Adoption

by Johnston, Brian, D. | Category: N/a | Jul 2005

By any measure adoption is a key New Testament concept. The various references to it may seem hard to harmonize, and so it may be helpful to set out the subject in its past, present and future aspects. This treatment is analogous to how the subject of salvation may also be so treated in terms of salvation from the penalty (Eph.2:8), power (Phil.2:12) and presence of sin (Rom.13:11).

Our adoption signified inheritance

When we believed in Christ we were born spiritually as children into God's family (John 1:12,13) and at the same time we were all adopted as sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal.3:26). The distinct biblical language of adoption drew upon a Roman custom whereby children were ceremonially placed in the position of becoming legal heirs. This God has already effected for us according to His eternal purpose in Christ (Eph.1:5,11).

Our adoption signifies assurance

The Spirit of adoption which we have received (Rom.8:15; Gal.4:5-7) is intended to give us present assurance of what was settled in the past. Christians who live according to the Spirit (Rom.8:4,5,13) are described as sons of God who are being led by the Spirit of God (Rom.8:14). The blessing of this spiritual lifestyle - which makes manifest what we truly are in likeness to our heavenly Father - is that it affords us assurance of our status (8:15,16), and so liberates us for present service.

Our adoption will yet signify glorification

There is a future aspect of our adoption which we still wait for, namely the redemption of our body (Rom.8:23) whereby our bodies will be transformed into conformity with the body of His glory (Phil.3:21). At the Lord's return we will enter into the full dignity of our sonship status and its every aspect will then be complete.

Johnston, Brian, D. | Jul 2005
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