Man had transgressed God's holy law. There was no doubt of man's guilt; all the evidence was well-documented and everyone of the human family, including those who were loved of God, were under a certain future sentence of death. Of course at this time there was no guilt, actually, but it was foreseen by God "who calls those things that are not as though they were." Provision had to be made to remove the guilt.  Pardon would not be enough; forgiveness would not be sufficient  to put one of God's beloved into his presence in the sinless, guiltless heaven.  The planning  took into account this predicament and the infinite God presented the answer.

     Because God does not change, the law of redemption, as stated in Lev. 25:47-49, would have to be honored.  Man had sold himself in bondage to sin and did not have the necessary price to redeem himself from being a bond slave to sin.  His near kinsmen (other flesh) would not--could not redeem him.  He was an alien from God and without hope in the world.  This applied to everyone who would ever be born even though none of them were in existence at that point in eternity.  God's law of redemption said that a near kinsman could redeem one who sold himself, but all of his near kinsmen in the flesh were in the same condemnation.  There were bond slaves to sin also.  When they searched heaven and earth and could find no one able to open the book and read thereon, John wept bitterly. (Rev. 5:4.) The clarion call came to John: "Weep not John, for the Lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed to loose the seals and open the book and read thereon." (Rev. 5:9.) Ah, blessed thought! There was a ransom found. (job 33:24.)

     It would satisfy all the requirements of the law if a legal kinsman redeemed the bond slave.  Here is where the incomparable wisdom of the all-wise God came to be displayed.  God went into his own courts and presented all of his elect, his chosen, to the court, as subjects of adoption, desiring to make them part of his family to share his riches with them and give them all the benefits of being joint heirs with Jesus, the only begotten Son.  God had already predestinated them unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself. (Eph. 1:4-5.) As soon as the righteous judge approved the act of adoption, Jesus became their legal elder brother.  He assumed the position of surety for them just as Judah did for Benjamin when Joseph wanted them to bring Benjamin into Egypt.  In the planning, Jesus had assumed the legal responsibility for all the adopted children and God was looking to Him to deliver them into his presence in a perfect state with no stain of sin; no not the least on any one of them.

      It may be objected that adoption has not yet taken place due to the statement of Paul to the church at Rome: is . . . waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our body." (Rom. 8:23.) This presents no problem if we look at adoption as it actually occurs in our own courts.  A child is chosen, perhaps before it is born; a court of law is petitioned for the legal right to call the child the heir of the person or persons seeking to adopt it.  When the degree is granted, the child then and there becomes the heir of the new adopting parent.  It may not be taken into the home of the new parent for some time, but adoption is not really complete until the child is taken home.  So it is with God's adopted children. 

      They were legally adopted before they were ever born and will not be taken home until the Lord comes back and takes them to glory.    

     Adoption procured the legal relationship and made all the blessings of sonship possible. Not only did Jesus become the surety, but God betrothed all of his beloved heirs to the Son as His bride when He shall make us his jewels.  Adoption had made the bride related to him, just as the brides of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were related to them.  Jesus calls her his sister (Song of Solomon 5:1), also his spouse.

     When Jesus went to Calvary, he knew for whom he was paying the penalty; knew who was being redeemed because all the legal work had been done before the world began.  Isaiah has told us that (speaking of the bride): "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;" Paul tells us ". . . the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his (2 Tim 2:19.) This referred to the legal work in eternity. 

     Jesus had the legal authority to come into the world and do what God gave him the responsibility to do: "Save his people from their  sins." (Matt. 1:21.) There was no other name given under heaven or among men that could legally, or actually do what he did, and his work was legal.

     When He came to earth, He had the complete authority to do what He did: To drive the money changers from the temple, to turn water into wine, to cleanse lepers, to open the eyes of the blind, to raise the dead.  Everything that He did was according to the will of the Lord,, his Father.  Although the Pharisees questioned his right, He had legal authority for every act that He performed; authority that had been given to him before the world began.  His primary responsibility was to bring many sons unto glory, and in this act He is a perfect captain. (Heb. 2:10.) A perfect captain does not lose one of those under his command.  Jesus had both legal authority and irresistible ability, and will finally say: "Behold I and the children which God hath given me." (Heb. 2:13.)