The Bible says that God changes spiritual orphans into sons and daughters. This beautiful transformation is vividly captured in photos of our boys. Their faces change from confusion and sadness in the orphanages to a glowing radiance at home. Witnessing this change from orphans to sons has been one of the great joys of our lives.

But the changes were not all immediate. It takes repetition and assurance when you have been an orphan to start acting and thinking like a son or daughter.

So it is with all of us.

We may have the privilege and honor of being chosen, adopted children of God. But we can live through our days acting more like orphans.

We want to experience John’s joy: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). We want to live as if we have been adopted into a very rich family with a wonderful, loving father.

Here is a collection of Bible passages to help you understand our adoption by God. Use them for individual or group study. Take hold of what the Bible teaches to help you cherish your adoption by God.

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OUR ADOPTION

Ephesians 1:3-6

• What do we learn about ourselves?
• What do we learn about our adoption?
• What do we learn about God?

Galatians 4:1-7

• What do we learn about ourselves?
• What do we learn about our adoption?
• What do we learn about God?

Romans 8:15-25

• What do we learn about ourselves?
• What do we learn about our adoption?
• What do we learn about God?

Also in these passages, look for:

• The role of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our adoption
• What parts of our adoption have already happened, what are happening, andwhat will happen in the future.
• Our status and privileges as adopted children
• Our experience as adopted children

LIVING AS GOD’S CHILDREN

“Do I understand my adoption? Do I value it? Do I daily remind myself of my privilege as a child of God? Do I daily dwell on the love of God to me?”-J.I. Packer, Knowing God

Psalm 131

• What are the characteristics of the person writing this psalm?

• What does he do? What does he not do?

• What is the author communicating by using this image of mother and child?

• Do you experience your relationship with God in this way?

1 John 3:1

• Do you ever feel lavished with God’s love like this?
• What helps you enjoy your Father’s love?
• What prevents you from experiencing it?

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• Does one of these sections of the Bible particularly help you understand your adoption by God?

• What does it mean in your day-to-day life that God has adopted you?

• What could it mean, if it was more fully worked into your sense of identity?

• Have there been times in the last week or month when your experience has been different because you knew you were God’s child?

• In what ways can you remember and cherish your identity as a son or daughter of God?