In Paul's letters, 'adoption' is not modern legal adoption; it is the Greco-Roman act of placing a trained, mature son into full heirdom as a partner with his father.
Paul borrows the term from Greek and Roman culture, where the eldest son was put under tutors until his education was complete, then formally adopted into his full position beside the father. In the same way, the moment a believer is saved, God places that believer as a full adult son and joint heir with Jesus Christ. There is no waiting period or trial work required to earn the position.
Romans 8:15 — This verse is the central passage where Paul says believers have not received a spirit of bondage but the Spirit of adoption, crying 'Abba, Father.'
Galatians 4:1-2 — This passage explains the cultural background of adoption: a child heir is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by his father.
Ephesians 1:5 — This verse states that God predestinated believers unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ.
In Romans 8:15, Paul writes, '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.' The next verse says the Spirit itself 'beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.' Verse 17 continues: 'And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.' Galatians 4:1-2 describes the condition of an heir: 'Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.' Ephesians 1:5 also says God has 'predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.'
Les Feldick explains that Paul uses 'adoption' in the sense of the Greek and Roman practice of raising a natural-born son under tutors until he is fully educated. At the appointed time, the family performs the 'rites of adoption' that place that child as a full son, equal partner, and heir with the father. This is not the modern idea of legally taking a child from another family into yours. Les applies this to the believer: the moment a person believes, they are born into God's family, and God immediately places them in the position of a full-grown, mature son — not someone who must serve a period of training or apprenticeship. This is why Romans 8:15 says believers have received the Spirit of adoption, crying 'Abba, Father,' and why Romans 8:17 says they are joint heirs with Christ. As Les puts it, believers don't have to strive or strain to attain the position; it is given the moment they believe.
In the Roman and Greek culture that Paul describes, a natural-born son was placed under tutors and governors from childhood. Galatians 4:1-2 shows he had no more rights than a servant until the time appointed by his father. When the son was fully educated and ready to take on responsibility, the family performed the rites of adoption. This ceremony placed him as a full son and a partner with the father — in a business context, he would step in side by side with the father on an equal level.
Paul applies this picture to salvation. Les explains that the moment we become believers we are not only born into God's family, but are also placed immediately as full heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:16-17). There is no waiting, no working, and no twenty years of struggle. The Spirit of adoption enables the believer to cry 'Abba, Father,' confirming the relationship. As joint heirs with Christ, believers have equality in the inheritance.
Modern adoption brings a child born to other parents into a new family through a legal process. Paul's adoption is entirely different: it is about a natural-born child who, after years of training, is formally recognized as a mature heir. In the Greek and Roman world, the ceremony of adoption was the father's public declaration that this child was ready to take his place as a full son and partner. For believers, this means that God is not merely bringing outsiders into His family; He is taking those who are already His children and giving them the standing of mature, trusted heirs.
What Happens the Moment You're Saved? Colossians 1 Explained
Philippians chapter 3, verse 20. Oh, just another backup to say the same thing. Philippians chapter 3, verse 20. Our citizenship is in Heaven. You don't feel like you're a citizen of Heaven, do you? You're pretty much on terra firma. But by faith, you and I know that we are already citizens of Heaven, because that's what the book says.
Paul's Greek/Roman Definition of Adoption
Les explains that Paul's word 'adoption' refers to the Greek and Roman practice of putting the eldest son under tutors until he is fully educated and can step in side-by-side with the father — not to taking a child from another family.
Adoption in Ephesians 1:5
Les connects Ephesians 1:5's phrase 'adoption of children' to the Roman/Greek practice of training a natural-born child and then placing him at an equal level with the father.
Adoption as Full Sonship
At the father's appointed time, the trained son goes through the rites of adoption and is placed as a full son and full partner — and believers receive that status at the moment of salvation.
Spirit of Adoption and Joint Heirs
Les applies Romans 8:15-17 to believers: receiving the Spirit of adoption means being placed as complete mature sons, and because we are children we are joint heirs with Christ.
Immediate Placement, No Training Years
Les contrasts the Hebrew Bar Mitzvah with Greek/Roman adoption, and emphasizes that believers are immediately placed as heirs with the Father and the Son without years of tutoring.
Galatians 4's Heir Under Tutors
Les points to Galatians 4:1-2 to show that, in the Roman world, an heir as a child had no more rights than a servant and was under tutors until the father appointed the time of maturity.
A Second Act Places Believers as Full Heirs
Les says that at salvation believers are born into God's family, but there is another act of God placing them as full heirs — joint heir implies equality with Christ.
Romans 8:15: 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.
This is the key verse where Paul names the 'spirit of adoption' and connects it to the believer's cry of 'Abba, Father.'
Romans 8:16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
The Spirit confirms that believers truly are God's children.
Romans 8:17: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Being children of God makes believers heirs and joint heirs with Christ.
Galatians 4:1-2: Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
This passage describes the cultural practice of a child heir being under tutors until his father's appointed time.
Ephesians 1:5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
This verse directly uses the word 'adoption' in relation to believers and God's plan through Jesus Christ.
No. Les explains that Paul uses the Greek and Roman practice of putting a natural-born son under tutors until he is educated, and then performing the rites of adoption to place him as a full heir. It does not mean taking a child from another family and legally bringing him in.
The Spirit of adoption is what a believer receives at salvation. In place of a spirit of bondage and fear, God gives His Spirit so that believers can cry 'Abba, Father.' Les says this places believers in a relationship with God as complete mature sons.
At the moment of salvation. Les teaches that the instant a person believes, God places him as a full heir with Jesus Christ. There is no period of tutoring or working to earn the position, and believers are called joint heirs with Christ.
Les describes it as a second act of God at salvation: being born into God's family is one thing, but God also places the believer as a full heir. Both happen at the moment of saving faith.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens the Moment You're Saved? Colossians 1 Explained