Adopted by God

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at a conference hosted by a church in southeast Georgia. The theme of the meeting was on the doctrine of adoption. I was thankful for the wisdom of the church leadership in hosting this conference, and even more appreciative of the chosen theme. Sadly, too many Christians, myself included, have not given nearly enough thought to the subject of Spiritual Adoption. It might be surprising to the average church-goer just how much the Bible has to say about this teaching. Throughout Scripture we are told that it has pleased God to take spiritually orphaned children and adopt them into His family. Of course, to adopt someone is to make that person a legal son or daughter. Hence, spiritual adoption is when God adopts us and makes us part of His family. Adoption is one of the primary metaphors used in the Bible that illustrates the Christian’s relationship with their Creator. Through conversion, God Almighty becomes the born-again believer’s loving Father, and the believer becomes His beloved child.  

Contrary to the cliché, we are not all children of God. Yes, all of humanity is made in the image of God. And certainly, God is abundantly good to all people. For example, He causes the sun to shine on the just and the unjust and sends rain on those who love Him and those who deny Him. However, that does not mean we are all naturally children of God. Instead, when we are born into this world, we are separated from God (Ephesians 2:1-3). Rebellion against God’s law orphaned our original parents, Adam and Eve. Their sinful disobedience has been passed down generation after generation, causing all of humanity to be born, alienated from God. Had the Almighty not intervened, there would be no hope for humanity. 

Yet God, in and by His marvelous grace, has seen fit to adopt a vast number of humanity and bring them into His family. Those who were by nature spiritual orphans, separated from and under the wrath of God – can be gloriously transformed, redeemed, and adopted into God’s wonderful family. When someone is convicted of their sins, quickened (made spiritually alive) by the Holy Spirit and given the gifts of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father adopts them into His family and they are legally and judiciously His child. 

Galatians 4:4-6 states, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” This passage teaches us that God sent His Only Begotten Son into this world with the intent of doing for us what we could not and would not do for ourselves. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, lived a life of perfect obedience to every detail of God’s law. In doing so, He earned a righteous standing before God. We, on the other hand – don’t do that. We don’t live a life of perfect obedience; hence God’s moral law reveals the sin that dwells within us. 

Yet, when we, by the enabling grace of God’s Holy Spirit, place our faith in the finished work of God’s Son, our sins are forgiven and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us. At that moment, God the Father brings us into His family and we’re judiciously adopted and belong to Him forever. Which is why the organizers so wisely entitled the conference, “The Gospel of Adoption.” For certainly, the doctrine of adoption is good news and glad tidings for wayward children like us! 

Let me ask you friend, have you been adopted into God’s family? Has God sent His Holy Spirit to give you spiritual life and enabled you to call God your Father? Today, right this moment, if you are not saved, if you are not a Christian, I have good news… There is room in the Father’s House for you! You can become an adopted child of God by placing your faith in the finished work of God’s only begotten Son. Turn to God, repent of your sins and you can have a forever home with a perfect loving Father. That, my friends, is Good News!

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