How Wonderful Adoption!

Ephesians 1:5, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”

One cannot imagine the inner feelings of an orphaned child unless they themselves have actually been such. I know that I can not grasp the true seriousness of the situation, not ever having to face it in reality. However, I do know the feeling of not being loved. It is a gut wrenching, heart breaking situation. There are thousands, possibly millions of children that face its realities each and every day.

Being an orphan, one without parents, is like being totally alone, even though there may be others around. When we, as God’s children, were in the state of being alone in our own sins and mired in a condition called “Total Depravity,” we were as an orphan with no home. Wretched, vain, sinful creatures we were; needing a Saviour to save us from ourselves and the penalty of sin. Not having any parents to look after us, we were in a desolate condition. Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;..” In time past when we were walking in disobedience, we were as orphaned children.

In biblical times, adoption was much different than now. It was common practice in countries which did practice adoption, for children and even adults to be adopted as a form of slavery in order to add workers to support the family. Also, it would provide a child to a childless couple and to assist them in their old age with the promise of a portion of their estate. We find that Moses was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter in Exodus 2:10 and received all of the privileges and duties as if he was a biological son. Then, in Esther 2:7,15, we find that Esther was adopted by her uncle Mordecai after her parents had died. Likewise, in times of Christ during Roman rule, adoption was used more as a benefit for the one doing the adopting rather than the one being adopted. Adoption became increasingly difficult after the fall of the Roman Empire. Many children died due to the lack of parents or guardians to take care of them. But, for the children of God, we find Paul’s writing In Ephesians 1:5 saying we were predestinated “...unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will...” Adoption was accomplished by Christ to bring us (those given to him by the Father) legally into His family.

We find the Apostle Paul expressing the predetermined will of God towards His children in Galatians 4:vs 4 and vs 5, “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”  To be legally adopted by Christ, it took Him paying the price by His shed blood on the cross of Calvary. We were “born again” by the spirit of an all wise, all loving God who loved us with an ever lasting love. Due to our sinful condition we were deserving of the wrath of God, but, instead we “...received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)  Christ, in paying our sin debt on Calvary, literally and legally adopted us into the family of God.

Prior to receiving the Spirit of Adoption, we only had one nature, usually referred to as our sin or fleshly nature. However, when we are blessed to experience the New Birth, we then have the addition of a Spiritual Nature, which leads to a warfare within us as long as we live on this earth. At the time of the grand Resurrection, our spirits will return with Christ, united with our earthly bodies, and be changed. We will then bare the image of Jesus Christ our Lord, and our full adoption of body, soul, and spirit will be realized when we are taken to live in Eternity, singing praises around the throne of God.
How glorious Paradise will be for the children of God.

However, we are still on this sin cursed earth which makes us to mourn and groan from the depth of our souls as we witness with what Paul said in Romans 8:23, “even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Until that time, we find ourselves saying, “Come quickly” Lord Jesus... “Come quickly!”