Adoption.

• 2 min. read • grade level: 11

Explained. 2 Cor. 6:18¹⁸And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Is according to promise. Rom. 9:8⁸That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (Romans 9:8). Gal. 3:29²⁹And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29).

Is by faith. Gal. 3:7, 26⁷Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7)
²⁶For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26).

Is of God's grace. Eze. 16:3-6³And say, Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. ⁴And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. ⁵None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. ⁶And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. (Ezekiel 16:3‑6). Rom. 4:16, 17¹⁶Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, ¹⁷(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:16‑17). Eph. 1:5, 6, 11⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:5‑6)
¹¹In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11).

Is through Christ. John. 1:12. Gal. 4:4, 5⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4‑5). Eph. 1:5⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (Ephesians 1:5). Heb. 2:10, 13¹⁰For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)
¹³And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. (Hebrews 2:13).

Saints predestinated unto. Rom. 8: 29. Eph. 1:5, 11⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (Ephesians 1:5)
¹¹In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11).

Of Gentiles, predicted. Hos. 2:23²³And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:23). Rom. 9:24-26²⁴Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? ²⁵As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. ²⁶And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. (Romans 9:24‑26). Eph. 3:6⁶That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:6).

The Adopted are gathered together in one by Christ. John. 11:52.

New birth connected with. John. 1:12, 13.

The Holy Spirit is a Witness of. Rom. 8:16¹⁶The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16).

Being led by the Spirit is an evidence of. Rom. 8:14¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14).

Saints receive the Spirit of. Rom. 8:15¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15). Gal. 4:6⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6).

A privilege of saints. John. 1:12. 1 John. 3:1.

Saints become brethren of Christ by. John. 20:17. Heb. 2:11, 12¹¹For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹²Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Hebrews 2:11‑12).

Saints wait for the final consummation of. Rom. 8:19, 23¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)
²³And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23). 1 John. 3:2.

Subjects saints to the fatherly discipline of God. Deu. 8:5. 2 Sam. 7:14¹⁴I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: (2 Samuel 7:14). Pro. 3:11, 12¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: ¹²For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. (Proverbs 3:11‑12). Heb. 12:5-11⁵And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? ⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. ⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:5‑11).

God is long-suffering and merciful towards the partakers of. Jer. 31: 1, 9, 20.

Should lead to holiness. 2 Cor. 6:17, 18¹⁷Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, ¹⁸And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17‑18), with 2 Cor. 7:1¹Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1). PM. 2:15. 1 John. 3:2, 3.

SHOULD PRODUCE

Likeness to God. Mat. 5:44, 45, 48. Eph. 5:1¹Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (Ephesians 5:1).

Child-like confidence in God. Mat. 6:25-34.

A desire for God's glory. Mat. 5: 16.

A spirit of prayer. Mat. 7:7-11.

A love of peace. Mat. 5:9.

A forgiving spirit. Mat. 6:14.

A merciful spirit. Luke 6:35, 36³⁵But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. ³⁶Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:35‑36).

An avoidance of ostentation. Mat. 6:1-4, 6, 18.

Safety of those who receive. Pro. 14:26²⁶In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26).

Confers a new name. Num. 6:27²⁷And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:27). Isa. 62:2²And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. (Isaiah 62:2). Acts 15:17¹⁷That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. (Acts 15:17). (See Titles of Saints.)

Entitles to an inheritance. Mat. 13: 43. Rom. 8:17¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17). Gal. 3:29²⁹And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29). Gal. 4: 7. Eph. 3:6⁶That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:6).

Is to be pleaded in prayer. Isa. 63: 16. Mat. 6:9.

Illustrated. Joseph's sons. Gen. 48: 5, 14, 16, 22. Moses, Exo. 2:10¹⁰And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. (Exodus 2:10). Esther, Est. 2:7.

Typified. Israel, Exo. 4:22²²And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: (Exodus 4:22). Hos. 11: 1. Rom. 9:4⁴Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; (Romans 9:4).

Exemplified. Solomon, 1 Chr. 28:6⁶And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. (1 Chronicles 28:6).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Access to God.

• Adoption.

• Affections, the.

• Afflicted, Duty Toward the.

• Afflicted Saints.

• Affliction, Consolation Under.

• Affliction, Prayer Under.

• Afflictions.

• Afflictions Made Beneficial.

• Afflictions of the Wicked, the.

• Agriculture or Husbandry.

• Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God.

• Altar of Burnt-Offering, the.

• Amusements and Pleasures, Worldly.

• Anointing of the Holy Ghost.