Part Two: What It Means to Be a Child of God
Why Sonship and Adoption Are Crucial to Understanding Your Relationship with God.
Brian Jakowski
The concepts of Adoption and Sonship have the power to transform our lives and bring us closer to God. Part Two of “What It Means To Be A Child Of God” will Discuss how both these qualities affect our place in God’s family and examine the following questions,
What are Adoption and Sonship?
Whom can be Adopted into God's kingdom?
Do only men receive Sonship?
How do Adoption and Sonship make a difference in your relationship with God?
First, we’ll recap what we learned in our first installment of “What It Means To Be A Child Of God.” In part one, we discussed that being a Child of God results from embracing a belief in Jesus that penetrates your heart and compels you to receive Him as Lord of your life, moving you to repentance, which simply means turning from your old ways.
Now, let’s delve into the profound meanings of Adoption and Sonship in the context of our relationship with God.
Why Sonship Makes a Difference
The story of the Prodigal Son is a poignant illustration of the value of Sonship. A Father, filled with hope, constantly scanned the horizon for his lost son. Despite the son’s actions that had caused him pain, the father's love and hope never wavered.
When He finally saw his son return, the father ran to him and embraced him (Luke 15:11-32). All was forgiven. Neither condemnation nor judgment were heaped on the son. The father's love for his son never wavered, demonstrating God’s unconditional love for each of us.
The father gave the son a robe, sandals, and ring. Each of the three gifts lavished on the son represents an aspect of our receiving Sonship in God’s kingdom. The Robe symbolizes Forgiveness and how Jesus’ sacrifice covers our sins and shame. The Signet Ring meant he was once more part of the family and an heir to his father. Finally, sandals were only given to sons and daughters; the son would not become his father's servant as he had anticipated.
In Romans 8:14-17 Paul has much to say on the concepts of Adoption and Sonship,
Those who the Spirit of God leads are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to Sonship. And by him, we cry, “Abba,[Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now, if we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings so that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:14-17
You became a child of God when you believed in and received Jesus. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, you are no longer a slave to sin. The Holy Spirit’s presence in your life has made you a new creation. God is your “Abba,” your Daddy, a term of endearment and intimacy, and through the Holy Spirit, you have been Adopted into the kingdom of God and to Sonship.
Adoption is a keyword in this passage. Hyiothesia (adoption) was the legal act by which a male Roman citizen entered another family and became the son and heir under the authority of its patriarch.
This act was not just a formality but a profound change in status and identity. Adopted individuals had all the rights and responsibilities of natural-born offspring, a concept that is mirrored in our spiritual adoption into God's family.
The Roman practice of adoption excluded women because they were legally unable to satisfy the requirements of inheritance. This exclusion also extended to men of meager means and children for the same reasons.
Joseph D. Fantin has this to say about Adoption in the Dallas Theological Seminaries publication, “The Voice.”
So, what does this understanding of adoption do for us? Think about it. None of us had any right or expectation to be part of God’s family. This is true of Paul’s first-century audience. Even those adult males in the early church (who, broadly speaking, were adoptable) did not have appropriate social status or family relations to even hope for divine adoption. Paul’s words would have been met with incredible joy and thankfulness. A stronger impact was likely experienced by women who could not experience a societal-elevating adoption.
Further, adoption in Rome was personal. Parents were not satisfied with just any adoptee. They wanted specific individuals. God did not just want to populate heaven and the new earth with just anyone. God knows us and wants you and me specifically! We do not deserve this, but as Paul states, it is “through Jesus Christ.” Let us thank God together as his children. Joseph D Fantin D.T.S.-The Voice
We’ve discussed adoption leading to Sonship, but what exactly is Sonship? Understanding the meaning of Sonship in this verse is essential. Two Greek words denote "son:" teknon and huios.
The first, teknon, refers to a natural-born son, while the second, huios, refers to an adopted son. It is Huios that is used in Romans 10:14-17. This distinction is crucial as it emphasizes that our Sonship is not based on our birth or actions but on God's choice and grace as illustrated in John 1:13,
“children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Dr. Flourish Peters explains it like this in his article, “Sonship: Understanding the Believer's Identity in Christ,”
Since we could do nothing to please God or earn Sonship, we must understand that God did not bring us into a relationship with him so we can try to please him. He is already pleased with us; he already loves us - it was His love that triggered Jesus' sacrificial death for us. It is essential to understand this because while servants seek to serve and please, Sons know that they have already been accepted. Religious duty cannot trigger Sonship. Therefore, Sons do not act to please God; they act in response to the love of God for them.
Once you completely understand Adoption and Sonship, your relationship with God and your identity in Christ are deepened, strengthening you to stand against the enemy's devices. You know with absolute certainty that God accepts and loves you as a Son or Daughter. This knowledge can prevent your faith from wavering.
So Adoption and Sonship are the outcomes of receiving Jesus as your Savior. In truth, we were all prodigals returning to the arms of our heavenly father when we received Jesus into our lives. Unlike the Roman world where only men were adopted and made heirs, in God’s kingdom all are Adopted and receive Sonship regardless of their gender or social strata.
Because of our Adoption into Sonship, each of us receives forgiveness, which cleanses us of our sins and shame through God’s unconditional Love and Grace.
We also have our identity in Christ restored, establishing us as children of God. Like the Prodigal Son, we in essence receive sandals which are reserved only for Sons and Daughters, assuring our Adoption and complete restoration to Sonship.
Join me for Part Three of “What It Means To Be A Child of God.” We will examine what it means to be an heir to God and Co-heirs with Jesus.