For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs– heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Rom 8:15-17)
Your adoption as a son or daughter of God carries privilege. As a child of God, you carry around treasure within. You have 24-7 access to come boldly before the throne of grace. You can intimately call Him Abba Father! You are protected, provided for, never cast off, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. As God’s child, you automatically become an inheritor of the promises of God. Praise Him!
In the Roman world there were four main benefits of adoption:
- The adopted person lost all rights in their old family and gained all the rights of a legitimate child in their new family. In the most binding legal way, they got a new father.
- It followed that they became heirs to their new father’s estate. Even if other children were born after their adoption, it did not affect their rights.
- In the law, the old life of the adopted person was completely wiped out, for example, all the old debts were wiped out. They were regarded as a new person entering a new life with which the past had no bearing on.
- In the eyes of the law, they were absolutely the child of their new father.
In Paul’s day, an adoptee got a new father, a new family, a new fortune, and new freedom, and in the process, was set up for a new future! The spiritual implications for us are clear: we have a new Father and a new family in Christ! We have nothing to do with the old family! The prince of this world is not your father. You are now an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ.
As an adopted child, your debts are forgiven, and your mission, mandate, and privilege are to love God and others. The law is not your judge anymore, we are not under its jurisdiction, we are under God’s grace, and we operate in the higher calling of love.
As a child of God, you have been delivered from sin and satan. We were guilty, but Christ takes our punishment on the cross. Romans 8: 1-2 says it best; There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
In Christ, we can confidently say that we are adopted into God’s family and made new through Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me of my sin and making me new. I thank You that no matter what happens in life, I can confidently say that You are my Father, and I am Your child. I am adopted by the best Father there is! Today God, I give you thanks and praise. Amen