Adoption- What does the Bible have to say?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

When speaking about adoption, most Christian presentations focus on God's decision to adopt us. God's adoption of us reveals the significance of adoption. In the Old Testament, leaders like Moses and Samuel were adopted, highlighting that God chose them for pivotal roles despite their non-blood relationships. The New Testament also conveys the importance of adoption since Jesus was adopted by Joseph. God Himself adopts people into His family, with believers being spiritually adopted into God’s family. This adoption reveals God’s immense love and grace for all. Adoption reflects God's heart and the gospel’s transformative power, demonstrating the profound value of including and caring for those who are vulnerable or without family.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Two of the greatest and most godly leaders in the Old Testament were adopted. Moses was adopted by an Egyptian princess (Exodus 2:1–10). Samuel, the holy prophet of God, was fostered by Eli (1 Samuel 1–2). Both were chosen by God to lead His people to worship Him.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The most famous adoption announcement is rarely seen as such. It's found in Matthew 1:18–25. God chose His Son to be adopted. Jesus, God incarnate, was adopted. People have myriad reasons why they don't want to adopt—including that they don't want to raise another man's child. This passage destroys those arguments. God didn't have to arrange for Joseph to adopt Jesus. He could have found another way to support Mary and her child. But in this act, God forever established the honor of raising another's child, as well as the perfect acceptability of having parents who are not blood relation.
• Romans 8:15 tells us that our adoption gives us the right to call God "Abba Father."
• Ephesians 1:5 (NASB) says that God adopts us "according to the kind intention of His will." Our ultimate spiritual state is held up as the definitive view of adoption.
• Adoption also fulfills the definition of true religion. James 1:27 reads, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." Like many verbs in the Bible, "visit" is much deeper and more active than the English word would suggest. It means to look after, have a care for, provide for, furnish with necessary things. There are few more significant ways to care for an orphan than to take him into your home and give him a family.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Adoption beautifully mirrors the profound truth of God's redemptive love and grace. Adoption signifies a powerful relationship: believers are adopted into God's family, becoming His beloved children through faith in Christ. God’s including us into His family illustrates the immense value and worth God places on each person, regardless of their past or circumstances. It reveals His grace, where individuals who were once outsiders are brought into a place of intimacy and belonging. Just as God adopts us, adopting others reflects His unconditional love and the gospel's transformative power, making it a profound expression of His mercy and a testament to the beauty of becoming a part of a new, loving family.

As of recent estimates, there are approximately 140 million orphans worldwide, with many waiting for adoption. This figure includes children who have lost one or both parents and those living in institutional care or foster systems. The actual number of children specifically waiting for adoption is harder to pinpoint due to varying statistics and reporting practices across different countries. However, the global need for adoptive families remains significant, highlighting the importance of adoption and foster care in providing stability and love to vulnerable children. If we cannot fully adopt children or people into our families, we can still extend a heart of adoption to others as we intentionally seek out and include people who are away from family, do not have family, or are estranged from family. We can invite them to events or intentionally invest in them, so they, too, can experience a loving family relationship. Adoption is God’s heart, and it should be ours as well.

UNDERSTAND

• Adoption reflects God's heart and the gospel's transformative power.
• God chose to have Jesus, fully God and fully man, to be adopted by Joseph.
• Believers are spiritually adopted into God's family through Christ.

REFLECT

• What does the concept of being spiritually adopted into God's family through Christ reveal about God’s character, and how does it impact your understanding of your identity and relationship with God?
• How are you encouraged or challenged to reflect God’s heart for adoption in the way you view and treat others?
• In what ways can you personally reflect God's heart for adoption by caring for or supporting vulnerable individuals or families in your community?

ENGAGE

• There is no legitimate argument that can be made against the concept of adoption. Whether adoption is right for an individual family is between that family and God. Adoption isn't always easy, and it's usually expensive. But it is absolutely biblical. If adoption was good enough for the Son of God, then it is a blessing for His people.
• How can a Christian practically support adoption or fostering children?
• What practical steps can we take to extend the spirit of adoption to those who are estranged from family or without support, even if we are not in a position to adopt or foster children?