Tag Archives: Adoption

Understanding adopting grace will protect us from the enchantment of legalism. This is the lesson we learned from Paul as he addressed the distortions of the gospel caused by false teaching in Galatia. Paul responded to the error of legalism by reminding the Galatians of God’s gracious activity. Paul reminded them that their relationship with God was the result of God’s initiative. Paul writes about this in Galatians 4:4–5: But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth…

Every time I hear about adopting families, I am moved. I often wonder what that transition is like for these children. For many, the orphanage is the only home they know and most cannot imagine the home that is prepared for them. Like adopted children, we can tend to reach back to what is familiar rather than reaching toward what we are promised in Scripture. We are vulnerable to the subtle temptation of legalism. And this temptation has everything to do with our spiritual adoption….

As I mentioned in the last post, one way to appreciate the doctrine of God’s adopting love is to read stories of sacrifice and love displayed in human adoption. One of the most compelling adoption stories I have read was written by my friend Russell Moore in his book, Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches (Crossway, 2009). Listen to their moving story in Moore’s own words (pp. 25–26, 43–44): “So, are they brothers?” the…

My decades of pastoral ministry have been filled with countless joys. Among my happiest memories are the times parents introduced me to their newly adopted children. So many churches are filled with stories of parents willing to travel to distant lands, to invest thousands of dollars, and sometimes to enter dangerous and impoverished countries with one purpose in mind: to adopt a child. Meeting these children was a unique joy. Each time I met these adopted children, I felt God’s pleasure. Each time…