Spiritual Adoption

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, Ephesians 1:3-5.

What does it mean to be adopted?

According to wordnetweb, adoption is “the act of accepting with approval”. It is also “a legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit)”.

We as Christians are spiritually adopted beings. As adopted children of God we are accepted. We constantly and actively seek His approval by obeying His word. God’s adopted children do gain the right to inherit. We gain the right to inherit that home in heaven; to be a part of those “heavenly places in Christ”.

One who is adopted is one who is chosen. If a family decides they want to adopt a child they are able to choose the child that can enter into their family.

We are chosen to be adopted children (v.4). God is willing to adopt every person on this planet. His arms are stretched forth awaiting any to come to Him and be adopted into His great family.

As with physical adoption, there is a process for spiritual adoption. There is “paperwork” to fill out.

To become one of the adopted children of God, one must follow God’s instructions. And it is only through Jesus Christ that we can enter into God’s family. It is “by Jesus Christ” that we are adopted (v.5). By believing, confessing, repenting, and being baptized, we become Christians.

We Christians are indeed truly blessed. God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing”. We should be so very grateful that God has chosen us and adopted us into His family.

                -- John Thrower Jr.