The Theology of Adoption
"But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that are under the law, that we might receive the adoption of son's." Galatians 4:4,5
The word adoption here literally means "the placing of a son." Therefore it is logical that adoption follows regeneration. Remember that regeneration is the process that God uses to give the believing sinner a new nature. So then regeneration gives us our "nature" as a child of God, and adoption gives us our "position" as a child of God. (Rather than post all the scriptures here, I will simply refer you to them to read at your pleasure. Romans 8:15-23;Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:5; II Corinthians 6:18)
Notice there are considerable differences in the Spiritual adoption of our Father, and the civil adoption we practice: (1) Never do we adopt our own children; Never does God adopt any other. (2) Children give comfort to the childless who adopt them; God already had a "beloved Son BEFORE he adopted us. (Matthew 3:17; 17:5) (3)Usually when we adopt children, they have many "pleasing characteristics", BUT prior to our adoption by God there is nothing "pleasing" about us. (Romans 3:10-18) (4) In the adoption process we use there is nothing that makes it possible to give the child the nature of the adopting father. But when God adopts us we are given the very "Mind of Christ". (I Corinthians 2:16) (5) There is a process whereby we can sometimes declare an adoption "null and void". God NEVER does that.
There are some ways in which the adoption processes are exactly the same. (1) In both cases the Father is the one who initiates the adoption. (Isaiah 1:18; John 3:16) (2) In both cases the child, who had nothing before, now receives an inheritance. (Romans 8:17; I Peter 1:1-9) (3) In both cases the child receives a new name (Revelation 2:17, John 1:42).
"But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that are under the law, that we might receive the adoption of son's." Galatians 4:4,5
The word adoption here literally means "the placing of a son." Therefore it is logical that adoption follows regeneration. Remember that regeneration is the process that God uses to give the believing sinner a new nature. So then regeneration gives us our "nature" as a child of God, and adoption gives us our "position" as a child of God. (Rather than post all the scriptures here, I will simply refer you to them to read at your pleasure. Romans 8:15-23;Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:5; II Corinthians 6:18)
Notice there are considerable differences in the Spiritual adoption of our Father, and the civil adoption we practice: (1) Never do we adopt our own children; Never does God adopt any other. (2) Children give comfort to the childless who adopt them; God already had a "beloved Son BEFORE he adopted us. (Matthew 3:17; 17:5) (3)Usually when we adopt children, they have many "pleasing characteristics", BUT prior to our adoption by God there is nothing "pleasing" about us. (Romans 3:10-18) (4) In the adoption process we use there is nothing that makes it possible to give the child the nature of the adopting father. But when God adopts us we are given the very "Mind of Christ". (I Corinthians 2:16) (5) There is a process whereby we can sometimes declare an adoption "null and void". God NEVER does that.
There are some ways in which the adoption processes are exactly the same. (1) In both cases the Father is the one who initiates the adoption. (Isaiah 1:18; John 3:16) (2) In both cases the child, who had nothing before, now receives an inheritance. (Romans 8:17; I Peter 1:1-9) (3) In both cases the child receives a new name (Revelation 2:17, John 1:42).
I Praise God for being my Heavenly Father
