What is Spiritual Adoption?
Spiritual Blessings
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 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. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son
Ephesians 1: 3-6 NLT
Legal, Civic Adoption
Adoption comes from civil law. It was customary for Romans who had no children of their own to adopt someone to be their heir as if he were their own child. Everything from their former life is nullified, debts are forgiven, and they become a child of that person. It was practiced in the Old Testament, as well. Pharoah’s daughter adopted Moses (Acts 7:20-22) and Mordecai adopted Esther (Esther 2:7) It was a commonplace action in civic law.
versus Spiritual Adoption
Spiritual adoption makes us partakers of His divine nature and a disposition like God. (Jeremiah 3:19) We take on His very nature. (John 1:12)
The privileges of adoption include the following.
1) It implies great honor,
2) Inexhaustible provision and riches,
3) Divine protection,
4) Intimate communion with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ,
5) and eternal glory with God in heaven.
(Charles Buck Theological Dictionary, Study Light)
Spiritual Adoption Means I’m a Child of God!
Ah! To know that we are children of God through Jesus Christ! (1 John 3:1-3) I am so grateful that God chose in advance to make a way for anyone who believes to be his children.
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
1 John 3:1-3 NLT
Adoption Means We Are Chosen!
The cool thing defining adoption vs. being born is that we are chosen! How wonderful is it that? Although we deserve nothing, God chooses us to be His child and gives us access to everything He has.
In recent years, I have seen His providence come through in so many ways. When I have a need, I claim His name and say,
“He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He will supply my needs.” (Psalm 50:10-12,15)
He has always, always provided every need.
He will call me His child throughout my life and when He returns, He will call me to His breast as His own.
Praise the Lord!
Other Christian Words Defined…
Holiness – Why is it Important to Lead a Holy Life?
Redemption How Kindness Leads to Redemption
Pastor’s Wife (retired) & Chronic Pain Warrior blogs about how to make it through anything by relating her own life experiences to her writing. She is passionate about her love for the Lord and desires to spread that passion to others. She has a great desire to encourage women who are following behind her.
