Salvation Brings Adoption into God’s Family
What might be called the final, crowning event of our salvation is our adoption into God’s family. The famous evangelist D.L. Moody put the process of salvation into five words:
Repentance: a change of mind. A new mind about God.
Conversion: a change of life. A new life from God.
Regeneration: a change of nature. A new heart from God.
Justification: a change of state. A new standing before God.
Adoption: a change of family (or position). A new relationship toward God.
Adoption means “the placing of a son.” Scripture explains this unique part of salvation:
“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Ephesians 1:5).
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4–5).
In essence, we have been given the full rights of a son in the family of God as though we were born that way. We can stand in awe of a God who has the power and desire to forgive us and put His righteousness to our account. But by adoption, God is saying, “Don’t merely stand in awe of Me; come close to Me!”
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!'” (Galatians 4:6).
“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'” (Romans 8:15).
The word Abba is a Hebrew child’s affectionate cry to his father. It would be equivalent to the English word Daddy. God wants you to know that He cares about you, and that you have total and free access to His presence at any time.
Regardless of what your father on earth is (or was) like, you can be assured that your Father in Heaven loves you intensely!
He understands you
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him” (Psalms 103:13 NIV).
He takes care of you
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6:31–32 NIV).
He loves to bless you
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11 NIV).
Salvation—and all its benefits—is enough for us in this life. We need nothing more.
