At first glance, the phrase "adoption as sons" may sound sexist. Exactly the opposite is true. In many places in Paul's day, daughters didn't have the same rights of inheritance as sons. Not so with God and his children. There is no distinction in his kingdom based on gender, social position, or race (Galatians 3:26-29). We are all God's true heirs, with all the same privileges of inheritance as our first-born older brother, Christ (Romans 8:14-17). Such a statement about adoption for all Christians was generally unthinkable in a first-century world divided by so many distinctions. This break from the norms of the day was especially significant given the widespread devaluation of women and their importance. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, God makes clear that those distinctions are inappropriate. And so together, we all join with the whole of creation crying out for the day Jesus returns, and everything is changed with our full adoption and the complete redemption of our bodies. The Holy Spirit is our promise, "guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Corinthians 5:5). The Spirit's indwelling within each of us is the firstfruit assurance that the full blessing of the Spirit will come.