The Spirit Of AdoptionSample

As I mentioned earlier, the English word adoption in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word huiothesia. It is a compound word formed of huios—"son," and thesis—"to place." Thus it meant "the placing of an adult son" and refers to the formal act of recognizing the maturity of an adult son. The word is found in five New Testament passages: Rom. 8:15, 23:9:4; Gal. 4:5; and Eph. 1:5.

In Greek secular writings this word was often used in the same sense that we use the English word "adoption;" i.e., to take one who was not by nature of one's family, and to legally receive and treat him as a born child. This was not an uncommon practice in the ancient world although there is no evidence that this was ever practiced among the Jews in their own land. However, many of them became familiar with this practice through their contact with other nations, and the infant Moses was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter (Ex. 2:10), and Mordecai adopted his cousin Esther (Esther 2:7).

The new-born baby in Greek is referred to as brephos, as in "the babe (brephos), lying in a manger...". The word sometimes refers to the foetus, as in "...the babe (brephos) leapt in her womb...". The Christian believer is also called in Greek by another name, teknon, a child which is growing up but which is still under parental care. 

Hence John 1:12, "...to them gave He power to become the sons (teknon) of God." But the believer is also in union with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is called huios, "an adult son". So, in union with Him, we are said to be adult sons also, although we may be brephos or teknon by experience.

Remember: AS AN ADOPTED SON IN GOD’S FAMILY YOU HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO UNION WITH HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON AND THEREFORE ALL THAT IS HIS IS NOW YOURS AS WELL!