Adoption

Adoption is the receiving of believers as sons and children of God, with the Spirit enabling them to call God "Abba, Father" and making them heirs of God; Moses and Esther were also adopted.

Adopted as sons

• Galatians 4:4-5
  ⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
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• Ephesians 1:5
  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
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• Romans 8:23
  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
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Children of God through faith

• John 1:12-13
  ¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— ¹³Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
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• Galatians 3:26
  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
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• 1 John 3:1-2
  ¹Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. ²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
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• 2 Corinthians 6:18
  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
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The Spirit of adoption

• Romans 8:14-16
  ¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
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• Galatians 4:6
  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
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Heirs of God

• Romans 8:17
  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
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• Galatians 4:7
  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
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• Titus 3:7
  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
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Israel as God's son

• Exodus 4:22
  And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,
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• Hosea 11:1
  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
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• Romans 9:4
  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.
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Adoption in Bible stories

• Exodus 2:10
  And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”
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• Esther 2:7
  And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. The young woman was lovely in form and appearance, and when her father and mother had died, Mordecai had taken her in as his own daughter.
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See also

• Salvation
• Born again
• Love of God
• Holy Spirit

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.