To properly answer that question, we must first consider God’s adoption of Christians. We find this concept over and over in the Bible, the concept that God has adopted us and we are His children. Galatians 4 is one such passage that speaks on this subject. We learn in verses 4-5 that God sent His Son so that we might receive the adoptions as sons.

Adoption is the best thing that has happened to Christians. When we were adopted, we became heirs of eternal life, and we no longer were slaves to sin and subject to death. In Romans 8:13-17, we are again taught that we are sons, so much so that we cry out to God, “Abba! Father!”  God took people who were enslaved to sin, freed them from their debt, and adopted them into His family. This is the only way a person can have eternal life. They cannot earn it or buy it. It comes from being adopted by God. A person is adopted and becomes part of God’s family when that person hears the Gospel, repents of his or her sins, and trusts in Christ alone for righteousness. Believers have been adopted by God’s grace through faith. Meditating on our adoption is important for all Christians.

Our spiritual adoption should guide our views of earthly adoption. The ultimate goal of an adopting Christian family should be the glory of Christ. This is also true when a Christian family begins to have biological children. Happiness is involved, but it is not the chief end. Families should have children, whether biological or adopted, for the glory of God. We adopt because we love God, and we want to see His name exalted by our family. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB).

It is also important to remember that adoption is a life-long covenant. We see this example in Scripture with God’s adoption of Christians. It is forever. There is no exception clause. Jesus will never forsake those whom the Father Has given Him.

So why do Christians adopt?

Christians adopt because they were adopted, and the Lord is calling them to that ministry (that calling might be in the form of infertility, friends the Lord brings across someone’s path, a sermon, or any host of other possibilities). We draw our ideas of adoption from the Word of God, not from the world around us. Adoption is not the process where we order a perfect child for our perfect family. No, adoption is a costly, complex, emotional journey in which a child whom God has meant for a particular family from before the foundation of the world comes home. Adoptive parents will spend their lives pointing their children to eternity. They will pray that God will open their eyes to His truth, and they will equip them to know Christ with every parental asset they have. They do this because they are their children. They are the ones whom God has entrusted to their parental care.

When a family adopts, they do not have “their” children and their “adopted” children. We must remember God is sovereign. He intended adopted children to be in the family that adopts them the same as children who come biologically. A different method, but the same outcome – a family is formed. Christians, regardless of race, ethnic group, or nationality, are in every sense equally God’s children, forever.

John Piper, an adoptive father himself, has preached several  thought provoking sermons on adoption. I would commend them to your reading/listening. You can listen to and read one here.