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Adoption
Adoption is the mighty act of God to take sinful people—enemies who are alienated and separated from him—and incorporate them as beloved children into his family forever.[1]
Paul teaches that the gift of justification (i.e., present acceptance by God as the world’s Judge) brings with it the status of sonship by adoption (i.e., permanent intimacy with God as one’s heavenly Father.[2]
In regeneration God gives us new spiritual life within. In justification God gives us right legal standing before him. But in adoption God makes us members of his family. Therefore, the biblical teaching on adoption focuses much more on the personal relationships that salvation gives us with God and with his people.[3]
The Redeemed in Christ – (Election, Regeneration, Conversion, Justification)
John 1:12 – Those converted become children of God.
Romans 8:14-17 – Led by the Spirit are children of God.
Galatians 3:23-26 – Through faith in Christ we are sons of God.
Galatians 4:4-7 – Christ came to redeem us so that we may be adopted as sons.
Romans 8:2 – Believers receive a new resurrection body as fulfillment of our privileges of adoption.
The Lost (not born again)
Ephesians 2:2-3 – Those that are not born again are children of wrath and disobedience.
John 8:41-44. The devil is their father.
As His children we should imitate our Father
Our Relationships within God’s Family
Brothers and sisters in Christ (Romans 1:13; Romans 8:12; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 6:8; James 1:2; Matthew 12:50; Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 7:15; Philemon 1:2; James 2:15) and teaches to treat others as you would family (1 Timothy 5:1-2)
The Privileges of Adoption
God loves us 1 John 3:1; Psalm 103:13-14
God takes care of us. (Our needs) Matthew 6:32; Matthew 7:11
As sons we are heirs to a great inheritance in heaven Galatians 4:7; Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 1:4
We will reign with Christ Revelation 2:26-27; Revelation 3:21
He sends angels to minister to us and serve us Hebrews 1:14
Being led by the Holy Spirit is a benefit of adoption Romans 8:14
God disciplines us as his children for our good Hebrews 12:5-10
[1] Gregg R. Allison, 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to Understanding and Teaching Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2018), 250.
[2] J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 167.
[3] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 913.
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