SPIRITUAL ADOPTION, THE OLD AND THE NEW COVENANTS

[Alex2165]

SPIRITUAL ADOPTION AND HEIRS OF GOD​

THE OLD AND THE NEW COVENANTS

Galatians 4. 1-10

In these verses Paul compares Israel to a "child" that does not yet inherit the Estate of his Father, but the "child" is under guardians and managers, means under the Rules and Regulations of the Law of Moses. During the time of the Law of Moses Israel is submitted to "elemental things" (or "elemental spirits" or rudiments. NRSV).

It may mean the basic and simple Laws and Regulations of the Ritual Law and Behavioral Law of GOD that are given to Moses as the start of educational process of Israel. The elementary Ritual Laws of Moses was the first step of educational process, because Israelites at that time were are not Spiritually ready to learn much more higher standards of the Spiritual Laws of Moses.

In verse 4 position and environment of Israel completely changed with the coming of Jesus Christ the Son of GOD, Who was born of physical woman, and born under the Law of Moses under which Israel obligated to obey and fulfill it as their Covenant with GOD. Despite the fact that Jesus brought the Spiritual Commandments of the Law of Moses to Israel as their New Covenant to replace the Covenant of Rituals, Jesus Himself continued followed the Ritualistic Law of Moses as it was prescribed in the Law, in order to show to Israel that the both Laws can be obeyed and fulfilled and nothing is impossible in it.

Also, Jesus proved to all who doubt Him about His genealogy that He is the real Jew, and not just an ordinary Jews but from the tribe of Judah, descendant of David, royal Descendant.

~ 4. Genealogy of Christ: Luke 3.23-28, Matthew 1.1-17.

Verse 5 specifies one very important aspect of Jesus coming, He came to "Redeem those who were under the Law" under the Ritualistic Law of Moses, because of numerous violations of it by the leaders and by the people. Redemption of Christ came in form of Spiritual Commandments of the Law of Moses-the Gospel, to adapt Israel and the world by the Spiritual adoption of the Spiritual Law. To have for GOD not physical sons and daughters, but the Spiritual sons and daughters ready to enter His Spiritual Kingdom.

This signifies a new era in Spiritual worship and service of GOD.

John 4.23-24
23. "But an hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
24. GOD is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Romans 12.1
1. "I urge you therefore brethren, by the mercies of GOD to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to GOD, which is your spiritual service of worship."

To Philippians 3.3
3. "It is we who are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of GOD, and boast in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,"

Verse 6 goes even further declaring Spiritual worshipers of GOD as "sons," to whom "GOD has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts." This is very similar to a statements made in other places of the Bible.

~ Writing on the hearts: (2Chronicles 30.12) (Psalm 40.7-8) (Proverbs 7.3) (Isaiah 44.3) (Jeremiah 24.7, 30.22, 31.33, 32.38.40) (Ezekiel 36.26-27, 39.29) (Zephaniah 3.9) (Hebrews 10.16-17) (2Corinthians 3.3).

Verses 7-8 describes the change from submission "slavery" to the Ritualistic Law and the world in general, to a Spiritual "son" of GOD and Spiritual "heir" of GOD'S Kingdom "through GOD," precisely through Jesus Christ.

In verses 9-10 Paul wrote to Philippians with rebuke, because the course of their church turned back to "elementary things" as Paul describes it in verses 3 and 9.

The verse 10 perhaps describes some of these "elementary things" with a word "observe" and in some Bibles with the words "observe special." This may indicate some kind pagan worship of heavenly bodies, or some special occasions or events related to sorcery or some kind magic forbidden by GOD.

In general description the result of such transition from "elementary things" of the Ritualistic Law of Moses to mush higher level of Spiritual Laws of Moses reveal itself in magnificent transformation like metamorphosis, from ordinary to extraordinary, from mortal physical flesh (23.29) to a Spiritual everlasting being, inside of whom the Spirit the Christ is formed.

Following verses 21-31, they describe the difference between Sarai and Hagar and the difference between Ishmael and Isaac. Paul emphasize difference between slave and free. Paul related Hagar to the ordinary earthly woman who produces ordinary earthly child Ishmael, from whom will come earthly ordinary descendants.

On the other hand, Paul portrait Sarai as not ordinary earthly but extraordinary woman, to whom special Spiritual Promises of GOD concerning her son Isaac and his descendants was made to her. (Genesis 17.1-22).

While Hagar and Ishmael also received from GOD and their revelation concerning their future, but it is very different from Sarai and Isaac (Genesis 16.9-12, 17.20, 25.12-18).

Verse 29 also gives us some clue concerning One Special Descendant of Isaac. In the second part of the verse Paul stated that Ishmael persecuted Isaac, means the descendants of Ishmael will persecute descendants of Isaac, and even today are witnesses of this incredible prophecy of persecution.

Because from Isaac's descendants will come Jesus Christ who will be persecuted and eventually Crucified by Gentiles, Paul made here excellent comparison with Isaac, the genealogical forefather of Christ, that Isaac "was born according to the Spirit," the Spirit of Christ. This entire verse 26 reveal the everlasting straggle between descendants of Ishmael who represent the ungodly evil of the world that constantly persecute descendants of Isaac who represent in this world as Jews, the descendants of Jesus Christ. In other words, those who persecute Jews and Judeo-Christians, persecute also Jesus Christ.

In verse 26 Paul now relate Sarai as our spiritual mother, in the same way Paul often reminded us that all who have Faith of Abraham are his Spiritual sons. So, in this sense we have not only Spiritual father but also and Spiritual mother, we have Spiritual Family which is much more important and higher than our ordinary earthly family, because Spiritual Family is the Family of GOD that never feud, never argue, never betray, never disappoint, and never separates, not like the ordinary families on Earth.

Paul presented Old and New Covenants as they both related to the descendants of Abraham who in their Faith, Fear, and Obedience worship and serve the Lord GOD. They are all Spiritual sons of Abraham.

See also related verses concerning Covenants of GOD with Israel and Gentiles.

The Promises of the New Covenant in the Old Testament (Old Covenant): (Isaiah 40.9, 41.27, 42.6, 49.8, 52.7, 54.10, 60.6, 61.1) (Jeremiah 31.31-34, 32.37-41) (Ezekiel 16.59-60.62) (Nahum 1.15) (Malachi 3.1).

The New Covenant in the New Testament (New Covenant): (Matthew 20.28) (Mark 14.24) (Luke 22.20) (2Corinthians 3.6) (Hebrews 8.8.10.13).

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

Paul presented Old and New Covenants as they both related to the descendants of Abraham

I like most of what you're saying. I looked this up because sometimes material on the subject is hard to find.

ABSTRACT OF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

ADOPTION.​

"ADOPTION is that privilege, bestowed upon those who are united with Christ, and justified by faith, by which they are admitted into the family of God, adopted as his children, and made joint heirs with his own Son.

"In the strict sense of the word "Son," this title can be given only to the Eternal Son of God, who is the only begotten of the Father (John 1:14), and is exclusively "the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance." (Heb. 1:3).

"But others are called participatively sons of God, as probably the angels (Job 1:6; 38:7), as Adam (Luke 3:38), and as Israel (Ex. 4:22; Hosea 11:1; cf. Rom. 9:4). The sonship of angels and of Adam, manifestly proceeds from their creation by God in his image, and likeness.

"That of Israel, however, is to be ascribed to the typical relation which that nation occupied to the true people of God. The application to Christ in Matt. 2:15, of the sonship declared of Israel in Ex. 4:22, and Hosea 11:1, together with the adoption to which Paul refers, Rom. 9:4, shows, that Israel's sonship, like Israel's election, was but a type, the fulfillment and reality of which were to be found only in the Antitype, Jesus Christ.

So far as Israel itself was concerned, the title could mean no more, than that that nation had been chosen by God to be outwardly his people, the depository of his holy oracles, and the means through which his salvation would come to man. John 4:22.

"The sonship ascribed to the believer in Christ, will be best understood by considering its gracious origin, its peculiar nature, and the wondrous blessing which it confers.
​

"I. Its Gracious Origin.

"1. It is not due to any natural relation, either originally possessed, or restored through justification.

"2. Nor does it arise from any new image or likeness of God, which has come through regeneration.

"3. It is the simple gift of God's love to those who by faith are brought into union with his proper Son.

"4. It is an act originating entirely in the good pleasure of God. Eph. 1:5.

"5. It is due, meritoriously, only to the work of Christ. It could be founded thus upon nothing else.

"6. It is conferred like justification upon all who by faith receive Christ. John 1:12.

"7. It is bestowed at the beginning of the Christian career, when there could be no ground for supposing it due to the character or acts of the recipient..."
​

"II. Its Peculiar Nature.

"If what has been said shows that the gift of sonship to the believer is a gracious act of God, that fact will appear more plain as we study the peculiar nature of that sonship.

"1. It is an act by which God chooses to take those who are not his children, and to make them such by adopting them into his family. Because of this they "are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Eph. 2:19.....

​

"III. Its Wondrous Blessings.

"The blessings connected with this sonship are scarcely less wonderful than is its nature.

"1. Intimate fellowship with Christ and God. "Wherefore," says the apostle, "thou art no longer a bond servant, but a son." Gal. 4:7. "No longer," said Jesus, "do I call you servants; . . . but I have called you friends." John 15:15.

"2. The guidance of the Holy Spirit; "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." Rom. 8:14.

"3. The witnessing presence of the Holy Spirit: "the Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God." Rom. 8:16.

"4. The conscious recognition in our hearts of God's relation to us as Father. "God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father." Gal. 4:6; also Rom. 8:15.

"5. "If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." Rom. 8:17.

"6. Unknown glory in future likeness to Christ: "it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him." 1 John 3:2.

"7. The inheritance includes all things: "he that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Rev. 21:7; cf. 1 Cor. 3:21-23..."
​

"IV. It Differs From Justification.

"It has been contended that "adoption cannot be said to be a different act or grace from justification." [Dabney's Theology, p. 627.] "It appears to me," says Dr. Dick, [Lect. 73, Theol., vol. 2, p. 224,] "to be virtually the same with justification, and to differ from it merely in the new view which it gives of the relations of believers to God, and in the peculiar form in which it exhibits the blessing to which they are entitled." Turretine says also, "that adoption is included in justification as a part which, with the remission of sins, constitutes this whole blessing; nor can justification be distinguished from adoption, unless so far as it is taken strictly for the remission of sins; whilst in its own formal conception it includes also acceptance unto life which flows from the imputation of the righteousness of Christ." Turretine's Theol., B. 16, c. 6, sec. 7.

"The position taken by these writers is a contrary extreme to that which some have held, viz.: that justification consists only of pardon. It is not to be doubted that justification is more than this, and includes restoration to the favor of God, and to eternal life. But these might have been bestowed without conferring upon the justified the peculiar blessings contained in Adoption. "Adoption," says Buchanan [on Justification, p.262], "is distinct in some respects from justification. For although both denote a change in relation, it may be affirmed that, according to Scriptures, pardon, acceptance, and adoption, are distinct privileges, the one rising above the other in the order in which they have been stated; -- that if it be conceivable that a sinner might have been pardoned, without being accepted to eternal life, it is equally conceivable that he might have been both pardoned and accepted, without being adopted as a son; -- and that, while the first two first properly belong to his justification, as being both founded in the same relation,--that of a Ruler and Subject,--the third is radically distinct from them, as being founded on a nearer, more tender, and more endearing relation,--that between a Father and his Son."

"Dabney argues that there is no difference between the two because the "instrument is the same--faith--and because the meritorious ground of adoption is the same with that of justification, viz.: the righteousness of Christ."

"But these facts, which are admitted, are due to another, which is that the faith by which we are justified is one which secures to us union with Christ. It would not necessarily follow that this union confers upon us only a single blessing or a number of blessings which may be combined together under one name."​

 

[Alex2165]

I like most of what you're saying. I looked this up because sometimes material on the subject is hard to find.

ABSTRACT OF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

ADOPTION.​

"ADOPTION is that privilege, bestowed upon those who are united with Christ, and justified by faith, by which they are admitted into the family of God, adopted as his children, and made joint heirs with his own Son.

"In the strict sense of the word "Son," this title can be given only to the Eternal Son of God, who is the only begotten of the Father (John 1:14), and is exclusively "the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance." (Heb. 1:3).

"But others are called participatively sons of God, as probably the angels (Job 1:6; 38:7), as Adam (Luke 3:38), and as Israel (Ex. 4:22; Hosea 11:1; cf. Rom. 9:4). The sonship of angels and of Adam, manifestly proceeds from their creation by God in his image, and likeness.

"That of Israel, however, is to be ascribed to the typical relation which that nation occupied to the true people of God. The application to Christ in Matt. 2:15, of the sonship declared of Israel in Ex. 4:22, and Hosea 11:1, together with the adoption to which Paul refers, Rom. 9:4, shows, that Israel's sonship, like Israel's election, was but a type, the fulfillment and reality of which were to be found only in the Antitype, Jesus Christ.

So far as Israel itself was concerned, the title could mean no more, than that that nation had been chosen by God to be outwardly his people, the depository of his holy oracles, and the means through which his salvation would come to man. John 4:22.

"The sonship ascribed to the believer in Christ, will be best understood by considering its gracious origin, its peculiar nature, and the wondrous blessing which it confers.
​

"I. Its Gracious Origin.

"1. It is not due to any natural relation, either originally possessed, or restored through justification.

"2. Nor does it arise from any new image or likeness of God, which has come through regeneration.

"3. It is the simple gift of God's love to those who by faith are brought into union with his proper Son.

"4. It is an act originating entirely in the good pleasure of God. Eph. 1:5.

"5. It is due, meritoriously, only to the work of Christ. It could be founded thus upon nothing else.

"6. It is conferred like justification upon all who by faith receive Christ. John 1:12.

"7. It is bestowed at the beginning of the Christian career, when there could be no ground for supposing it due to the character or acts of the recipient..."
​

"II. Its Peculiar Nature.

"If what has been said shows that the gift of sonship to the believer is a gracious act of God, that fact will appear more plain as we study the peculiar nature of that sonship.

"1. It is an act by which God chooses to take those who are not his children, and to make them such by adopting them into his family. Because of this they "are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Eph. 2:19.....

​

"III. Its Wondrous Blessings.

"The blessings connected with this sonship are scarcely less wonderful than is its nature.

"1. Intimate fellowship with Christ and God. "Wherefore," says the apostle, "thou art no longer a bond servant, but a son." Gal. 4:7. "No longer," said Jesus, "do I call you servants; . . . but I have called you friends." John 15:15.

"2. The guidance of the Holy Spirit; "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." Rom. 8:14.

"3. The witnessing presence of the Holy Spirit: "the Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God." Rom. 8:16.

"4. The conscious recognition in our hearts of God's relation to us as Father. "God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father." Gal. 4:6; also Rom. 8:15.

"5. "If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." Rom. 8:17.

"6. Unknown glory in future likeness to Christ: "it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him." 1 John 3:2.

"7. The inheritance includes all things: "he that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Rev. 21:7; cf. 1 Cor. 3:21-23..."
​

"IV. It Differs From Justification.

"It has been contended that "adoption cannot be said to be a different act or grace from justification." [Dabney's Theology, p. 627.] "It appears to me," says Dr. Dick, [Lect. 73, Theol., vol. 2, p. 224,] "to be virtually the same with justification, and to differ from it merely in the new view which it gives of the relations of believers to God, and in the peculiar form in which it exhibits the blessing to which they are entitled." Turretine says also, "that adoption is included in justification as a part which, with the remission of sins, constitutes this whole blessing; nor can justification be distinguished from adoption, unless so far as it is taken strictly for the remission of sins; whilst in its own formal conception it includes also acceptance unto life which flows from the imputation of the righteousness of Christ." Turretine's Theol., B. 16, c. 6, sec. 7.

"The position taken by these writers is a contrary extreme to that which some have held, viz.: that justification consists only of pardon. It is not to be doubted that justification is more than this, and includes restoration to the favor of God, and to eternal life. But these might have been bestowed without conferring upon the justified the peculiar blessings contained in Adoption. "Adoption," says Buchanan [on Justification, p.262], "is distinct in some respects from justification. For although both denote a change in relation, it may be affirmed that, according to Scriptures, pardon, acceptance, and adoption, are distinct privileges, the one rising above the other in the order in which they have been stated; -- that if it be conceivable that a sinner might have been pardoned, without being accepted to eternal life, it is equally conceivable that he might have been both pardoned and accepted, without being adopted as a son; -- and that, while the first two first properly belong to his justification, as being both founded in the same relation,--that of a Ruler and Subject,--the third is radically distinct from them, as being founded on a nearer, more tender, and more endearing relation,--that between a Father and his Son."

"Dabney argues that there is no difference between the two because the "instrument is the same--faith--and because the meritorious ground of adoption is the same with that of justification, viz.: the righteousness of Christ."

"But these facts, which are admitted, are due to another, which is that the faith by which we are justified is one which secures to us union with Christ. It would not necessarily follow that this union confers upon us only a single blessing or a number of blessings which may be combined together under one name."​

Thank you for your reply, it was very interesting. I agree with the context of your message; you had done very good research.

Concerning Adaption, I view Adaption as sons and as daughters of GOD not as a privilege but as a Reward. Privilege is given for many different reasons, and those reasons are not always fare, justified, or reasonable, and mostly relates to relationship between humans.

Because GOD has no partiality, the word privilege quite does not fit to His Just and Righteous Nature, because privilege often associate with partiality and the word itself does not exist in the Bible.

But when GOD Rewards someone, He Rewards only for one thing, for true Faith in Him. This is why Abraham was often mentioned in the Bible as the father of Faith in GOD.

Whoever has such Faith of Abraham, such person certainly will receive not the privilege from GOD but will receive Reward of Adaption as a son or as a daughter of GOD, literally!

Abraham received Reward to be a son of GOD (he also has been a friend of GOD as well) for two reasons.

First, Abraham believed in GOD (had Faith in GOD) that He is able resurrect his son from the dead and give him back.

Second, Abraham proved his Faith in GOD by his Deed when he put his son on the altar and was ready to sacrifice him to GOD.

So, Faith and Deeds in the Name of GOD go always together, and if separated both seize to exist.

Of course, and Rewards can be different too, but we are talking here about Rewards of GOD only. The word Reward mentioned in the Bible very often and mostly related to Faith and Good Deeds.

Abraham for his Faith and Deeds receive only one Reward - the Adaption as a son of GOD which include all the blessings and goodness of GOD that a human can possibly have.

Abraham became the Spiritual son of GOD, and all those who follow the steps of Abraham in their Faith and Deeds also will be Spiritual sons and Spiritual daughters of GOD, which is much higher status than to be the earthly son or a daughter of your physical parents.

Those who have true Faith in GOD proven by true Deeds of Abraham in the Name of GOD, will be certainly also receive Abraham’s Reward, and will be Adapted as children of GOD, and receive the same goodness and blessings that the GOD had promised to Abraham and gave it to him.

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

I view Adaption as sons and as daughters of GOD not as a privilege but as a Reward.

That does appear to be how you view 'adoption', somehow, but I don't remember seeing 'adoption' written about anywhere else, as being given by God as a 'reward'. U?

But when GOD Rewards someone, He Rewards only for one thing, for true Faith in Him.

Abraham received Reward to be a son of GOD

1 ”What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? ​

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. ​

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, ​

and it was counted unto him for righteousness. ​

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. ​

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, ​

his faith is counted for righteousness. ​

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, ​

unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,​

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.​

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”


“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, ​

it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching" (the Gospel) "to save them that believe.” I Corinthians 1:21.


The Gospel of Christ is the Power of God, as being God’s Payment He Accepts in Place of the sinner who would go to Hell, otherwise, which the Holy Spirit has preached to each lost soul that God saves, whereupon the Holy Spirit Bares Witness with that Message of Jesus Christ’s Accomplishment of Obtaining Eternal Salvation for all those His Father Gave Him, and Grants the New Birth to those God Gives Repentance of their sins and Belief in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection​

”For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:

for it" (the ospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection) "is the Power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; ​

to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16.



1 ”Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you,

"which also ye have received" (THE HOLY SPIRIT USED THE GOSPEL TO GIVE THEM THE NEW BIRTH TO SAVE THEIR SOULS),
"and wherein ye stand";

2 ”By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, ​

unless ye have believed in vain.

And, What is ‘The Gospel’? From vs 1?; ”Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel..."

3 ”For I delivered unto you" (I preached the Gospel to you)
"first of all that which I also received", (Paul was Given the Ability to Believe the Gospel,
TO BE USED OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SAVE HIS SOUL, i.e., just like God Changed Abraham's will,
from being Naturally dead Spiritually, to being Given the New Birth, by GOD Who IS SPIRIT),

"You hath He Quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins"; Ephesians 2:1.

You must be Born Again; "Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.

AND WHAT IS 'THE GOSPEL'?: = #I.) “How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 #II.) ”And that He was buried," #III.) "and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" I Corinthians 15:1-4.


“And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,
preached before the Gospel unto Abraham,
saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed”; Galatians 3:8.


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, ​

gentleness, goodness, faith,..” Galatians 5:22.


“Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith; ​

Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, ​

and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2.

​

“For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”; Ephesians 2:8.

9 “not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:9.
​

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

​

First, Abraham believed in GOD (had Faith in GOD) that He is able resurrect his son from the dead and give him back.

True, Jesus is the Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He was the Object of Abraham's faith, Who saved Abraham.

Abraham knew that in himself, he was nothing but "ungodly", "But to him that worketh not (again, the Lord says that Justification is not by 'works', to gain any type of 'Reward', for example, "but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

Abraham knew that he was an "ungodly" sinner who was desperately in need of a Savior.

Second, Abraham proved his Faith in GOD by his Deed when he put his son on the altar and was ready to sacrifice him to GOD.

True, that is how saved souls may be said to be "justified" before men, by their "works".

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" James 2:21,
That is where Abraham was "justified" in front of men and what they heard, and thought about it, and concluded from his actions.

Abraham became the Spiritual son of GOD, and all those who follow the steps of Abraham in their Faith and Deeds also will be Spiritual sons and Spiritual daughters of GOD

Since, lost souls must be born again, they must hear the Gospel of Peace, as it is called here in verse 15b, "
13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

So, is this "Easy-Believism"? Not according to the Bible, here saying that in order for the lost soul to "call", they must first "believe", and before believing, they must HEAR "THE GOSPEL OF PEACE", REGARDING JESUS' DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION.

And before being Given "faith" "by hearing and hearing by the word of God" vs 17,
the lost soul must be preached the Gospel, just like Abraham had the Gospel preached to him.

14 "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?"

"and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

15 "And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 "But they have not all obeyed the Gospel" (to repent of their sins and believe the Gospel, as Jesus preached it The sins of those he preached to were like those sins that nailed Jesus to the cross, which is what the Gospel pictures when it is being preached. The old, old story of Jesus and His Blood. GOD JUDGES SIN AND HE WILL JUDGE THEIR SINS, JUST LIKE JESUS SUFFERED THE PENALTY OF THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE THAT GOD GAVE TO JESUS, TO SAVE and to .) "For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?"

17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

You can't have a means of salvation that didn't come on the scene until Abraham,
since that leaves out every saved soul from Adam on up to Abraham's day.

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

Concerning Adaption, I view Adaption as sons and as daughters of GOD

Reference Video: Father Abraham and the Family of God.​

...
Very detailed and far-reaching information from:
BODY OF DOCTRINAL DIVINITY, by John Gill ~ BOOK IV

OF THE ACTS OF THE GRACE OF GOD TOWARDS AND UPON HIS ELECT IN TIME​

Chapter 1: Of the Manifestation and Administration of the Covenant of Grace

Chapter 2: Of the Covenant of Grace in the Patriarchal State (Abraham is included here; Adam to Noah to Abraham)

Chapter 3: Of the Covenant of Grace under the Mosaic Dispensation

Chapter 4: Of the Covenant of Grace in the Times of David and the Prophets

Chapter 5: Of the Abrogation of the Old Covenant

Chapter 6: Of the Law of God

Chapter 7: Of the Gospel

 

[Alex2165]

In my point of view adaption as a son of God, or heir of GOD'S Kingdom, and all similar statements related to our belonging to GOD are all our Rewards for our Spiritual dedication, loyalty, love and faith in our GOD.

We can argue endlessly about a single word or a statement of the Bible, but the most important thing is how we act and live our lives in order to deserve to be call as Christian and be accepted by our Lord.