What It Means To Be Adopted

Mike Hosey, An Elder

God must have a very high view of adoption. He saved the Jewish people from captivity by leading them out of Egypt with Moses - who was an adopted child. He built the kingdom of Israel through one of his greatest prophets, Samuel, who was also an adopted child. And he saved the world through his son Jesus Christ, who was birthed by Mary, but adopted by Joseph!

Of course, those of us who have submitted our lives to Jesus, have been adopted by God. We are taught in John 1:12 that we have the right to be called children of God. Contrary to popular belief, those that do not know Jesus as savior, do not have that right. Instead, they are only creatures of God. Galatians 4:5-7 proclaims that we are no longer slaves, but instead are God's adopted sons (and daughters). Paul teaches us in Romans 8:15-17 that we have received a spirit of adoption as sons, and that we can call God “Abba! Father,” which is the Aramaic equivalent of “Dad.” Not only can we address God with an intimate title like “Dad”, but we are also heirs of God. We have a right to an unimaginable inheritance.

Paul's teaching here may seem odd to the 21^st century American mind. In our modern minds, being an heir does not occur until after the death of the family's father. But God cannot die, and yet we are still heirs. In fact, we are co-heirs with Christ. Paul was teaching from a first century Roman perspective. From that perspective, the children of the father, under the laws governing paterfamilias, shared in property rights, responsibilities and obligations at birth. Interestingly, in that society if someone from the ruling class adopted a child from the plebeian or commoner class, then the adopted child assumed all the rights and privileges of the ruling class, as well as the name of the adopter. His birth into the family changed his status and identity.

When you are born into the family of God, you assume royalty. You become a co-heir with Christ. This means you share in the inheritance of Christ. It also means that you wield great power for good. You have victory over sin and darkness (Romans 6:14, Galatians 5:16-25). You become part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). And you have great responsibilities. How will you let God use your adoption?