What Does It Mean to Be Adopted into God’s Family?

April 20, 2026/Le Ann Trees/Faith

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He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. — Ephesians 1:5

My mother was left in an orphanage sometime during the first year of her life in 1932. She shared with me that there was a time when she was crying in her crib at the orphanage, wanting someone to pick her up and hold her, but no one did. No baby should have to go through that. For some reason, she wasn’t allowed to be adopted until she was around nine years old.

To finally belong to a family after such a long time was wonderful for my mom. Yet, while earthly families can be filled with blessings, they are still imperfect. In the Bible we read that everyone who has new life in Christ is also adopted into God’s family, and our eternal adoption in Christ is precious, permanent, and perfect.

We are God’s precious children, and he is our Father.

Our heavenly Father is not a stern parent, waiting to catch us in something we have done wrong or something we have failed to do; rather, he loves us with an everlasting love and nothing can ever change our status as his children:

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1)

God is conforming his children to the image of his Son.

God doesn’t leave us just as we are when we are saved. The Spirit is at work within us, conforming us to the image of our Lord and Savior, and God always remains faithful to us:

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Rom. 8:29)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Cor. 3:18)

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6)

Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. (Heb. 12:9-10)

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

God wants his children to build each other up.

While earthly families are imperfect, at times filled with strife, disappointments, and much hurt, God wants us to lovingly nurture the relationships he has given us in our families as much as possible. Our church families also have struggles because we still live in a fallen world. We have new life in the Spirit but also have natures that have been corrupted by Adam’s fall in the garden of Eden. Living together in community with our eternal family, our brothers and sisters in Christ, involves dying to our sinful desires, living unto God, and growing in the fruit of the Spirit:

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Rom. 14:19)

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph. 4:16)

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Heb. 10:24-25)

God has made us co-heirs with Christ and our status is secure.

Earthly inheritances vary in size and scope, with some children inheriting nothing and others vast amounts of wealth. Earthly inheritances can also cause great strife among family members and lead people into devastating life choices, depending on how they put to use what they have received. Our heavenly inheritance as God’s children is of a size and scope that is unimaginable for us at present. Believers will inherit the kingdom of God with all the unfathomable riches of God’s grace in Christ:

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Rom. 8:16-17)

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)

So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:7)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)

The day is coming when God’s children will live forever in perfect harmony in his presence.

Now is a time of waiting for believers until the full aspects of our adoption in Christ come to fruition, including the resurrection of our bodies, which will no longer be able to sin:

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Rom. 8:23)

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (1 Cor. 15:53)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God….The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (Rev. 21: 3, 7)

In this time of our waiting, may we rest in our eternal security as God’s beloved children in Christ, may we continue to strive to grow in godliness, always seeking to image our Savior, and may we look with great eagerness for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we shall live in perfect harmony in the glorious presence of our “Abba! Father!”

This article is adapted from “Adoption in Christ: Precious, Permanent, and Perfect” in Beautiful Christian Life’s August 2023 newsletter, “Adoption into God’s Family.”