Adopted children

[Guest man]

So then, is it possible for one who knows the way of righteousness, to turn away from it?

Yes, but GOD will not let them be lost forever. HE will still bring them into a right relationship, even if it is at their last breath.

So it's impossible for someone to turn away from God once they have known the way of righteousness?

What does this mean?

2 Peter 2

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb:

[kross]

If you are in CHRIST, you are an adopted child of GOD.

Paul writes to Chistian believers in Romans 8:15 For you did not recieve the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you recieved the SPIRIT of adoption by whom we cry out, "ABBA FATHER."

Romans 8:16 THE SPIRIT Himself bears witness with our spirit that we ARE CHILDREN OF GOD,

These verses are part of a teaching from The Word of GOD that tell us we are children of GOD if we have put our faith in JESUS.

Paul, again writing to and about Chrisitians, states in Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestined us to adoption as sons by CHRIST JESUS to Himself..."

These passages of scripture tell us that GOD chose us before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4) to be adopted as HIS children if we are those who are in CHRIST JESUS. Children do not choose who adopts them and once you are adopted by someone, you can not be un-adopted. (even if you could, that is not what GOD would do)

Romans 8:23 Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the SPIRIT, even we groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Here Paul is talking about the redemption of the physical world. In this verse, he is teaching us that, now that we are adopted children of GOD by the SPIRIT, we now eagerly wait for the adoption of our bodies.

We who have placed our faith in JESUS are the children of the most high GOD. As HIS children, we are guaranteed a position in HIS house. No matter what we do, we will never be separated from HIM. HE chose us from the beginning and HE will not un-choose us.

The US means HIS children, not the whole world.

It is important to understand what PAUL means when He uses the term "adoption." "Adoption" in the Greek as well as in the Roman culture (which pertained to his audience in the book of Romans) does not mean, nor does it refer our modern transaction of "adoption" where we go through the legal process of bringing an orphan into our home.

"Adoption" as Paul uses it, always refers to the final, manifestation of redemption. It refers to time when we will receive our glorified bodies.

NONE of us are "adopted" at this point.

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. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:15-23)

We are still waiting on the "adoption" that God has predestined all believers for.

This is a reference to biblical predestination which only applies to what has chosen and predestined for BELIEVERS. This does not support the unbiblical version of predestination that teaches that God chooses who will or will not be saved.

In the Bible predestination ONLY applies to what God has predestined for us AFTER salvation takes place.

This is the reason I so carefully made the post. Paul clearly teaches us that we are adopted as children of GOD right now. We are waiting for the adoption of our bodies, along with the rest of creation. But we are the adopted of GOD right now.

Paul is not teaching that the adoption has not happened yet, or that it is the adoption of our bodies. He is teaching that we are adopted children of GOD waiting for the day when JESUS comes to get us and the bodies of the adopted will revealed.

I am pretty sure that anyone else who reads this chapter will see that, because Paul carries the teaching from the adoption of our persons to the adoption of our bodies and all the way through a teaching that all things work for our good who are the predestined, called, glorified, saints of GOD (Verse 29-30) and then teaches that no one can bring a charge against those whom GOD has chosen (Verse 32? ish)

But, he is most definitely not creating a deffinition of adoption as being the adoption of our physical bodies. He is simply stating that, as adopted children, we are now waiting for the adoption (glorification) of our physical bodies. Specifically, we are waiting for the time when we will be physically in HIS presence.

[kross]

So then, is it possible for one who knows the way of righteousness, to turn away from it?

Yes, but GOD will not let them be lost forever. HE will still bring them into a right relationship, even if it is at their last breath.

So it's impossible for someone to turn away from God once they have known the way of righteousness?

What does this mean?

2 Peter 2

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb:

[Guest shiloh357]

So then, is it possible for one who knows the way of righteousness, to turn away from it?

Yes, but GOD will not let them be lost forever. HE will still bring them into a right relationship, even if it is at their last breath.

So it's impossible for someone to turn away from God once they have known the way of righteousness?

What does this mean?

2 Peter 2

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb:

[Guest man]

So then, is it possible for one who knows the way of righteousness, to turn away from it?

Yes, but GOD will not let them be lost forever. HE will still bring them into a right relationship, even if it is at their last breath.

So it's impossible for someone to turn away from God once they have known the way of righteousness?

What does this mean?

2 Peter 2

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb:

[Guest man]

Does this verse say they are lost? Or does it say that theiir life will be rough because of not living in the benefits of their salvation?

On the day we all stand before God, what will happen to those who have never known the ways of righteousness?

What will happen to those who never came to know the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

[Smalcald]

It comes back to repentance and choice.

Some people will prefer darkness will choose the flesh. We see it all of the time, the lovers who refuse to repent of adultery and continue in it, the greedy person who refuses to repent of their greed and make amends, and on and on.

There are other passages that speak of people liking the darkness, choosing it over the light of Christ.

We all will die sinners saved by Grace, but those who have salvation and faith as the above passages show, will not seek out sin will not live in that vomit as a choice.

My pastor gave the example of say someone cuts you off in traffic and your anger rears its head and you swear, this is sin of anger and taking the Lord's name in vain, you repent feel bad know it is wrong and move on. Compare that with sins which require planning and foresight, those sins which make it very hard for people to repent, both are sin, both send us to hell, but one is a natural reaction to our sinful flesh, the other is presenting ourselves as slaves of sin, we belong to who we obey, to whom we present ourselves to as willing slaves. Take adultery, a Christian knows this is sin. Yet some continue in adultery refusing to repent, because they proactively choose the adultery over faith, this would be living in vomit, this would be a sign that this person is in deep trouble spiritually versus someone who in a fit of anger swears and then repents and tries to do better.

[Guest shiloh357]

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

knowing the way of righteousness does not necessarily equate with having received or walked in it. A lot of sinners know the way but turn from it anyway. Knowing the truth and appropriating that truth are not the same.

[Guest man]

Take adultery, a Christian knows this is sin. Yet some continue in adultery refusing to repent, because they proactively choose the adultery over faith, this would be living in vomit, this would be a sign that this person is in deep trouble spiritually versus someone who in a fit of anger swears and then repents and tries to do better.

So happens on the day of judgement for those who know the way of righteousness but choose darkness over light?

[Guest man]

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

knowing the way of righteousness does not necessarily equate with having received or walked in it. A lot of sinners know the way but turn from it anyway. Knowing the truth and appropriating that truth are not the same.

I understand that.

But what does that verse say about those who knew and turned away?