Adoption

Romans 8:14-15
(14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

 

The word adoption is not used here in the sense of making someone a child who was not born into the family. We were born into the family of God upon salvation. Adoption is about position rather than relationship. It is the full placement as a son. It has to do with position and the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that come with that position.

Galatians 4:1-7

(1) Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

(2) But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

(3) Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

(4) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

(5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

(6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

(7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 

Being complete in Christ we have this position now but we have yet to fully enter into the experience of all that it means to be a son of God. The apostle Paul speaks of adoption in relation to the body of Christ in three passages and applies it in three tenses.

1) As to the past, we were predestinated unto adoption (Eph. 1:3-6)
2) As to the present, we now have the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5-6)
3) As to the future, we are waiting for adoption (Rom. 8:23)

"Abba" is Aramaic and is an intimate term for father, like our English word “daddy”. This is what Jesus called the Father when He was praying in Gethsemane (Mk. 14:36). We are accepted in the beloved!

 

Mark 1:11

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

Ephesians 1:6

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.