“What Does Paul Mean by ‘the Spirit of Adoption’?,” Liahona, Aug. 2023.
Come, Follow Me
What Does Paul Mean by “the Spirit of Adoption”?
A Family Shares, by Dick Wahl, © Lifeway Collection / licensed from GoodSalt.com
As children of God, we have a divine nature, but we have been born into a fallen world. We are captive to sin. The Apostle Paul calls this “the spirit of bondage” (Romans 8:15). Mercifully, God provides a way out for us. When we make covenants with Him, we are freed from the spirit of bondage and receive “the Spirit of adoption” (Romans 8:15).
The Spirit of Adoption
In Paul’s day, adoption referred to naming someone outside of the family to be an heir. The adopted person would then join the new household, take on a new name, and receive an inheritance.
Paul uses the phrase “the Spirit of adoption” as an analogy for God’s covenant people. When we make covenants with God, we take on Christ’s name. Through our covenants, we become more than His children. We receive the “Spirit of adoption” and become His heirs. If we remain worthy, we will inherit all that God has (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:38).