Are We Adopted, or Born Again?
From Peter….
Are we adopted or [are we] born again? There is a difference between being born into a family and being adopted into one. How should I understand this biblically?
Jesus answered and said unto him, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Unless a man is born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
…to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5)
Peter, the answer is found in understanding the overwhelming description of the privileges and status of the believer in Jesus Christ.
By “believer,” I don’t mean someone who just believes that Jesus Christ existed, or was a good man, or a prophet, or even simply that Jesus died and rose again. The New Testament idea of a “believer” is someone who trusts in, relies on, and clings to who Jesus is and what He did to rescue His people, especially what He did in His sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection.
That being said, believers, Christians, are described by the New Testament in an overwhelming number of ways and these are not contradictory, but complimentary. As those who have put our faith, our trust, in Jesus Christ, we are… (following is a 32-point, incomplete list):
- Justified (Romans 5:1)
- Righteous (Philippians 3:8-9)
- Crucified (Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20)
- Dead (Romans 6:8)
- Buried (Romans 6:4)
- Raised to New Life (Colossians 3:1, Romans 8:4)
- Ascended, Seated in Heavenly Places (Ephesians 2:6)
- Forgiven (Colossians 2:13)
- Reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:18, Romans 5:10)
- Redeemed (Colossians 1:14)
- Brought Near (Ephesians 2:13
- Given Access (Ephesians 2:18)
- Born Again (1 Peter 1:23)
- Sons of God (1 John 3:2)
- New Creations (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- Adopted (Romans 8:15)
- Heirs (Galatians 4:7)
- Elect (Romans 8:33, 1 Peter 1:2)
- Sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:30)
- Made Perfect (Hebrews 10:14)
- Accepted (Ephesians 1:6)
- Complete (Colossians 2:10)
- His Bride (2 Corinthians 11:2)
- His Inheritance (Ephesians 1:18)
- His Possession (Ephesians 1:14)
- Born of the Spirit (John 3:6)
- Baptized with the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13)
- Indwelt with the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Corinthians 1:21, Galatians 4:6)
- Sealed with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14)
- Citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20, Ephesians 2:19, Hebrews 12:22)
- Members of God’s Household (Ephesians 2:19)
- Possessors of Heavenly Inheritance (1 Peter 1:4-5, Ephesians 1:14, Colossians 3:24)
Again, all of these are complimentary – not contradictory. So, to ask “are we born again, or are we adopted?” assumes that the two ideas contradict each other. They don’t.
- We are born again into God’s family, born from above.
- We are also adopted into God’s family.
There may be an important and interesting idea behind the idea of adoption.
- The Roman concept of adoption was strong – and adopted son was just as much as son as a natural born one.
- This may have special relevance to believers from a Gentile background, to assure them that they were in some sense “outsiders,” they were not less in the kingdom in any sense.
So, the ideas of “born again” and “adopted” are both true, and each communicate something important about what God grants to the believer.