3 Things the Bible Says About Adoption

What does the Bible say about adoption? The theme of adoption is woven throughout Scripture, serving to not only strengthen our faith but to also encourage us as we press into the needs of waiting children around the world. We’ve talked about what the Bible says about orphans and how Scripture encourages us to address their needs; now here are three more verses that remind us of how adoption has been woven into our own unique stories.

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

The nature of the gospel is clear. Through his will, God has set his radical love on us through the sacrifice of his own son before we breathed our first breath. What a marvel of God’s love on our behalf!

2. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” — Galatians 4:4-7

Apart from Christ, we are isolated from the love and mercy of our Father. But through the cross, we have been adopted into God’s family, receiving all the benefits and blessings as his children. Moreover, we are also full heirs of God’s rich inheritance, overflowing from his grace, mercy, and love. As a natural response to the lavish love we have been given, we press into the needs of others as we join together to help restore the hope of a permanent family to waiting children around the world.

3. “Whoever receives one such child in my name, receives me.” — Matthew 18:5

As we begin to gain a larger understanding of all we have been given through our own adoption into God’s family, we see our calling to love and become like children more clearly. When Christ tells his disciples, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 18:4), he is giving us a clear picture of what it looks like to love God with the best parts of ourselves. Through the miracle of adoption, we see not only how we are loved by our Father but how we can also give ourselves to love others.

As these verses stir your heart toward the beauty of adoption, consider the ways God is calling you to care for orphans. Everyone can do something, and whether you feel called to grow your family through adoption or support those who wish to do so, we would love to help you discover ways you can join us in reducing barriers to adoption standing between waiting children and loving families!

Want to learn more about adoption? A great place to start is our resource, HowToAdopt.org.