Adoption is a profound, loving choice to take someone who was not initially part of a family and fully integrating them as if they were a natural-born member. This process reflects the spiritual adoption that God offers to believers.
Why the Concept of Adoption in the Bible Matters
The idea of adoption in the Bible is deeply influential as it reflects how God chooses to relate to christians. It outlines the spiritual process where individuals who choose to believe in God and live according to His ways are adopted into God’s divine family. This parallels with the earthly practice of adoption, where a child becomes a legitimate member of a family, with all rights and privileges of their adoptive parents. This connection serves to help christians understand the depth of God’s love. It underscores that God’s acceptance surpasses our past, shortcomings and circumstances.
What the Bible Teaches About Adoption
The Bible offers multiple accounts and teachings related to the concept of adoption. The story of Moses, for instance, is a popular narrative about adoption. Born to a Hebrew family but raised by Egyptian royalty, Moses grows up in privileged circumstances, eventually accepting his roots and freeing his people from bondage. This account echoes the idea of adoption and reveals that God uses everyone, regardless of their past or present circumstances to fulfill His will.
On another level, the Bible depicts Jesus as God’s only Begotten Son. However, the scriptures also profess that through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are adopted into the family of God, becoming His children with the rights and privileges that accompany this adoption. This spiritual adoption symbolizes the reconciliation of humanity with God, implying that believers no longer need to feel like outsiders or strangers in their relationship with the Holy Father.
Where the Bible Illustrates the Love in Adoption
The Bible illustrates the profound love inherent in the process of adoption. It communicates that adoption, both earthly and spiritual, is not about legal paperwork, but about a transformation that stems from love. Adoption through love is evident in the Bible from the beginning, where Adam and Eve’s children are accepted by God despite their parent’s disobedience. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, a son who deviated from his father returns to find that his father has been waiting for him all along, ready to accept him back into the family. These stories form the biblical narrative of love-filled adoption.
Who are the Beneficiaries of Adoption According to the Bible
The Bible portrays that both the adopted individual and the adoptive family benefit from the process of adoption. The adopter is often blessed by the joy and enrichment that the adopted child brings into their lives. On the other hand, the adopted child is blessed with a family, a sense of belonging, and an identity. They inherit the rights and privileges of being part of the family. This is clearly illustrated in the Bible through numerous examples, such as Moses and Esther, who both find an identity and purpose through their adoptions. Spiritually, believers find an indescribable joy in being adopted children of God, having a restored relationship with Him and assurance of eternal life.
When Does the Bible Show Adoption as a Choice of Love
The Bible underlines that the act of adoption is a choice. God, in His sovereignty, chose to love humanity – despite its fallible nature – and thus decided to adopt believers as His children. This narrative shows that adoption is always a choice of love, making it an incredible act of selflessness and kindness. It is not depicted as an obligation or a last resort, but as a voluntary decision to love unconditionally.
Below is the full list of bible verses on adoption (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Adoption
Ephesians 1:5
“5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
Related Themes: Predetermination Doubt Identity Family
Matthew 18:5
“5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”
Galatians 4:5-7
“5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Related Themes: Redemption
Romans 9:8
“8 That 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.”
John 1:12
“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
1 John 3:1
“1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
Related Themes: Love Children Self-Esteem Persecution Identity
Psalm 27:10
“10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.”
Related Themes: Loneliness Rejection Homelessness Abandonment
Romans 8:14-19
“14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:17 And 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.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
Related Themes: Children Holy Spirit Holiness Glorification Identity
Galatians 3:26
“26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
James 1:27
“27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
Related Themes: Strangers Homelessness Holiness Benevolence Justice
John 14:18
“18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
Related Themes: Loneliness Sadness Depression
Acts 7:21
“21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.”
John 1:13
“13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Romans 8:15
“15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Related Themes: Fear Children Freedom Holy Spirit Nervousness
1 John 3:2
“2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Related Themes: Holiness Glorification Children Hope Life
Esther 2:7
“7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.”
Related Themes: Beauty
Romans 8:23
“23 And 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.”
Related Themes: Glorification Redemption
John 1:12-13
“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Galatians 4:5
“5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
Related Themes: Redemption
Deuteronomy 10:18
“18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.”
Related Themes: Strangers Justice Strangers Homelessness
Ephesians 2:19
“19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”
Related Themes: Strangers Church Foundation Loneliness Identity
Isaiah 49:15
“15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”
Related Themes: Children Loneliness Rejection Abandonment Love
Galatians 3:29
“29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Related Themes: Inheritance
Psalm 68:5-6
“5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.”
Related Themes: Loneliness Serving The Poor Homelessness
Jeremiah 3:19
“19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.”
Hebrews 2:13
“13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.”
Ephesians 3:6
“6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”
Isaiah 40:31
“31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Related Themes: Hope Patience Strength Life New Beginnings
Hebrews 12:7
“7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”
Philippians 2:15
“15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
Related Themes: Complaining Arguing Light Holiness Perfection
