Adoption, nature of

The giving by God of the status and privileges of being his children. God adopts those who believe in him and grants them the benefits of his salvation.

A family adopts a child

Genesis 15:3 See also Genesis 48:5; Exodus 2:10; Esther 2:7

Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

God adopts the nation of Israel

Deuteronomy 14:2 See also Deuteronomy 7:7; Isaiah 63:16; Amos 3:1–2; Romans 9:4

for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.

God is Israel's father

Jeremiah 31:9 See also Malachi 1:6

They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

Israel is God's son

Hosea 11:1 See also Deuteronomy 14:1

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

God adopts believers as his children

John 1:12–13

But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God — children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

God is the Father of believers

2 Corinthians 6:18 See also Matthew 6:9 parallel Luke 11:2

And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Believers are adopted as an outcome of predestination

Ephesians 1:5

He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Believers are adopted as an outcome of redemption

Galatians 4:5

to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

Believers are adopted as an outcome of justification

Galatians 3:24–26 See also John 1:12–13

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Believers are adopted by grace

Ephesians 1:3–6 See also Ezekiel 16:3–6; Romans 4:16; Ephesians 1:11

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.

The final adoption of believers will occur at the resurrection

Romans 8:23 See also Ephesians 1:13–14; 1 John 3:2

Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.