Adopted into the family of God ?

[Downunder]

God has to empower their resurrected bodies with immortality not only because keeping one's promise is
the right thing to do,

Yes but that is no guarantee of a resurrection to life and glory, for some it will be the resurrection to condemnation.

John 5:29 and shall come forth; who have done the good things, unto resurrection of life; who have practised the evil things, unto resurrection of judgment.

 

[Beetow]

Yes but

For the Christians in my particular brotherhood-- we who have been given the
earnest of the Spirit per 2Cor 1:21 22 and Eph 1:13-14 --there is no but; there is
only yes.

The Greek word for "earnest" in those two passages is arrhabon (ar-hrab-ohn')
which is basically a pledge, i.e. part of the purchase-money or property given in
advance as security for the rest. This is a very important element in the divine plan.

For example: real estate transactions usually involve a sum called good-faith
money; which serves a specific purpose.

When the contract, and all the other necessary documents are submitted to Escrow,
the buyer is required to also submit a token amount of the purchase price. It's
usually a relatively small number of dollars compared to the full price of the
property. I think ours was just $1,000 back in 1988 on a $74,000 home. When the
buyer follows through on their expressed intent to purchase the property, the good
faith money goes towards the purchase.

However, should the buyer renege, then they forfeit the good-faith money-- all of
it, every last penny. No doubt that's done to discourage buyers betraying a
seller's trust.

So then, since God's Spirit is the earnest in the plan of salvation, then, according to
the principles underlying an arrhabon, should God betray a believer's trust by
reneging on His promise to spare people who hear and believe the gospel, then He
forfeits; and the believer gets to keep the Spirit regardless of their afterlife destiny.

But of course God won't renege because doing so would not only embarrass
Himself, but embarrass His son too as Jesus has given his word that his believing
followers have nothing to fear.

"I assure you, those who heed my message, and believe in God who sent me, have
eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already
passed from death into life." (John 5:24)

There are people who actually believe God can get away with reneging on His
expressed intents. A belief of that nature of course eo ipso insinuates that He lacks
integrity, i.e. it insinuates that God lacks scruples and can't be trusted to make good
on anything He says.

NOTE: Arrhabon is equivalent to the Hebrew word 'arabown (ar-aw-bone') which is
found located in the story of Judah and Tamar in the matter of his signet and staff.
(Gen 38, cf. post No.19)
_

 

[Downunder]

There are people who actually believe God can get away with reneging on His
expressed intents. A belief of that nature of course eo ipso insinuates that He lacks
integrity, i.e. it insinuates that God lacks scruples and can't be trusted to make good
on anything He says.

You can dress up OSAS all you want - but it is still false doctrine

 

[Beetow]

• Mark 14:35-36 . . He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it
were possible the hour might pass by him. He said; “Abba, Father"

The bulk of the New Testament is translated from manuscripts penned in Greek.
But the word "abba" isn't translated from Greek: in point of fact, it isn't translated
at all; it's the actual word; viz: a transliteration.

Abba is an Aramaic word that means "father" the same as the Greek word
pater (pat-ayr') means father; except that abba means father in a special sense. It
isn't just a noun; it's a filial vocative.

For example: when I'm puttering around out in the garage, and my son and his
mother are in the kitchen talking about me, the noun "dad" is merely a label that
informs my wife who my son is talking about. But when my son wants to get my
attention and calls out: "Dad!" then the same noun becomes a filial vocative.

• Gal 4:6 . . And because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of His son into
your hearts calling out: Abba! Father.

That verse reveals something very important. The Spirit of His son always compels
Christ's believing followers to call out to his Father, never to his mother, and the
reason for that is actually quite simple. Christ always prays to his Father; never to
his mother; ergo: the Father's children exhibit the very same behavior because the
Spirit of His son compels them to pray like His son.

That, by the way, is a pretty good litmus test. If somebody is comfortable praying
to Jesus' mom, they give away the fact that they lack the Spirit of God's son in
their hearts; which means of course that they have yet to undergo adoption into His
family circle.

• Rom 8:15 . . For you have not received a spirit of bondage again to fear; but you
have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we call out: Abba! Father.

The Bible instructs Christ's believing followers to pray in the Spirit (Eph 6:18, Jude
1:20). When people pray in the Spirit; they pray in accordance with Mark 14:35-36,
Gal 4:6, and Rom 8:15. In other words: they don't pray to Mary and/or angels and
departed saints; no, they pray to the Jesus' Father just as he did.

Bottom line: God's kin should feel an overwhelming compulsion to pray to their
adoptive Father without their having to be told to. It should come naturally (so to
speak), just as naturally as it came to Jesus. And they should feel an equally
overwhelming disdain for praying to somebody else.

So then, people with a habit of praying to Jesus' mom and/or angels and departed
saints. obviously have neither the spirit of God's son in their heart, nor the spirit of
adoption; and that is a very serious condition to be in.

• Rom 8:9 . . If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to
Christ.
_