Biblical Adoption

Rom 8:15 MKJV
(15) For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father!

The concept of adoption as it pertains to what we read in scripture is confusing because it does not mean the same thing in the Hebrew culture as it means in our culture today. In the Hebrew culture, to be adopted was the point at which all that the father had became available to the son. Just because a male child was born did not mean he immediately received the full authority of his father. That would be silly. Rather, there was a point by which the child 'came of age', and the father declared "this is my son, in whom I am well pleased." This was the adoption rite - the moment the son adopts the full authority of the father.

In our culture, adoption is the process of taking a non-biological child and adopting him into son-ship. It has been said that the beauty of adoption is that there is no accommodation for un-adoption, which makes sense in our culture. Hebraic-ally speaking, this isn't correct thinking. The good news is that the true meaning of adoption is even better for the born-again Christian!

When we are born again, we are "biologically" born into a new bloodline - by the blood of Jesus. We have the Father's DNA within us. We are HIS, as naturally as can be. God is not looking for legal children, He is looking for natural children. - Graham Cooke

If the biblical definition of 'adoption' were the same as the definition given in our western culture, there would be no need to be born again.

If getting saved is being born again (which I believe absolutely is), then at what point are we adopted? This is the point that we reach a maturity, spiritually, to be called 'huios', or Sons of God. There are different levels of spiritual maturity, all referenced within scripture, none disqualifying a person of salvation or from a relationship with the Father. But it's only when we mature to huios that we become adopted, or a Son of God. Why is this important?

Rom 8:19 MKJV
(19) For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Sons of God are those who walk in the absolute authority of the Father, being about His purpose, having His mind and seeing the world as He sees it. Is it any wonder why creation would groan for this?