Spirit of Adoption

When Adam sinned, he was the door through which sin entered the world. Sin brought corruption to the flesh and cut us off from God. We became orphans and were as lost sheep. We were slaves to the spirit of bondage and corruption.

When Jesus died on the cross, He was the door through which the Holy Spirit entered the world. The Holy Spirit freed us from the bondage and corruption of sin. The Holy Spirit is the complete opposite of sin. The Holy Spirit made it possible for us to be brought into God's family and be joint heirs with Jesus.

Romans 8:14-17 NKJV says, 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

I was reading those verses the other day and, of course, they caught my attention since my wife and I have been foster parents and adopted a child. I've read them many times and never noticed that phrase 'the Spirit of adoption'. It made me think about how God has taken us in and washed us in His blood and clothed us in His righteousness. He's given us His name and His authority.

When my wife and I had a child placed in our home, the first thing we did was give them a bath and clean clothes. They always came to us in dirty clothes and needing a bath. When we come to Jesus we are in the same condition spiritually. The child we adopted was given our name.

The Spirit of adoption brought her to us. The Spirit of adoption moved us to make ourselves available. The Spirit of adoption always takes me to the Cross and reminds me of what it took for me to be adopted into the family of God.