New Identity in Christ through Spiritual Adoption
Spiritual adoption is a theological concept describing God's gracious act of bringing believers into His redeemed family, granting them the name, place, and privileges of a son or daughter, even though they are not such by birth [1]. This concept is central to understanding the new identity believers receive in Christ.
The Apostle Paul frequently uses the term "adoption" (Greek huiothesia) to describe the present and future privileges of Christians, particularly in Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians [2]. He likely alludes to the Roman custom where a person without natural children could adopt someone else's child, establishing a relationship that was, in all legal and social aspects, identical to that of a natural father and son [2]. This imagery highlights the intimate relationship believers gain with God [2].
Scripture teaches that this adoption is a result of God's grace [3]. Ephesians 1:5 states that God "predestined us to adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" [4]. This act is connected with the new birth [3] and is made possible through Christ [3]. Believers receive the "spirit of adoption," which assures them of the remission of sins and incorporation into God's family [8]. The Holy Spirit serves as a witness to this adoption, and being led by the Spirit is evidence of it [3].
This new identity in Christ signifies a profound transformation. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" [5, 6]. This transformation is often linked to baptism, where believers are "baptized into Christ" and "put on Christ" [7, 10, 12]. To "put on Christ" means to assume His person and character, receiving His Spirit and entering into His interests [7]. It is like putting on new clothes, signifying a new identity where Christ covers the believer [12]. This spiritual union with Christ means believers are joined to Him in both life and death [11].
The concept of a new nature or identity is contrasted with the "old sinful nature" [13]. Just as physical circumcision marked initiation into the people of God for Jewish boys, spiritual conversion to Christ involves a "spiritual circumcision"—the cutting away of one's sinful nature [9]. Believers are called to strip off their old life and put on Christ's new life, allowing Him to be Lord and guide their way of living [13].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Adoption — The giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth. (1.) Natural. Thus Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses (Ex. 2:10), and Mordecai Esther (Esther 2:7). (2.) National. God adopted Israel (Ex. 4:22; Deut. 7:6; Hos. 11:1; Rom. 9:4). (3.) Spiritual. An act of God's grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers of all the blessings he has provided for them. Adoption represents the new relations into which the believer is introduced by justification, and the privileges connecte”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Adoption — an expression used by St. Paul in reference to the present and prospective privileges of Christians. (Romans 8:15,23; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5) He probably alludes to the Roman custom by which a person not having children of his own might adopt as his son one born of other parents. The relationship was to all intents and purposes the same as existed between a natural father and son. The term is used figuratively to show the close relationship to God of the Christian. (Galatians 4:4,5; Romans 8:14-17) He is received into God's family from the world, and ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Adoption — Explained -- 2Co 6:18. Is according to promise -- Ro 9:8; Ga 3:29. Is by faith -- Ga 3:7,26. Is of God's grace -- Eze 16:3-6; Ro 4:16,17; Eph 1:5,6,11. Is through Christ -- Joh 1:12; Ga 4:4,5; Eph 1:5; Heb 2:10,13. Saints predestinated to -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:5,11. Of Gentiles, predicted -- Ho 2:23; Ro 9:24-26; Eph 3:6. The Adopted are gathered together in one by Christ -- Joh 11:52. New birth connected with -- Joh 1:12,13. The Holy Spirit is a Witness of -- Ro 8:16. Being led by the Spirit is an evidence of -- Ro 8:14. Saints receive the Spirit of -- Ro 8:15”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 1:5 (LITV) — predestinating us to adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”
- King James Version “[KJV] 2 Corinthians 5:17 — Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 5:17 (ASV) — Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 3:27: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ - All of you who have believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and received baptism as a public proof that ye had received Christ as your Lord and Savior, have put on Christ - have received his Spirit, and entered into his interests, and copied his manners. To put on, or to be clothed with one, is to assume the person and character of that one; and they who do so are bound to act his part, and to sustain the character which they have assumed. The profession of Christianity is an assumption of the character of Ch”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 3:3: Having begun in the Spirit - Having received a spiritual religion, which refined and purified your hearts; and having received the Holy Spirit of God, by which ye were endued with various miraculous influences; and the spirit of adoption, by which he were assured of the remission of sins, and incorporation with the family of God: Are ye now made perfect by the flesh? - Are ye seeking to complete that spiritual religion, and to perfect these spiritual gifts, by the carnal rite of circumcision? It appears that by the Spirit, here, not only the Holy Spirit, but his g”
- Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 2:11: 2:11 Christ performed a spiritual circumcision: Spiritual conversion to Christ is the Christian counterpart to physical circumcision. • the cutting away of your sinful nature (literally the cutting away of the body of the flesh): Just as Jewish boys have the flesh of their foreskin cut off to mark their initiation into the people of God, so believers have metaphorical flesh (translated sinful nature) cut off when they come to Christ.”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:27: baptized into Christ-- (Rom 6:3). have put on Christ--Ye did, in that very act of being baptized into Christ, put on, or clothe yourselves with, Christ: so the Greek expresses. Christ is to you the toga virilis (the Roman garment of the full-grown man, assumed when ceasing to be a child) [BENGEL]. GATAKER defines a Christian, "One who has put on Christ." The argument is, By baptism ye have put on Christ; and therefore, He being the Son of God, ye become sons by adoption, by virtue of His Sonship by generation. This proves that baptism, where it an”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 3:27: 3:27 united with Christ in baptism: See Rom 6:3-4. Baptism represents death of an old life and birth into a new one. In the new life, the law’s curse no longer has any force (cp. Rom 7:1-6). • have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes: Christ covers us and gives us a new identity. Cp. Col 3:12; 1 Thes 5:8.”
- Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”