Basic Theology: Adoption - What does Adoption mean?
What does Adoption mean?
‘The placing of a son’.
Act of leaving one's natural family and entering into the privileges and responsibilities of another.
In the Bible, adoption is one of several family-related terms used to describe the process of salvation and its subsequent benefits.
God is a father who graciously adopts believers in Christ into his spiritual family and grants them all the privileges of heirship. Salvation is much more than forgiveness of sins and deliverance from condemnation. It is also a position of great blessing. Believers are children of God.
God declares that he is the Father of the nation Israel, whom he loves as his child.
Isaiah 1:2, Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me;
Hosea 11:1, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
God tells Pharaoh, "Israel is my firstborn son"
Exodus 4:22, Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.
More specifically, God says to David (and the Messiah)
Psalms 2:7, “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
David's descendant
2 Samuel 7:14, I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
Although not precisely adoption passages, the instances of declared sonship in the Old Testament provide a theological foundation for Israel's designation as the children of God.
The Greek word for adoption (huiothesia [uiJoqesiva]) means to "place as a son" and is used only by Paul in the New Testament.
Romans 9:4, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;
Paul refers to the Old Testament idea of Israel's special position as the children of God.
There are four references as adoptions in the New Testament, it describes how believers become children of God through his gracious choice. The full scope of God's work of salvation past, present, and future are seen in adoption.
The believer's adoption as a child of God was determined by God from eternity.
This adoption is not the result of any merit on the part of the believer, but solely the outworking of God's love and grace!
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