Bible Verses and Quotes about Adoption

adoption [ uh–dop-shuhn ]

Also called: Child of God, Inheritance, Sonship

Legal transfer from one family or situation into another family, used in the NT to describe believers’ relationship to God.

Top Bible Verses about Adoption

Hosea 11:1

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. Read Hosea 11:1

John 1:12–13

But as many as received him—to those who believe in his name—he gave to them authority to become children of God, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a husband, but of God. Read John 1:12–13

Romans 8:14–17

For all those who are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together with him so that we may also be glorified together with him. Read Romans 8:14–17

Galatians 4:4–7

But when the fullness of time came, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order that he might redeem those under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption. And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! (Father!),” so that you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, also an heir through God. Read Galatians 4:4–7

Ephesians 1:5–6

having predestined us to adoption through Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace that he bestowed on us in the beloved, Read Ephesians 1:5–6

Famous Christian Quotes about Adoption, Child of God, Inheritance, Sonship

God the Father’s Love for His Children

Whatever is feeble and tender, as needing help on account of its feebleness, is kindly looked on, and is sweet and pleasant, anger changing into help in the case of such; for thus horses’ colts, and the little calves of cows, and the lion’s whelp, and the stag’s fawn, and the human child, are looked upon with pleasure by their fathers and mothers. Thus also the Father of the universe cherishes affection toward those who have fled to Him; and having begotten them again by His Spirit to the adoption of children, knows them as gentle, and loves those alone, and aids and fights for them; and therefore He bestows on them the name of child.

—Clement of Alexandria

The Spirit Stamps God’s Image on Believers

When God sets his seal on a man’s heart by his Spirit, there is some holy stamp, some image impressed, and left upon the heart by the Spirit, as by the seal upon the wax. And this holy stamp, or impressed image, exhibiting clear evidence to the conscience that the subject of it is the child of God, is the very thing which in Scripture is called the seal of the Spirit, and the witness or evidence of the Spirit. And this mark stamped by the Spirit on God’s children is his own image. That is the evidence by which they are known to be God’s children; they have the image of their Father stamped upon their hearts by the Spirit of adoption.

—Jonathan Edwards

The Inheritance of the Christian

Talk of princes, and kings, and potentates: Their inheritance is but a pitiful foot of land, across which the bird’s wing can soon direct its flight; but the broad acres of the Christian cannot be measured by eternity. He is rich, without a limit to his wealth; he is blessed, without a boundary to his bliss.

—Charles Spurgeon

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