For reference, please see Romans 8:15, 23, (future adoption); Ephesians 1:5.
The Biblical concept of Adoption in the New Testament is based on the Roman aristocratic function of adoption during the first century.
In Scripture, adoption means to be recognized by God as an adult son. This is our actual position at salvation. However, experientially at salvation, we are adopted babes in Christ (1 Cor. 3:2; 1 Peter 2:2-7), without knowledge and without a strong faith.
We begin our relationship with God as newborn babes IN Christ and our diet of Bible Doctrine is “milk” until we are able to chew the meat (process and meditate upon God’s Word, and use it effectively). But over time we learn Bible Doctrine, such as “The Forty (40) Irrevocable Gifts (Assets) Of Our Salvation.”
We learn how to be filled with the spirit.
We learn how to conduct ourselves as children of God the Father.
We learn our position In Christ.
We learn by the actual experiences of living the christian life.
And we must learn under a Pastor-Teacher! By the way: Preaching is for unbelievers. Teaching is for believers. There’s a difference. If your pastor preaches instead of teaching the word verse by verse, perhaps you need to look around a bit and find a teaching church so that you may grow spiritually.
Finally (sooner for some, longer for others) the believer can reach spiritual maturity (a spiritual grown-up, if you will). Eventually therefore, the believer at maturity becomes an adult son, which means “occupation with Christ.” His adoption status as an adult son at the point of salvation is now being lived (experienced) as a mature Christian. Along with adulthood, the adopted believer is fulfilling God’s Predesigned Plan for his/her life.
The believer is operating in the grace place with maximum blessings from God, and with maximum blessing toward all those in his/her periphery. This is termed by some scholars as the “Super Grace” Life in Christ.
Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and all believers are adopted sons (adult sons — positionally in Christ and therefore heirs with Christ, in God).