By Josh Willett
In this week’s text, the author of Hebrews touches upon an important point of doctrine– adoption. Somehow, believers in Christ are now called sons and daughters of the Father and even brothers with Jesus. How does this happen, what does it mean and how does it inform our lives here and now?
The Spirit of Adoption
Adoption is a theme that runs through the entirety of Scripture. Adam and Eve considered God as their Heavenly Father, God declares the people of Israel to be His “firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22), and the Apostle of Paul writes in many of his letters on how Christ attained the status of adopted sons of the Father on our behalf. In a larger work, there might be space to explore every instance in Scripture in which adoption is made known to us, but the key passages we will hone in on here are Galatians 4:4-7, and later Romans 8:12-17. Galatians 4:4-7 reads,
“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.”
God the Father sent His only-begotten son Jesus to provide for us salvation and redemption. Through His death and resurrection He has paid the debt that we have accrued to God for our sins, which we (humanity) are totally unable to repay ourselves. This is what is often dubbed by theologians as the “forensic paradigm” of soteriology (salvation).
It does not, however, stop there. Notice in Galatians 4 that the reason for the redemptive work of Christ is, “so that we might receive adoption as sons.”1 Hebrews 2:10 describes this as Jesus, “bringing many sons to glory.” Yes, we receive justification and the righteousness of Christ when we believe in Him as our Lord and Savior; however, the Father was not content to simply make us righteous (not to downplay this crucial aspect of our salvation, praise Jesus that He has made us righteous!). What we find here is that His ultimate purpose is the reconciliation of our relationship with Him, a return to the original relationship that Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden as son and daughter to The Father of all creation.
Jesus accomplishes this adoption for us, and the reality of it takes root in us when the Father sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within our hearts. It is when we receive the Spirit (called the Spirit of adoption in Romans 8:15) that we receive adoption, as the Spirit bears witness and seals us as adopted sons of God. What this means, then, is that we are now heirs of God the Father, receiving “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). Not only do we have access to our inheritance now on earth through the Holy Spirit, we also have hope that we will enjoy the full inheritance of the Kingdom of God at the end of the ages. Adoption is a change of our relationship status with God: once we were enemies with Him due to our fallen and sinful nature, now we belong to Him and His household as redeemed children.
Adoption, then, becomes an integral part of our soteriological framework. It is because of this adoption, accomplished for us by Christ through the Spirit, that the very image of God that is carried within us as humans, which was corrupted by sin and the fall of Adam, is now renewed.
The Fruit of Adoption
A clear and deep understanding of adoption is crucial for the Christian faith. Paul intimately connects the Christian life, or life in the Spirit, with adoption in Romans 8:14 saying, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
While there are many implications of this adoption, perhaps two of the most important blessings that we have access to now on earth are a divine comfort and a living hope.
Divine Comfort
In Romans 8:16-17, Paul reveals a truth that can be tough to swallow: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Suffering in this life on earth is promised to the children of God. Why? The Son of God by nature, Jesus Christ, suffered on earth. As His disciples, we are called to join with Christ in His sufferings so that we may share in His glory. When we follow Christ in this fallen world the natural result will be suffering and persecution.
While suffering is unavoidable as adopted children of God, what comes with it is worth every bit of persecution we may face: unfettered access to our Father in heaven and the comfort that His love brings. This is the inheritance that we receive as sons of God. At all times, and especially when the winds and waves of life are breaking and crashing over us, seeming to be too much to overcome, the Spirit lifts up our souls to the bosom of the Father. This is when we fall to the ground in prayer. This is when we cry out, “Abba! Father!” and He is sure to wrap us in His loving, everlasting arms. This is divine comfort. I can guarantee, from personal experience, there is no greater source of comfort in all the heavens and earth. No amount of mindless entertainment, motivational speech, or substance on this earth can compare. For all these things are temporary, but the living God is eternal and unchanging. If my words are not convincing enough, let Paul convince you:
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
You, child of God, have full access to your kind and loving Father in heaven. He loves you, and will let nothing separate you from His love. Take comfort in His presence. This is your wonderful inheritance!
Living Hope
Adoption is a present reality for those who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, but we also look forward to the day in which we may fully enjoy its fruits. Paul writes in Romans 8:23, “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” While we are being sanctified by the Spirit in this present life and enjoy the fruits of adoption now, there is much more to look forward to. The reality that there is even more to come produces hope within us, especially in the midst of our current sufferings. The apostle John shows us how how this works:
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3)
While we have full access to God now as His sons through Christ, this spiritual reality will one day become a physical reality. One day, we will see God as He is! And in that day all suffering and sorrow will cease. It is difficult to fathom, much more so to try to put into words, the joy that day will bring for the children of God. We will enjoy eternal life in the full presence of God, becoming like Him in the sense that we will participate in His full goodness, righteousness, and joy. Now we participate partially, and one day we will share in the fullness of His glory. This is the living hope that the sons and daughters of God possess.
Brothers and sisters, let us run this race of faith with a living hope in the Father who loves us. I pray for all who are downcast, that you would find comfort for your soul in the arms of God. Would you trust in the blood of Christ, would you take hope in His return? I pray that you allow the Holy Spirit to lift your soul into the holy court of God. Run to the Father’s arms, bury your head in His chest, and know that you are loved.
For Further Study
Adoption: The Sweetest Doctrine (Article)
The Pauline Doctrine of Adoption: Implications of the Trinitarian Accomplishment of Adoption for Christian Spiritual Formation (Research Paper)
Psalm 8 (Study Notes)
