What does it mean that believers are placed as complete heirs with the Father through the Spirit of Adoption?
Through the Spirit of Adoption, God places believers as complete heirs with the Father. The Spirit bears witness with their spirit that they are children of God; if children, then heirs, and joint heirs with Christ. This joint heirship means everything that is Christ's will one day be theirs, as declared at salvation.
Les teaches that Paul says believers have been placed through the Spirit of Adoption as a complete heir with the Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God—present tense. If children, then heirs; if heirs of God, then joint heirs with Christ. Les emphasizes that the average believer has no hint of this: at the moment of salvation, the moment one believed, God declared that person a full son of the Father and a joint heir with Christ. Les says this is beyond comprehension. He explains joint heirship in legal terms: for a husband and wife to be joint heirs, what is his is hers and vice versa; they are co-equal. That means one day everything that is Christ's will be ours—everything that is His will be ours. Les adds, "But the Book says it."
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
More Questions
What did Paul mean by the word 'adoption'?
When Paul uses 'adoption,' he does not mean what our culture means by legally adopting a child born to someone else; he means the Greek and Roman practice in which the eldest son was placed under tutors, completely under their control, until he was fully educated and could step in beside his father.
What does adoption mean in the Bible according to Paul?
The word 'adoption' as Paul uses it does not mean adopting a child born to someone else into a family, but refers to the Greek and Roman practice of placing the eldest son under tutors until he is fully educated and can stand side by side with his father.