What Jesus Said About God, His FatherSample

Adopted as sons and daughters of the Father

The word "Father" suggests family. When we became Christians, we became children of God. We are adopted into the family of God the Father. The Greek word huiothesía is used only by Paul five times. For example:

You did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship (adoption), by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ - Romans 8:15.

That we might receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:5).

Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself… (Ephesians 1:5).

In these passages, Paul refers to a Greek and Roman custom rather than a Hebrew one. Since huiothesía was a technical term in Roman law for an act that had specific legal and social effects, there is much probability that Paul had some reference to that in his use of the word. Adoption, when thus legally performed, put a man in every respect in the position of a son by birth to him who had adopted him so that he possessed the same rights and owed the same obligations.

Being a huiósthesía, a son of God, involves the child's conformity with God's life to the image, purposes, and interests of God and that spiritual family into which he is born. The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19).

Obedience: How do you treat other adopted children of God?