“How were adoption and inheritance related in Paul’s thought?”
Throughout the Bible, there are so many lessons, that it can become hard to track. However, we can still manage to remember even the smallest details within the book. In Paul’s thought we see a direct correlation between Adoption and Inheritance. What is adoption. Adoption in the most simple term is taking something in for your own. For example, a child. When a child is adopted by a parent of parents, They are put into the control of the parents. Not like a slave, rather under their custody and protection. Inheritance is very similar. Imagine the definition of inheritance like receiving something. For example, when you inherit money, you receive that money. In the Bible, there are many sanctions, this does not change for this time around. Inheritance is for those who are holy. They will receive it if they follow the word of God.
As stated above, almost all important things within the Bible are based off of Sanctions. This is no different, if you cannot follow God, then you do not deserve salvation. Paul claims that Jewish law and tradition will not get you into heaven. Rather following Christ will do so. He states that Christ is the way to Heaven. Love and healing are important, and rules and ritual are not. We see here in these statements that we need to inherit Jesus’s teachings, and adopt his school of thought. This opened a wide door for Christians, as we see that through Jesus, we reach salvation and the kingdom of heaven.
Adoption is so important within the Bible. In fact, it might be the most important thing in the Bible. The Son of God was Adopted by his Joseph and Mary. This in fact is the most important thing on the planet. Adoption goes further than this. Adopting the ideas of Jesus, are just as important as adopting a child. Being able to adopt is like being able to connect. When you can adopt his teachings and ideas, you can connect to God. Love is the connection between God and humanity. When something is inherited between God and you, it is a connection of love and a relationship of respect. The world adopted Jesus Christ. The world inherited him, and with it, we became stronger people that are more connected to God.
As stated above, the world adopted Jesus. We adopted his ideas, and we adopted his Grace. Just like we adopted Jesus, God has adopted us. We are his sons and daughters. We see that God is inheriting us, just as we inherited Jesus. Without the bible, we would see a world that follows ritual and tradition, instead of focusing on a clean healthy heart and relationship with God. We would see a religion that focuses on following law and practice.
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