Saul Mateyu

The Doctrine of Adoption: Its Meaning and Relevance from an African Perspective Saul Mateyu

One of the most fundamental privileges of being a Christian is the fact of being a child of God. Through adoption, God declares believers to be His children and accepts them into the wonderful fellowship of his own family ? the church. But there are many Christians that are yet to grasp this doctrine and thus they fail to enjoy the astonishing privileges of salvation and to live worthy of the gospel. For most African Christians, one reason for this is that the idea of adoption itself barely exists in their cultures, or if it does, it carries a different meaning. This is as a result of the fact that African societies are communal and life as well as relationships is strongly built on kinship ties. This research shows how the conception of family or community in Africa obscures the idea of adoption thereby hampering the understanding and conceptualization of the biblical doctrine of spiritual adoption. Yet, as the research argues, a correct and biblical understanding of the doctrine is critical in helping Christians to fully grasp and appreciate the wonder of the gospel of salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ.