What does adoption really mean when it speaks of being placed as a son?
Adoption means being placed as a full son—not merely one born into the family or legally taken from another—after preparation and tutoring, now a full partner with the Father. At salvation, God not only births believers into His family but immediately places them as full heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
Les explains that in this context adoption is not merely being born into a family or legally taken from another family. It means a son who has gone through the training years, been prepared and tutored, is now placed as a full son and full partner with the Father. At salvation, believers are born into the family of God by the Holy Spirit, but God also performs another act that places them as full heirs. They do not have to work or strive for twenty years like Jacob did for his wives; this position comes the moment they believe, so they can say Abba Father as in verse 15. If they are children, they are heirs—not merely distant heirs hoping for a small inheritance, but joint heirs with Christ. Les points out that joint heir implies equality: what is His is hers, and vice versa.