Adoption

2018-08-11

The word adoption occurs 5 times in the King James Bible. Let us look at each of these occurrences.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)

What adoption means is clearly defined in this scripture: the adoption is the redemption of our body, or the resurrection.

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. (Romans 8:15)

We have not been resurrected yet; we are still in our sinful flesh just as we were the day we were born. However, with the Holy Spirit inside or us, we have the guarantor of that adoption. Within us, He calls upon the Father.

Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises (Romans 9:4)

All the blessings listed here came through the physical nation of Israel as God’s chosen nation. They had the hope of the resurrection as it says in the Scriptures. The promise of the adoption came through this physical nation, though we clearly know that “they are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Romans 9:6), and they will not all be a part of the resurrection of the just if they do not believe on Jesus Christ.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:4-6)

Jesus Christ died to make us free from the condemnation of the law. If we were made free from the penalty of sin and have eternal life in Christ, then we will receive the adoption. However, we are sons now, being begotten by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23), with the guarantor of the Holy Spirit within us. Sonship precedes adoption; we are sons now (Romans 1:16), but the resurrection is yet future (John 6:40; 2 Timothy 2:18).

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will (Ephesians 1:5)

God the Father predestinated us to the adoption; because we are saved, He has chosen us to be resurrected on the Day of Christ upon the Son’s return. The Father has not chosen who is saved; He chose the saved to be adopted.