Plumb the depths of Adoption

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Ohio

If "most Christians" do not properly appreciate the depths of Paul's unique use of the Roman legal word for "adoption," then rather than condemning them in front of all the LC's, he should plumb the depths of this truth, and teach that, which he never did. Instead Lee took the word at face value and used it to criticize the entire Christian public. Most decent teachers and ministers would never do this.
The reason for me to even address this topic was my wife's life-long distaste for Paul's use of the word "adoption," which she received from Lee. She preferred "born again" children of God. Though I would explain that there was no conflict, and both were simultaneously true, addressing our status as sons of God from different directions, she was pickled by Lee's exclusive teaching and unchanging.
Then one day recently I came across a few websites explaining Paul's use of adoption based on Roman law and showed her an article on the rich benefits of Roman "adoption," and she was instantly transformed by the renewing of her mind. The truth had set her free!

(Post 109 from Ohio in an open letter to Ron Kangas)

I didn't want to continue this discussion in the "open letter to Ron Kangas" thread since I felt it would be too far off topic. But I agree with Ohio, there is a great truth here and WL famously took issue with the use of the word "adoption", rather than teach this truth. Since we have all been influenced by his teaching to some extent I thought it would be valuable for all of us, not just Ohio's wife, to address this here.