What does the adoption in Romans 8:23 refer to?
The adoption of Romans 8:23 is the future redemption of the believer's soul, body, and spirit. Believers groan inwardly as they wait for it, when the whole creation is delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Les teaches that the adoption in Romans 8:23 is the redemption of the believer's soul, body, and spirit. The context shows the whole creation groaning and travailing in pain until now, and believers also groaning within themselves while waiting for that adoption. When it is realized, creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God, and believers will have soul, body, and spirit in the eternal state.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
More Questions
Why do believers who have the Spirit groan within themselves in Romans 8:23?
Christians who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan within themselves while they wait for the adoption, which is the redemption of the body.