Topical Bible: Faith: Through It Is: Adoption

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Introduction

In the Christian theological framework, faith is a central tenet that permeates various aspects of a believer's life. One profound dimension of faith is its role in the spiritual adoption of believers into the family of God. This concept of adoption is deeply rooted in Scripture and is a testament to the transformative power of faith.

Biblical Foundation of Adoption

The New Testament provides a rich tapestry of passages that elucidate the concept of adoption through faith. The Apostle Paul, in particular, articulates this theme with clarity and depth. In his epistle to the Romans, Paul writes, "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15). This verse highlights the transition from a state of fear and bondage to one of intimate relationship with God, facilitated by the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, in Galatians 4:4-5, Paul states, "But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons." Here, the redemptive work of Christ is presented as the means by which believers are adopted into God's family, underscoring the necessity of faith in this divine transaction.

The Role of Faith in Adoption

Faith is the conduit through which believers experience adoption. It is through faith that individuals accept the redemptive work of Christ and are consequently brought into the family of God. Ephesians 1:5-6 affirms this by stating, "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." This passage emphasizes that adoption is an act of divine grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Implications of Adoption

The spiritual implications of adoption are profound and multifaceted. As adopted children of God, believers are granted a new identity and status. They are no longer slaves to sin but are heirs with Christ, as Paul explains in Romans 8:17: "And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him."

This new identity brings with it the assurance of God's love and the promise of eternal inheritance. The believer's relationship with God is transformed from one of alienation to one of intimacy and belonging. The cry of "Abba! Father!" signifies a personal and profound relationship with God, made possible through faith.

Adoption and the Community of Believers

Adoption through faith also has communal implications. As members of God's family, believers are called to live in unity and love with one another. The church, as the body of Christ, becomes a tangible expression of this spiritual family. In Ephesians 2:19, Paul writes, "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household." This verse underscores the communal aspect of adoption, where believers are integrated into a larger spiritual family.

Conclusion

The concept of adoption through faith is a profound testament to the transformative power of the Gospel. It highlights the gracious initiative of God in bringing believers into His family and the new identity and inheritance that come with it. Through faith, believers are not only reconciled to God but are also integrated into a community of fellow believers, united in their shared identity as children of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Galatians 3:26
For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... Our acceptance of Christ (John 1:12); our justification (Rom.5:1); our adoption
(Gal.3:26); our sanctification (Acts 26:18); our ... 3. DO EXPLOITS THROUGH FAITH. ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

The Faith of those who are under the Law Different from the Faith ...
... to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we ... which justifieth
the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith." [1021] When ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 56 the faith of those.htm

Adoption
... By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain.' Hebrews 11:1. ... a whole piece
of work, so free grace runs through the whole privilege of adoption. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/4 adoption.htm

Salvation by Faith
... Jesus Christ." "Him God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his ...
received again the spirit of bondage, but the Spirit of adoption, whereby they ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 1 salvation by faith.htm

On Justification
... estimation or reckoning, has, joined with it, adoption into sons ... who end their days
in the faith of Christ ... the sins which had been perpetrated through the whole ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xlviii on justification.htm

On Christian Liberty
... seed and through faith in Him, (Genesis 3:15; xv, 6,) a deliverance from real bondage,
the privilege of the sons of God, and the Spirit of adoption, which was ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 20 on christian liberty.htm

On the Justification of Man Before God
... the word "justification," by distinguishing faith into that ... and those performed by
renewed persons through the virtue ... state of grace and of the adoption of sons ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 19 on the justification.htm

Adoption --The Spirit and the Cry
... But when faith realizes the cleansing power of the ... Believing brings forgiveness and
justification through our Lord Jesus; it also brings adoption, for it ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 24 1878/adoptionthe spirit and the cry.htm

Faith and Life
... a sense of reconciliation to God, let his adoption be but ... the corruption that is
in the world through lust." Here is the life resulting from the faith. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/faith and life.htm

He Begs of God that through the Holy Scriptures He May be Led to ...
... through whom Thou hast called to adoption the believing ... I beseech Thee through Him,
who sitteth at Thy right ... between the certain truths of faith and doctrine ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter ii he begs of god.htm