Adoption means to take a child out of one family and give him rights and privileges in another. Eph. 1:5-- "Having predestinated (preappointed) us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." The apostle was setting forth what God predetermined to do for the objects of His love. This work is being perfected by the Triune God, and when completed the [called] children of Adam will be conformed to the image of the Son of God and be carried to heaven to rejoice forever in the holy presence of God.

Galatians 4:4, 5 reads, "But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Paul sets forth how, when and by whom they were redeemed, and for what purpose they were redeemed. For the children of men, whom God predestinated unto the adoption, to enjoy the Spiritual Kingdom, the Church, on earth they must be born of the Spirit of God.

Paul, in writing to those who were called to be saints, Romans 8:15, 16: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs: heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." The work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration makes the children of men the children of God. They partake of God's divine nature. They have their carnal nature and also a spiritual nature; therefore, a warfare in their own bosom, but they have hope in Jesus Christ, who has promised to raise their bodies from the grave notwithstanding our bodies die. Romans 8:21: "Because the creature itself (the children of men) also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." When the bodies of the children of men, whom God predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, are raised up from death and the grave, in the image of Jesus Christ, then the adoption will be an accomplished fact! It will be the children of men glorified, immortalized and having the likeness of Christ Jesus, in body, soul and spirit, an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ!

The children were not adopted in eternity, but God foreknew them and loved them. God predestinated the objects of His love, the elect, unto the adoption of children to Himself before the foundation of the world. Adam was created in time--not in eternity. Adam transgressed God's law and fell in ruin in time. Jesus Christ redeemed His people in time, and the Holy Spirit quickened them into a state of life in Christ and they receive the Spirit of adoption in time-not in eternity. On the Resurrection morning, the actual adoption in full will be an accomplished fact! The children of the family of men, the elect, will be brought into the family of God, spirit, soul and body, in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ, and will be carried to heaven to praise God for ever and ever. The hope of the child of God, born of the Spirit, some day will become an actual reality! With patience we wait for the redemption of our bodies from death and the grave. "Faithful is He that called you, who also will do it." Praise His Holy Name. == Published in the "Primitive Baptist", November 1956.