Dict: easton - Adoption

Adoption @ the giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth.

(1.) Natural. Thus Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses kjv@Exodus:2:10), and Mordecai Esther kjv@Esther:2:7).

(2.) National. God adopted Israel kjv@Exodus:4:22; kjv@Deuteronomy:7:6; kjv@Hosea:11:1; kjv@Romans:9:4).

(3.) Spiritual. An act of God's grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers of all the blessings he has provided for them. Adoption represents the new relations into which the believer is introduced by justification, and the privileges connected therewith, viz., an interest in God's peculiar love kjv@John:17:23; kjv@Romans:5:5-8), a spiritual nature ( kjv@2Peter:1:4; kjv@John:1:13), the possession of a spirit becoming children of God ( kjv@1Peter:1:14; kjv@2John:4; Romans:8:15-21; kjv@Galatians:5:1; kjv@Hebrews:2:15), present protection, consolation, supplies kjv@Luke:12:27-32; kjv@John:14:18; kjv@1Corinthians:3:21-23; kjv@2Corinthians:1:4), fatherly chastisements kjv@Hebrews:12:5-11), and a future glorious inheritance kjv@Romans:8:17 kjv@Romans:8:23 kjv@James:2:5; kjv@Philippians:3:21).