The Epiousios — ἐπιούσιος, the “daily” of “give us this day our daily bread”. It stands in and , and nowhere else in Scripture.
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υἱοθεσία (huiothesia) — Noun
The placement as a son; adoption with full legal standing.
More on υἱοθεσία · G5206 →The Spirit Itself Beareth Witness
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
(KJV)
The next verse supplies a second witness alongside our own, which is what a legal adoption required.
Power to Become the Sons of GodNew Testament
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
(KJV)
John states the right conferred, and attaches it to receiving Him rather than to descent or effort.
Israel Is My Son, Even My FirstbornOld Testament
“And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:”
(KJV)
The Spirit of adoption is not God learning to speak this way. He said it to Pharaoh about a nation of slaves long before He said it to anyone about a person.
Notice the next time you approach God bracing for dismissal, and answer it with the legal fact of your adoption rather than with a better performance.
Passage:
Focus: Notice that adoption appears twice in this passage, once as already received and once as still awaited, and see what the second one concerns.
Ask yourself: When you come to God after failing, do you arrive as a child or as a defendant? Watch your first sentence the next time it happens.
Abba, Father, I have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the Spirit of adoption. Silence my slave fears today by that same Holy Spirit and let me rest as a child. In the name of the Lord Jesus, through whom I am made an heir. Amen.