The Offer of Adoption

The gospel writer John makes it clear that we do not become "children of God" through a natural process.  Not even some divine decree or promise such as Abraham heard has been directed our way.  Unlike the Hebrews of the Old Testament, we were not designated as the children of God.  The gospel writer says it has nothing to do with our physical birth, or the will and passion of our parents.  The only reason given is found in those words which speak of an intentional act on the part of Jesus.  Jesus is the one who was given the power that brings us into the family of God. 

 

As we look for the details of this divine act, we run into the word "adoption."  It is mentioned in Romans 8:15 and then with even surer language in the letter to the Galatians Christians.  "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children." (Galatians 4:5)  The one being adopted has no power, no choice, and no will in the matter.  The whole business which so dramatically alters the life of the one being adopted is completely in the hands of another.

 

In our case, our adoption is in the hands of our Father God.  To be adopted means being chosen.  It means being loved and in the human realm, it means being loved before being known.  But, with God, He knows us, knows all about us, knows about the things with which we will struggle, knows things about us we do not even know about ourselves, and still He loves us and chooses us to belong to Him as His child.  Yet, unlike the child being adopted by earthly parents who usually has little or no choice in what is happening, we have the freedom to choose to belong to Him.  The final word belongs not to the One who has all the power, but to the ones who really have none.