The Spirit of adoption refers to the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of believers to confirm their adoption as God’s children. The apostle Paul touches on this in Romans 8:15 which says, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!'” Let’s break this down further:
We are adopted as God’s children
When we place our faith in Christ, we are adopted into God’s family as His children (John 1:12-13). Adoption in Roman culture meant a permanent transfer from one family to another with all the rights and privileges of a natural child. Likewise, when God adopts us, we become co-heirs with Christ and receive a full inheritance from the Father (Romans 8:17). Adoption also signifies an intimate father-child relationship. Through Christ, we can approach God as our perfect heavenly Father.
The Holy Spirit confirms our adoption
Although adoption confers an objective, legal status, the Holy Spirit provides inward assurance that we truly belong to God. As Romans 8:16 states, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” The Spirit convicts us of sin, produces spiritual fruit in our lives, and enables us to cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:6). Abba was an informal Aramaic term for father, similar to “Daddy.” The Spirit gives us the confidence to come to God as our Abba Father.
We are no longer slaves to fear
Before knowing Christ, we were enslaved to sin and fear. But now the Spirit frees us from the fear-based slave mentality. As adopted children, we need not cower before God but can approach Him with reverence mixed with the intimacy of a child approaching his or her loving father. We can be confident that He will not condemn us but will welcome us into His arms.
The Spirit produces love for God
The Holy Spirit instills in us a genuine love for God as our Father. Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” As we grow in the Spirit, our love for God deepens. We obey Him not out of duty but delight. We long to please Him and walk in His ways. The Spirit makes God’s commands cease to be a burden but a joy (1 John 5:3).
We become heirs of God
As adopted children of God, we are also His heirs. Romans 8:17 tells us, “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.” All that belongs to Christ – His righteousness, position, and coming glory – also belongs to us as fellow heirs! This is an incredible privilege conferred on us by the Spirit of adoption.
The Spirit transforms us into Christ’s image
A natural child often looks like and reflects the characteristics of his or her parents. Likewise, the Holy Spirit works to transform us into Christ’s image. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 states, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” The more we yield to the Spirit’s work in our lives, the more we become like Jesus.
We belong to God’s family forever
Adoption confers permanent membership in God’s family. Unlike human adoptions which are conditional, our adoption by God is irreversible. Romans 8:38-39 assures us, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We have exceedingly great security in God’s love!
The Spirit enables us to cry “Abba Father!”
The Spirit dwelling within us prompts us to cry out to God as our Abba Father. Abba is an Aramaic term of intimacy and endearment, similar to “Papa” or “Daddy.” Calling God Abba expresses joyful assurance that we belong to Him as His dearly loved children. It also signifies the removal of a slave mentality and invitation into a relationship of freedom, intimacy, and trust with our perfect heavenly Father who cares for us deeply.
The Spirit testifies that we are heirs of eternal life
Not only are we heirs of God Himself, but also of eternal life! Titus 3:5-7 states, “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” The Spirit applies Christ’s redemptive work to us, securing our future hope of eternal life as God’s children.
The Spirit enables obedience to God
The Holy Spirit empowers us to obey God from the heart. God’s commands are no longer burdensome but a delight because we now have the desire and power to fulfill them. Ezekiel 36:27 promises, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” As we yield more of ourselves to the Spirit’s leading, He produces His fruit in our lives such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Spirit comforts us in suffering
While we wait for the fullness of our adoption and redemption, we may face various trials and suffering. But the Spirit comforts us in the midst of difficulty. The Spirit bears witness that, despite present afflictions, we are still beloved children of God who have a glorious future (Romans 8:18). The Spirit also helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us when we do not know how to pray (Romans 8:26).
The Spirit guarantees our future glory
Not only does the Spirit assure us of present adoption, He also guarantees the completion of our adoption when Christ returns. Ephesians 1:13-14 states, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.” The Spirit is the down payment and firstfruits of the full inheritance to come for God’s adopted children.
Conclusion
The Spirit of adoption is a beautiful gift lavished on believers in Christ. He powerfully affirms that we belong to God as His dear children and frees us to love Him intimately as our Abba Father. The Spirit transforms us into Christ’s image as we grow in relationship with our Father. He also comforts, empowers, and guarantees our future hope as fellow heirs with Christ. God could have chosen to remain distant, but in His amazing grace, He sent His Spirit to draw us close as His beloved sons and daughters.
