The Doctrine of Adoption
Short Reflection Paper Theology 202 – B20
Sara Ellis
Fall 2017
Biblical Contours
Although we were born to human parents, we are all children of God according to John
1:12-13. “Yet 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 natural descent”. He loved us so much that he
sent his true Son to pay for our sins so that we might all be able to spend eternity with him.
Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the set 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 adoption to sonship”.
Not only is He acknowledging that we are His children, but he is also promising to be our Father,
to guide us and cherish us as his own. 2 Corinthians 6:18, “I will be a Father to you, and you will
be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”.
Historical Contours
Before the occurrence of Christianity in the Roman Empire, babies were often exposed
of. This meant that they would be placed somewhere to die or be killed. The early Church
acknowledge this sinful practice and began to act against it by rescuing the infants. This was the
first acknowledgement of human adoption. Paul was the first to mention adoption in the Old
Testament, however He was referring to Godly adoption from our Heavenly Father.
Theological Contours
Adoption ignites our relationship with God and provides us with the freedom to be our
own person. Christian adoption, means that we have accepted God as our Father and are
beneficiaries of His Fatherly love and guidance, as referred to in 2 Corinthians. We are expected
to use this strength to love one another with an open mind and heart.
Practical Application
After a person gives his or her life to Christ they are immediately adopted into His family,
becoming sons and daughters of the Lord. With this adoption comes the freedom of the fear of
abandonment. When adopted one knows that their new Father is always there and will never
leave them. Even if everyone around them is inattentive, they will know that God is always
there. Although on occasion, it may seem as though He is not actively involved in their lives,
they can know that, that is not the case.
A believer can flourish on the knowledge that when he or she is adopted into God’s
family, they are “no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since [they] are His child, God has made
[them] also an heir” of His almighty benefits (Galatians 4:7). Flourishing under the Lord as a
free person is something one should cherish above most.
When one is adopted into God’s family, the Holy Spirit lives within their bodies and
enables them to live in a more Christlike manner. Therefore, they now have a perfect model of
how they should be acting throughout their day. They also have God’s Word to turn to when
they are conflicted on how to handle a situation.
References
Earls, A. (2014, February 7). Adoption Movement Recaptures Early Church Distinctive . Retrieved from
The Wardrobe Door: http://thewardrobedoor.com/2012/02/adoption-movement-recaptures-
early-church-distinctive.html
Erickson, M. (2015). Introducing Christian Doctrine (Vol. 3). Nashville , TN: B&H Academic .
Holy Bible New International Version . (1973). Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zondervan .
