Celebrating Our Adoption – Part 1

I want to share a message with you.

This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of preaching on spiritual adoption. The sermon was titled “Celebrating Our Adoption” based around Romans 8:15-17. Over the next few posts, I’d like to share some key thoughts from that message. First, let’s look over our key passage.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Rom. 8:15-17)

What does adoption mean?

Before we begin to unpack the concept of spiritual adoption, it’s important that we understand what adoption means to us. Furthermore, what did adoption mean to Christians in Rome, during the first century.

An adopted child’s life is divided into two segments. There is life before the adoption and life after the adoption. Both lives are drastically different. The actual adoption experience is the dividing line between these two lives.

There are a number of circumstances that can lead to a child needing adoption. Unfortunately, almost all of these circumstances are unpleasant ones. Many times, something painful or tragic has taken place in the child’s life and left them orphaned.

Not too long ago, these children would go to an orphanage.

This was the common option for children found in these circumstances. Today, we have the foster care system. It may not be a perfect system either, but at least the children can move into a family environment.

Regardless of the system or institution to which the child is placed, the child does not belong there. The child is still left with no lasting security, no real hope and no family legacy.

No security, no hope and no legacy.

When a child’s life is on this path, adoption is the only lasting solution. Only then, will the child truly belong. Only then, will the child have a family again. Only then, will the child obtain a true sense of security, hope and legacy.

What about orphans in First Century Rome?

What about the culture to which Paul was speaking to, in our passage from Romans?

Unfortunately, being orphaned during Paul’s day was far more grim. There was only one system or institution; a system and institution that we abolished from our culture long ago.

Orphans faced slavery. That’s right; slavery was often the only option for an orphaned child.

As a parent, if you fell ill or had an accident and died, your child’s life would take a drastic turn. Sometimes, parents who couldn’t afford to feed their children, would sell them or give them into slavery; knowing that they would at least be fed and clothed.

Can you imagine the heartache of that child?

Can you imagine having to make that choice, as a parent?

Occasionally, a child may be brought into the home of an uncle or an aunt, to be cared for as part of their family. Nevertheless, many times the child was still treated as a slave or servant at best.

No orphanage, no foster care, no government assistance. For these children, there truly was no security, no hope and no legacy.

Only in the very rare occasion, would a child catch the eye and the heart of someone wealthy enough to take them in. Moreover, only through almost miraculous circumstances, would that person be willing to adopt them and bestow upon them, the full rights and opportunities of their own children.

To the Roman, adoption was meaningful.

In First Century Rome, the concept of adoption in itself was one of the most amazing and selfless acts of kindness. Understanding this gives us such a clearer picture of why the words found in Romans 8 were so astounding.

Moreover, why these words should be just as astounding to us today.

Join the Conversation, Share Your Thoughts:

How would you describe or define spiritual adoption? What does it mean to you?