One of the most glorious and comforting doctrines in all of Scripture is the doctrine of adoption. What exactly is adoption?

Its Meaning⤒🔗

Although the word "adoption" occurs very infrequently in the Scriptures (only five times and all in the writings of Paul — see Romans 8:15; 9:4; 9:22-23; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:5), the concept does not. In fact, every time the writers of the New Testament refer to believers as "children of God" or "sons of God," in most cases, they are referring to adoption.

The Greek word for adoption literally means "placement as a son." It refers to the legal transaction by which one unrelated by blood becomes a member of a new family with all of the rights and privileges of natural-born children.

Most likely, Paul's use of the word was borrowed from the culture in which he lived. Adoption was quite common in New Testament times, especially among the Romans. Generally speaking, the Romans adopted children for one of two reasons:

1. Childless couples would adopt a child (usually a son) so that they would have someone to look after them in their old age.
2. Sometimes an emperor or other government officials would use adoption so that they could choose their own successor.

Whatever the reason for adopting a child, once adopted, a child in Roman society was in every respect under the law a full-fledged member of the family with the same rights and privileges as natural-born children — including a share in the inheritance.

Paul borrows this concept and endows it with spiritual meaning. Just as a parent will adopt a child unrelated by blood and endow that child with all the rights and privileges of natural born children, so the Lord takes sinners, and having declared them just on the basis of the righteousness of Christ, adopts them for His children and heirs. This, in a nutshell, is the doctrine of adoption.

The Term "Abba"←⤒🔗

Adoption is a most comforting doctrine for the child of God. Why is that? What are some of its benefits? Essentially there are three of them:

The first benefit is that we have God as our Father. By nature God is not our Father; He becomes our Father in adoption. This explains why our Lord taught His people to address God as "Father" in prayer. In Christ, the child of God is reconciled to God. Rather than being an enemy of God, he becomes His child and God becomes his Father.

What is particularly striking about this is the fact that the relationship that God sustains with His adopted children is one of deep, personal intimacy. This is conveyed by a special term with which believers are permitted to address God: "Abba."

This term appears two times in the New Testament. The first time is in Romans 8:15: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." The second time is in Galatians 4:4-6: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son ... that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

"Abba" is an Aramaic word meaning "father." Some have said that since this was the common way for Jewish children to address their fathers, this term actually means "Daddy." Therefore, they say, believers may address God as "Dad," "Daddy," or even "Dada."

But that is not at all what is being conveyed by this name. The word "Abba" is not a nickname; it is not a childish term of sentimentality or endearment. Rather, it is a term of honour that expresses the utmost reverence and respect due to any father — and infinitely more so when referring to God.

It is important to keep this in mind. The church today has a tendency to bring God down to its own level. While in Christ the child of God enjoys deep intimacy and commu­nion with God, intimacy is not the same as familiarity. God must retain His honour – also in the manner in which His chil­dren address Him.

Using the Father Name←⤒🔗

Having said that, the term Abba is a term that conveys deep affection and intimacy. We see this in Mark 14:36. The Lord Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, pouring out His heart to God. In the midst of His suffering He prays: "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." In this his moment of crisis, the eternal Son of God addressed His Father as "Abba, Father." In doing so He gave full expression to the deep intimacy and communion He experienced as a Son of His Father. At that moment God was not just "Father" but "Abba Father." What Paul is saying in the verses quoted above is that when we are united to Christ by a true and liv­ing faith we may address God in the same terms as Jesus Christ himself — as Abba, Father.

At times God's people have a hard time doing that. They say, "I have such high thoughts of God and such low thoughts of myself that I simply cannot bring myself to address God in such familiar terms. I have a hard enough time addressing God as 'Father,' let alone 'Abba Father.'"

That is understandable. There are times in the life of every believer when he is so conscious of his sins or when he feels so distant from the Lord that he has a hard time thinking of himself as His child and of God as his Father. God knows this too. That is why He gives us His Holy Spirit; it is through the working of the Holy Spirit that the believer is able to address God as "Abba Father." This is what Paul teaches in Galatians 4.

The Holy Spirit←⤒🔗

Having addressed the fact that the Galatians have been adopted as sons of God, Paul goes on to say in verse 6 that "because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father." The Greek text makes it clear that it is the Spirit of God who cries "Abba, Father," and not our hearts. What Paul is saying is that even when we cannot bring ourselves to address God as Abba Father, the Holy Spirit does this for us. He convinces and instructs us that it is not only permissible to address the Lord in this way, but that we should do so. In fact it is our right as children of God.

This is indeed a great wonder! How is it possible that sinners who have rebelled against God can be adopted as members of His family and even be given the right to address Him using a term that expresses deep intimacy and fellowship? It is almost too much to comprehend and yet it is true! As sons and daughters of God we may — we must — address God as Abba, Father!

Christ as Elder Brother←⤒🔗

The second benefit that stems from our adoption as sons and daughters is that we have Christ as our elder brother. This is expressed in different ways in different passages. In Romans 8:29 Paul writes that one of the objectives of our predesti­nation is that Christ may be the "first born among many brethren." Similarly, the writer to the Hebrews states that Christ was not ashamed to call those whom He had saved "brothers" (Heb. 2:11).

The fact that Christ is our brother implies that we are heirs of all that God has given to His Son. Paul says as much in Romans 8:17: "And if (we are) children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." In the Greek, the word which is translated "joint-heir" is actually a compound form comprising the word "lot" or "portion" and the word for "law." The idea is that legally we have a share in the same inheritance as Christ. In other words, what Christ inherits, we inherit. As the Father gave His Son eternal life, so He gives His people eternal life. As the Father gave His Son a throne, so He gives His people a throne. As the Father gave power and authority to Christ, so He gives power and authority to His people. Whatever the Son receives His people also receive.

The Witness of the Holy Spirit←⤒🔗

The third benefit of adoption is that we have the Holy Spirit as our Witness. To what does He witness? He witnesses to us that God really is our Father and Christ really is our brother and we really are the adopted sons and daughters of God. This is what Paul teaches in Romans 8:16, where he writes: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."

Some say this takes the form of a private vision or an audible voice. But that is not at all what is meant here. The Holy Spirit does not "speak" to people — at least not directly. He only does this through the Word. For example, you could be sitting under the preaching of the Word and something the minister says is a real comfort to you. That is the Holy Spirit convincing you that you are indeed a child of God. How He does this is a great mystery — one that we will never fully comprehend. But it is very real and every believer can testify of this from his own experience. These, then, are some of the benefits that stem from our adoption as sons and daughters of God.

Eternal Security←⤒🔗

What is especially striking is that our adoption will never be taken away from us. Paul expresses this beautifully in Romans 8:38-39: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Child of God, do you understand what Paul is saying here? He is saying that you will never lose your adoption. No matter how weak your faith is, no matter how distant you feel from the Lord, you are and always will remain His adopted son or daughter!

That means the inheritance that is yours in Christ will never be taken away. This is what Peter says in 1 Peter 1:3-4. There Peter blesses "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."

Sometimes earthly parents change their will depending on how their children treat them in their old age. But God never does that. No matter how many times we sin against Him, His will remains the same. What He has promised He will surely deliver. Why? Not because we are so worthy (we are not) but because Christ is. You see, it is only as we are united to Christ by a true and living faith that we can become adopted sons and daughters of God. And it is only as we remain in Christ that we will receive a share in His inheritance. Therefore, all the glory goes to Him!

Adoption — what a comforting truth! May God give us grace that we may live out of that comfort every day of our lives until our Lord comes again and all those who believe in His Name will live and reign with Him forever!