What does adoption mean in the Greek and Roman sense used in the Bible?
In the Greek and Roman sense, adoption means the placing of a son as a full partner and heir with the Father. It is the position God predestinated, kept open for every believer, so the moment he is saved he is placed right where God intended him from eternity past.
Les explains that the word adoption, coming out of Greek and Roman practice, was the placing of that son as a full partner and heir with the Father. That is what adoption means. He ties it to predestination: God predestinated us and kept that place open for every believer; the moment a person is saved, he is right where God intended him to be from eternity past. Predestination is therefore about the position. The text also says the adoption of children is by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the pleasure of His good will. Les then goes back to Acts chapter 2, where Peter preaches to Israel, still under the law, and notes the Jews knew the Old Testament even in unbelief.
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
More Questions
What did adoption mean in the Roman and Greek culture that Paul refers to?
As Paul uses the word, adoption refers to the Roman/Greek custom in which a child born into a family was placed under tutors, educated, trained, and prepared until he could come in at an equal level with his father, and then he went through the rites of adoption.
What does 'adoption' in Ephesians 1:5 not mean?
In Ephesians 1:5 the word 'adoption' does not mean that you are legally transformed from one family to another.