Adoption or: The Richest Definition of a Christian
In his book, Knowing God, J. I. Packer makes the claim that the doctrine of adoption may be the richest definition of a Christian. He also suggests that being adopted by God is the highest privilege offered by the Gospel. These are lofty claims; perhaps a better understanding of what adoption really is will help us appreciate this great gift.
Most scholars, if not all, see adoption as a positional gift given to believers as part of the salvation process. In other words, one of the many things that happen to us at the time when we are saved is this gift of sonship. When Jesus died for us, our sins were taken care of in a process called justification. This legal term has judiciary connotations: we were guilty but His death allows for us to now be not guilty. Adoption also has legal connotations, but again in a positional sense. We are now part of the family of God.
1 John 3:1 — See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
It is important to understand that adoption is a gift given to us by the Father because of His great love for us. Adoption into His family is certainly not something we deserve nor is it something that we can attain individually. We are not entitled to adoption, but once we are adopted we are then entitled:
John 1:12 — But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.
Once we are adopted, though, what are we entitled to?
Galatians 4:4-7 — But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
As children of God, we are instantly entitled to the inheritance. We are given the Spirit which is the Designer of our future sanctification, or growth. We share this inheritance with Christ. Get this: with relation to God the Father, adoption positions us the same as Jesus the Son. Let that sink in for a while. Because we are adopted, we share the same Abba Father.
Who is adopted, then? Is it truly all believers?
Galatians 3:25-29 — But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Clearly, all those who believe in Christ through faith are given this gift of adoption. And Paul, in a beautiful way, makes it clear that race, status and gender are not factors in this gift.
Here is my definition of adoption; dwell on it; thank God for it:
Adoption is a unique, loving gift given to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior; a gift given by the Father because of the Son’s salvific actions and manifested through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Interesting point of view on adoption. I have reservations and there are things I clearly admit to not understanding when it comes to this subject. And then this subject blurs into the issue about Adam and Eve.
You see, Adam is a creation of God, therefore, not needing to be adopted by God. Eve, created for Adam is as well a creation of God and not needing adoption.
Therefore, since Adam and Eve fell from God’s grace, we, the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, must ask for forgiveness and a return to God’s grace.
Now, why would we need to be adopted? Aren’t we kind of like an exiled child asking the father to return home?
Nice point. I see two things that could be mentioned.
1. Sin, as I understand it, is far more destructive than an exile a la Prodigal Son. Sin forever severs the bond between man and God. It created a spiritual death at the moment Adam and Eve sinned. In other words it was a permanent result, not a temporal one. It was also transfered to all humans. Ephesians 2:1-3. Christ’s death, and the subsequent salvation afforded us re-birth from death.
2. It may be plausible that Christ could have died for us and afforded us the justification — making us not guilty — without God also gifting us this adoption. In other words, adoption was not a requirement for justification. It would have been enough for us simply to have been justified and no longer destined for eternal death. That does not mean that we would have been adopted, or given the Spirit, or enjoyed a life of sanctification, or celebrated eternity in Heaven. But, thank God, He has given us all of those things, in addition to the justification.
So — we do not need to be adopted. Yet we are. And not of our own choice, but because it fits in God’s plan.
And that makes sense…
By the way, when I don’t understand something in God’s plan, I generally think to myself that the answer is there somewhere… must have faith that at the appropriate time it will be revealed.
Very cool, Zac. Being adopted by God has taken on a whole new meaning to me in the last few years. It truly is mind blowing that the Lord of the universe has allowed me to be His child. Thanks for your insights.
Thanks for the comment, sis.
I loved that book, by the way thanks for giving it to me . Hope everything is going great and I am excited to see soon.
Look forward to seeing you soon, too JAY.