When most folks, Christian or not, think of adoption today, they think of infertile couples who adopt a child. They bring an outsider into their family. This outsider has little to no say in the matter of who will choose them; they do not pick their adoptive parents. This holds true in the often-neglected biblical doctrine of Adoption. We do not choose God; in fact, we are incapable of it. It is God who chooses us.
In the first quoted text below, Paul writes: “So then, [a] brothers and sisters…” When we read “So then,” we cannot take verses 12-17 as stand-alone; we must read, study, and apply them with the preceding verses in context. Romans 8:1-11 speaks of our escape from the bonds of sin and our being led by a Spirit-filled life. Only when we change and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit can we be adopted (vs.15) as true children of God.
Both the quotes below make it clear adoption is a key part of the Ordo Salutis. In this post, as always, I sincerely hope this blesses you and encourages you to dig deep into the riches of God’s Holy Word.
12 So then, [a]brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]—
13 for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever.
14 For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “[b]Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God.
17 And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory. (AMP)
On the Adoption of God’s Children: Based on Romans 8:15, by Peter Martyr Vermigli
The Inheritance of the Christian, John 1:12–13; Galatians 4:4–7; Ephesians 1:11–14; 2:19; 1 John 3:1
Elliot Ritzema and Elizabeth Vince, eds., 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013).
Adoption – John 1:12, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
DEFINITIONS
Adoption. God’s act of making otherwise estranged human beings part of God’s spiritual family by including them as inheritors of the riches of divine glory. This adoption takes place through our receiving in faith the work of Jesus Christ the Son (Jn 3:16), being born of the Spirit (Jn 3:5–6) and receiving the Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15–16). See also reconciliation.
Stanley Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1999), 7.
ADOPTION—the giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth.
(1.) Natural. Thus Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses (Ex. 2:10), and Mordecai Esther (Esther 2:7).
(2.) National. God adopted Israel (Ex. 4:22; Deut. 7:6; Hos. 11:1; Rom. 9:4).
(3.) Spiritual. An act of God’s grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers of all the blessings he has provided for them. Adoption represents the new relations into which the believer is introduced by justification, and the privileges connected therewith, viz., an interest in God’s peculiar love (John 17:23; Rom. 5:5–8), a spiritual nature (2 Pet. 1:4; John 1:13), the possession of a spirit becoming children of God (1 Pet. 1:14; 2 John 4; Rom. 8:15–21; Gal. 5:1; Heb. 2:15), present protection, consolation, supplies (Luke 12:27–32; John 14:18; 1 Cor. 3:21–23; 2 Cor. 1:4), fatherly chastisements (Heb. 12:5–11), and a future glorious inheritance (Rom. 8:17, 23; James 2:5; Phil. 3:21).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 20–21.
STUDY
Q. 74. What is adoption?
A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children, have his name put upon them, the Spirit of his Son given to them, are under his fatherly care and dispensations, admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow-heirs with Christ in glory. 1 John 3:1; Eph. 1:5; Gal. 4:4–5; John 1:12; 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 3:12; Gal. 4:6; Ps. 103:13; Prov. 14:26; Matt. 6:32; Heb. 6:12; Rom. 8:17.
Joel R. Beeke, Michael P. V. Barrett, and Gerald M. Bilkes, eds., The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014), 2071.
RELATED ARTICLES
What Does It Mean to Be Adopted into God’s Family? – by BCL
On the marks of adoption by Thomas Boston
The Work of the Spirit as the Spirit of Adoption, by James Buchanan
A New Family, by James Montgomery Boice
Of the Benefits Flowing from Justification, Adoption and Sanctification (eBook/MOBI/PDF) by Thomas Boston
Adoption: The Spirit and the Cry, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
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