In Christian theology, adoption is one of the most precious and practical blessings that flow from the gospel. It describes the gracious act by which God the Father takes those who were once strangers and enemies and places them into His own family as full sons and daughters, with all the rights, privileges, and intimacy that belong to true children. It is not a secondary afterthought but a central part of God’s saving purpose. Paul would have been familiar with Roman Law and ancient customs that said that an adopted child (filius adoptivus) was placed in essentially the same legal position as a natural-born son while he remained under the adoptive father’s patria potestas (paternal authority). This meant he gained full rights of succession and inheritance in the new family and lost those in his birth family.
Scripture tells us that adoption is something God planned from eternity. Paul writes that “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:5). It is rooted in the Father’s loving choice and is only made possible through the redeeming work of His Son. When the right time came, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4-5). So, the cross was not just about forgiveness of sins; it was also about bringing us home.
A key distinction must be kept clear. Jesus is the unique, eternal Son of God—the only begotten, or “one and only Son.” His sonship is by nature and from everlasting. Believers, by contrast, become children of God by adoption and by new birth. John states, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). We are not divine; we do not share the essence of the Godhead. Yet we are truly and permanently brought into the family. Adoption confers legal standing and relational warmth. We receive the full rights of children and the Spirit who enables us to cry out with affection, “Abba, Father.”
Paul explains the experience this way: “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory” (Romans 8:15-17). The Spirit of adoption replaces the old spirit of slavery and fear. Instead of approaching God as a distant master or a severe judge, we can now approach Him as a beloved Father. This witness of the Spirit assures us that we truly belong.
Adoption also carries the promise of future benefits. Certainly, as believers we are even now God’s children, but we still are waiting for the complete revelation of our sonship when our bodies are redeemed and creation itself is set free (Romans 8:23). But in the meantime, we already possess the privileges of the household: access to the Father, the right to call on Him, a share in Christ’s inheritance, and the security of never being cast out.
The beauty of adoption is that it is entirely of grace. We don’t earn a place at the table; we are welcomed because of what Jesus has done. That frees us from the need to perform for acceptance and invites us into confident, childlike trust. When anxiety or a sense of orphanhood creeps in, the doctrine of adoption reminds us that we have a Father who has already claimed us, named us, and pledged Himself to care for us forever.
In short, adoption tells us who we are and whose we are. We are no longer slaves or strangers. Through Jesus and by the Spirit, we have been brought into the family of God as beloved children. That identity is both our present comfort and our eternal hope.
The Spirit of adoption within us cries out “Abba, Father.” It is so sad when believers remain trapped in a spirit of fear and bondage instead of resting in that warm relationship. Our Father already knows every need we have, even the deepest ones. He is ready to meet them in the very best way. Why hold on to fear, anxiety, or selfish cares when we can place them all in His capable hands?
He loves us as He loves His Son. That love means we are never alone, never forgotten, and never without provision according to His perfect will. We can live as secure children, trusting a Father who will always take care of us.
Scriptures Quoted (NLT) • Ephesians 1:5 • Galatians 4:4-5 • John 1:12 • Romans 8:15-17 • Romans 8:23
Blessings on you and yours,
Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org