Divine Adoption in the New Testament: Children and Heirs Through Christ
Divine adoption in the New Testament reveals how believers become God’s children through Jesus Christ. The concept draws on Old Testament and Jewish traditions of adoption, especially God’s relationship to Israel and the Davidic king, but reaches its fulfillment in the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. Paul, the only New Testament writer to use the term explicitly, presents adoption (huiothesia) as both a present reality and a future hope for Christians. By the Spirit, believers already cry, "Abba, Father," yet they still await the full redemption of their bodies at Christ’s return. This doctrine weaves together themes of covenant, Spirit, inheritance, and eschatological glory, showing that adoption is at the heart of the Gospel.
1. Jesus as the Adopted Son in Resurrection and Exaltation
The New Testament links divine adoption to Jesus’ resurrection and enthronement. Acts 13:33 applies Psalm 2:7 to the resurrection: "You are my Son, today I have begotten you." Hebrews 1:5 echoes the same adoption formula, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son." Romans 1:3–4 makes the point clear: Jesus, "descended from David according to the flesh, was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead."
This does not mean Jesus was once less than God’s Son but highlights His enthronement as the Davidic king. In His resurrection, Jesus fulfills the messianic adoption formula of 2 Samuel 7:14 and Psalm 2:7, becoming Son of God in power and opening the way for believers to share in His sonship.
2. Paul’s Use of Adoption Language
Paul is unique in employing the Greek term huiothesia ("adoption as sons"), and he uses it in five passages: Romans 8:15, 23; 9:4; Galatians 4:5; and Ephesians 1:5.
Romans 9:4 – Israel’s adoption at the Exodus remains a covenant privilege.
Ephesians 1:5 – "He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ."
Galatians 4:5 – Believers receive adoption because "God sent forth his Son… to redeem those who were under the law."
Romans 8:15 – Christians receive "the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’"
Romans 8:23 – Adoption will be consummated in "the redemption of our bodies."
For Paul, adoption is both already and not yet. Believers already enjoy the privileges of being children of God, but they also wait for their full inheritance in the resurrection.
3. Adoption and the Spirit
A central feature of Paul’s teaching is the connection between adoption and the Spirit. Romans 8:15 calls the Spirit the "Spirit of adoption," and Galatians 4:6 says, "Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’"
This connection fulfills Old Testament promises of restoration:
Deuteronomy 30:6 – "The LORD your God will circumcise your heart… so that you will love the LORD your God."
Jeremiah 31:33 – "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts."
Ezekiel 36:26–27 – "I will give you a new heart… and I will put my Spirit within you."
Paul interprets these promises as realized in the Spirit’s work of adoption. Through the Spirit, believers:
Enter into a new covenant relationship.
Experience freedom from the flesh (Romans 8:4–14; Galatians 5:16–25).
Share in Christ’s own cry of intimacy with the Father (Mark 14:36).
Adoption, therefore, is inseparable from the Spirit’s transforming presence.
4. Adoption and Inheritance
Adoption in the New Testament also establishes believers as heirs. Galatians 4:7 states, "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." Romans 8:17 echoes this: "If children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ."
Paul ties this inheritance to the promises given to Abraham:
Galatians 3:29 – "If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise."
Romans 4:13 – "The promise to Abraham and his offspring… was through the righteousness of faith."
Thus, adoption secures the believer’s share in:
The blessings of Abraham – covenant membership and justification by faith.
The inheritance of Christ – reigning with Him in the new creation.
The hope of glory – participation in the resurrection life of the Son of God.
5. Future Adoption and Eschatological Glory
While adoption is a present gift, Paul also looks ahead to its future fulfillment. Romans 8:23 says, "We ourselves… groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." This future adoption points to:
Resurrection – believers will share in Jesus’ own resurrection power (Romans 1:4).
Glory – creation itself will be liberated with the children of God (Romans 8:18–21).
Family likeness – believers will be "conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" (Romans 8:29).
Revelation 21:7 completes the picture: "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son." Adoption is thus the path from justification to glorification, from present sonship to eternal inheritance.
Conclusion
Divine adoption in the New Testament fulfills the promises of the Old Testament and intertestamental hopes. In the resurrection of Jesus, the messianic adoption formula finds its true meaning. In the Spirit, believers are already God’s children, able to cry "Abba, Father." Through adoption they become heirs of Abraham’s promises and co-heirs with Christ. And in the future, they will receive the fullness of adoption in the resurrection and eternal glory. Adoption is therefore not a marginal theme but the heart of the Gospel, revealing how God makes His people His family through Christ.
Bible Verses about Divine Adoption
Acts 13:33 – "You are my Son, today I have begotten you."
Romans 1:3–4 – "Jesus… was declared to be the Son of God in power… by his resurrection from the dead."
Romans 8:15 – "You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’"
Romans 8:17 – "If children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ."
Romans 8:23 – "We wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
Galatians 4:5–6 – "God sent forth his Son… so that we might receive adoption as sons."
Galatians 4:7 – "You are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
Ephesians 1:5 – "He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ."
2 Corinthians 6:18 – "I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me."
Revelation 21:7 – "I will be his God and he will be my son."
