Concerning Adoption

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 29, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 29.

Concerning Adoption.

THE word adoption is used only five times in the Bible, and these are confined to the New Testament. But the idea of adoption was not a new one at the time of its being verbally expressed in definite phraseology in apostolic times. Throughout the old dispensation, the idea and principle may be more or less distinctly traced. But, like some other truths, it was brought out into marked prominence in New-Testament revelation; and at the present time it deserves far greater consideration than it receives at the hands of many who take superficial views of the plan of salvation. A certain class of people, who allow their fevered imaginations to picture distorted representations of the fatherhood of God, quite overlook the fundamental truth, that, by reason of natural depravity and actual sin, all men are regarded by both God's law and gospel as being alienated from God; and hence there does not exist, naturally, any true and spiritual relationship between God and the unpardoned sons of men.

The fact and doctrine of adoption take this for granted. It is an axiomatic truth, that, if there existed naturally and vitally such a relationship between God and men as to constitute a veritable fatherhood and sonship, the idea of adoption would be an absurdity. Men do not adopt into their families their own children. No legal enactment nor gracious act is required to establish a true relationship between a human father and his children. It is only when a man determines to take a child who is not his own, either naturally or legally, and make him his own by a sovereign act and gracious favor, and in harmony with the law of his government, that the idea and fact of adoption appear.

All of God's true children are adopted children. And it was necessary that Christ should come into this world and die, in order that the children of the devil might receive the adoption of the sons of God. Hence Paul says: “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.” And then, having become sons by a trustful faith in Christ, the Spirit of Christ enables such ones to cry, “Father.” So Paul declares: “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son.” Without adoption, no one can be an heir of God.—Watchman.