from Revelation chapter twelve.

Jesus or Saints (or both)?

"And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne." (12: 4-5 nkjv)

Wrote J.A. Seiss in "The Apocalypse" (here) in commentary upon Revelation chapter twelve:

"There is a peculiar manliness ascribed to this child. It is not only “a man child,” as our English version renders the phrase, but more literally “a son, a male,” or a son who is a male. There is special emphasis laid upon the masculinity."

This emphasis upon masculinity is in line with the other texts cited above. Of course, this does not mean that all resurrected saints will be men with male genitals. We wrote on this in my series "Beliefs About The Afterlife" (See link for all the chapters in that book on this blog). Surely the adult sons of God will also have all the virtues of femininity, for in Christ Jesus there is "neither male nor female" (Gal. 3: 28). However, when we think of how men and women differ, we must put strength or power at the head, for Peter says that the woman is "the weaker vessel" (I Peter 3: 7), and there will be no weakness in the constitutions of the saints when they have been resurrected and glorified. Paul says that in the resurrection of saints that they are "raised in power." (I Cor. 15: 43)

Seiss continued:

"Nay, the letter of the description is such as to prove that this child is collective and composite, the same as the mother, and likewise includes people of both sexes. The word (arsen) which means male, has the peculiarity of being in the neuter gender, and so applies to both men and women, and cannot apply to any one individual. We have a somewhat similar instance in 2 Timothy 3:6, where the apostle speaks of certain perverted religionists, “which creep into houses and lead captive silly women” (gunaikaria), that is, silly women of the neuter gender, and so women, or womenish ones, of both sexes. Sex, however, is not so much the subject of this arsen as the higher qualities of manhood common to both men and women. Such forms of speech lose all propriety except when construed with the implication that a body of persons is meant, and that this body includes women as well as men, and men as well as women. But it is a body at the same time distinguished throughout with a special masculinity, which knows no sex; that is, with the most manly of virtues, and the most vigorous and heroic of characteristics."

As we will see, this "male son" is applicable of Christ himself, but also applicable to the saints once they have been resurrected and glorified.

Seiss added: 

 

"But if we understand here all God’s saints, all who have been begotten of the Holy Ghost, of every age, then every letter of the narrative is realized to the full. Here are men and women, in multitudes upon multitudes, “of whom the world was not worthy,” alike pervaded with the highest qualities of virtue, courage, self denial and strength. They are all conquerors. They all have overcome the world, triumphed over the powers of darkness, won the race of faith, and through the grace of God possessed themselves of titles to ever- lasting crowns and honours. Their masculinity in these respects is unquestionable and most intense, whether they be men or women as to sex. Nor is this so true and characteristic of any people that have lived, or that shall live, as it is of the true children of God of all time. Here we find all the noblest and best of the race, and the embodiment of the highest virtue and wisdom that ever pulsated in the arteries of humanity. Here is the proper “man child,” if ever there was or will be one upon earth."

I believe that is correct. Further, since we have proven that full growth and likeness to Christ does not become a reality until the resurrection at the second coming of Christ, then their being "placed as adult sons" at the right hand of both the Father and Christ has not yet occurred, but are, as Paul said, "earnestly waiting and anticipating the huiothesia." (Rom. 8: 23)

H.A. Ironside makes these comments (As cited here):

"Is there then any incongruity in understanding the man-child to represent both Christ Jesus our Lord and His church?" - "We may then, on the authority of Scripture itself, safely affirm that the man-child represents the one new Man who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron—Christ, the Head, and the church, His body." (emphasis mine)

That is what I believe about the text in Revelation. It is also what other scriptures also testify to, as we have seen. In "The Man God Has Ordained" by T. Austin-Sparks, in Chapter 9 - "The Man Child" (See here) the author says these things which I endorse (emphasis mine):

"Here we have, I believe, the whole matter of sonship gathered into representative fullness. This son, this man child, is sonship in representative fullness: that in which all the principles and elements of Christ have been brought to utterness."

That is "the huiothesia"! It has to do with becoming sons, or becoming the image of the Father.

Austin-Sparks also says:

"The conception of Christ takes place in the believer by the revelation of Christ in the heart. Paul said: “It was the good pleasure of God... to reveal his Son in me” (Gal. 1:15,16). Again he said: “God...shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). The man child — sonship — is conceived by the revelation within of Jesus Christ." 

So, this mystery of union with Christ, and of the progression towards full sonship and likeness to Christ, involves 1) the believer growing up and progressing toward perfection, "in Christ" and 2) Christ growing up in the believer. Christ is conceived within the believer when the believer firsts trust in Christ and receives him. As the believer grows up in his spiritual life Christ grows in him. Wonderful thought!

Austin-Sparks also says:

"Paul said to the Galatians, and through them to us: “My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you...” (Gal. 4:19). The conception has taken place, there is something there, but there has to be a full formation of Christ within. Paul says, “I am in distress, in agony, in great pain, till Christ be fully formed in you.” The “man child” is the full formation of Christ in the church."

Amen! Well said!

Therefore we see how perfect manhood, described by masculine strength, or a he-man, is a picture not only of Christ in his perfected and glorified humanity, but of his mystical body too. Those who are united to Christ or have had Christ conceived within them are destined to full sonship, imitating the sonship of Christ.