Bible Dictionary
Adoption
Adoption is the gracious act by which God receives believers as His children, granting them sonship, the Holy Spirit, His fatherly care, and a promised inheritance through Christ.
Biblical Usage
In Paul’s teaching, adoption describes the believer’s sonship, liberty, access to God as Father, the Spirit’s witness, present care, fatherly discipline, and future inheritance through Christ. It is associated with justification, sanctification, and the future redemption of the body.
Scripture References
Exodus 2:10
Esther 2:7
Exodus 4:22
Deuteronomy 7:6
Hosea 11:1
Romans 9:4
John 17:23
Romans 5:5-8
John 1:13
1 Peter 1:14
2 John 1:4
Romans 8:15-21
Galatians 5:1
Hebrews 2:15
Luke 12:27-32
John 14:18
1 Corinthians 3:21-23
2 Corinthians 1:4
Hebrews 12:5-11
Romans 8:17
Romans 8:23
James 2:5
Philippians 3:21
Romans 8:15
Galatians 4:5
Ephesians 1:5
Galatians 4:4
Romans 8:14-17