The Adoption Of Sons

I have had the privilege to witness families adopt precious children into their families. How wonderful this is. No doubt you know folks who have adopted children in times past, and have been witnesses to their joy upon the completion of the adoption process. These parents now have a child that is “theirs.” We certainly rejoice in such actions, and pray God’s blessings on those families who adopt children and want to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Adoption is a special situation that ought to make those who have been adopted feel loved and needed. Why say this?

1) No child who is adopted into a family could be said to have been “unwanted.”

2) The adopted child was specifically chosen by the adoptive parents.
a) In some cases, the children to be adopted are old enough to make their choice known that they wish to have Mr. and Mrs. “X” as parents. Therefore, in some cases, not only have the parents chosen their child, but the child chose the parents!

3) Regardless of what the child’s surname might have been before the adoption, after the adoption, that child takes his/her new parents’ name.

4) This adopted child now has rights and an inheritance in the family just like what would be enjoyed by a “biological” child.

As I thought about parents who adopt children, I thought about how when one becomes a Christian, the New Testament compares that to an adoption. For example, Paul said that Christ came to this world in “the fulness of time” with a purpose: “to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). Paul wrote to the Roman Christians and said, “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” (Rom. 8:15). Not only do we read about “adoption” in Galatians 4 and Romans 8, but also Romans 9, and Ephesians 1. The word “adoption” as is used in the KJV means basically what we would think it means: “the placing as a son, i.e. adoption (figuratively, Christian sonship in respect to God)” (Strong’s). Some Bible versions use the terms: “sonship,” or “the place of a son,” in addition to “adoption.” This certainly gets the point across when “adoption” is equated to “the place of a son!” From these passages, we see that those who are Christians are considered “adopted children” of God. Why might this be so? It is because there is only one who is called the “only begotten” son of God, and that is Christ (Jn. 3:16)!

In thinking about adoption, can we see how spiritual adoption and physical adoption are similar? I believe I see several similarities.

1) Every child of God is “wanted.” Anyone who has become a Christian did not do so without God’s (as well as their own) consent! Anyone who will become a child of God had to hear God’s word, believe it, repent of sins, confess Christ, and be baptized (Rom. 10:17; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:10; I Pet. 3:21). When one did this, the Bible said they were saved by (God’s) grace, through faith (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 2:11-12). God wants all men saved from sins (II Pet. 3:9; I Tim. 2:4), and added to the Lord’s body (Acts 2:47).

2) Every one who would be a Christian is chosen by God, and every one who would be a Christian chooses God. This point varies somewhat from a physical adoption because when folks adopt an infant, that infant did not “choose,” like an older child might have. Yet, for each Christian, he/she is old enough to make that decision. We see God’s choice in the matter when we learn of God’s plan for redeeming man by sending His Son to die for us (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 53; Jn. 3:16; etc.). The salvation of both Jews and Gentiles was in God’s “eternal purpose” (Eph. 3:11)! Seeing God has done all He is going to do to save us, it is then up to each individual to choose to respond to God’s plan in love and obedience (Jn. 14:15). When we make this choice, we are going to be a part of God’s family, His “adopted sons.”

3) Every child of God takes on His name. In Acts 11:26, we read, “...and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” This verse is a fulfillment of a prophecy spoken by Isaiah. Some 700 years before Christ came to this earth, God said, “Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off” (Isa. 56:5). Later in the book of Isaiah, it is said, “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name” (Isa. 62:2). The third passage stating this fact is found in Isaiah 65:15. All of these prophecies show that the “name” the disciples were called (Christians) was a name given by divine inspiration!

Therefore, when one is baptized for the remission of sins, that person becomes a Christian (Acts 11:26; I Pet. 4:16). If someone wishes to be called by another name, then we know that this person is not a child of God! What would we think if an adopted child so loved by adoptive parents, and so cared for by them would not take their name? What ingratitude! How much more is this the case when folks claim to be God’s children, but take the names of men (Wesleyan, Lutheran, etc.), of practices (Baptist, Methodist, etc.), of systems (Orthodox, etc.), of days (Pentecostal, etc.), instead of taking the name of Christ!

4) Every child of God has rights and a spiritual inheritance with God. If you are not sure about this, please read what Paul said in Romans 8:17. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” A similar statement is made in Galatians 4:7 as well. In fact, when Christ spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus, He said one of Paul’s responsibility was to “open (the Gentiles’) eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18).

A Christian’s blessings of prayer (I Thess. 5:17), of fellowship with God and Christ (II Jn. 9), of having an advocate (I Jn. 2:1), of fellowship with saints, of being “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37), of having redemption from sins, of having an “inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven...” (I Pet. 1:4) etc., is all due to the fact that we are adopted children of God. All of these great blessings, privileges, and this great inheritance belongs to all of those in God’s family, and belongs to none of those outside of God’s family!

Conclusion

What a great blessing it is when one can be a child of God. May we never take this privilege for granted, but show our gratitude to God for all He has done to make our salvation possible. One becoming a Christian is a great change in his life. Just as one who is physically adopted into a family changes his/her “family tree,” so is this true with those who are Christians. They are no longer in the kingdom of darkness, but in the kingdom of His dear son (Col. 1:13). No longer is a Christian a servant to sin, but a servant to God (Rom. 6:16-18).

Are you a child of God? If not, why not? If you are a Christian, does this not give you a greater appreciation for God?