adoption

what is adoption?

adoption is the act of adopting or fact of being adopted.

looking in vs. 15 we see that its talking about how when we were converted we did not receive the spirit of bondage, so that me may fear again, but we received the spirit of adoption. hence forth we cry abba father.

the word cry in this seance is emphatic, expressing the spontaneous, the strength, and the exuberance of the final emotions.

if you look in Galatians 4:6 we see this cry is said to proceed from the spirit in us, drawing forth the filial exclamation in our hearts. here, its said to proceed from our own hearts under the vitalizing energy of the spirit, as the very element of the new life in believers. (Romans 8:4 says let the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.)

the word abba is the syro-chaldaic word for father, and the Greek word for this is added, not just to tell the reader that both have the same meaning. but for the same reason which drew both word from the lips of christ himself during his pain in the garden. as we see this in mark 14:36 hes says (abba father all things are possible unto thee, take away this cup from me. nevertheless not what i will, but what thou wilt.)

in vs.16 we see that the spirit of the lord bares witness to our spirit, that we are children of God. we see this in Romans 8:26 which says (read vs.26).

we see in the phrase children of God, we see the testimony of our own spirit is borne in that cry of conscious sonship, abba father. but we are not alone, for the holy ghost is within us, even in that very cry which it is his to draw forth, sets his own distinct seal to ours, and thus ( in the mouth of two witnesses), the thing being established. the apostle before had called us sons of god referring to our adoption, but we see the word changes from sons to children, which is referring to our new birth. the one expresses the dignity to which we are admitted, the other the new life which we receive.

closing statements:

the imagery of adoption is a powerful one. it is powerful because it is volitional on the part of God. he chose to adopt us. and also, it is a powerful picture because it is permanent. once a child of God, always a child.