February 4th: The Doctrine of Adoption

Speaker: Duncan Wyncoll
The privilege of becoming sons of God. But are we born (again) into God’s family or adopted?

Introduction
        Adoption – A twin event with justification in the process of conversion
a.     Conception
b.     Awakening & Conviction
c.     Repentance & Faith
d.     Justification & New Birth [Adoption]
e.     Sealing [Assurance] & Sanctification

Romans 4.5-8 – a passage about Justification
‘v5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. v6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, v7. Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, & whose sins are covered (concealed/forgiven). v8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin’ – Impute: take an inventory…

There is a picture here…
v.8 – God is the great Accountant – every (sin) debt is meticulously added to my account
v.7,8 – Debt of sin is transferred to Christ’s account – ‘iniquities laid on him’
v.6 – Instead, His righteousness is transferred to my account – so we have Credit
Not just past sins v.7, but future sins v.8
1 John 1.9 – ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful & just to forgive us our sins, & to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’. Cleansed from all unrighteousness (past & future)
·         Legal transaction in Heaven’s court of justice, unseen by us…

Adoption (the twin part with justification) – this is the conscious part of conversion
·         Judge sees me as a slave
·         My spiritual parents – Satan, sin, world – have neglected me
John 8.44 - ‘Ye are of your father the devil, & the lusts of your father ye will do’ – Christ to the Pharisees… but similar for us
·         Before conversion we’re like a slave:
·         Not cared for
·         Exposed to disease
·         In great danger & abandoned to the world
·         Slave child not present in the courtroom. Declaration of ‘not guilty’ – Unseen by us
·         This is Justification – Free, undeserved, unmerited, instantaneous pardon – no repeat required – eternal consequences, transacted in heaven. [The child enters the courtroom]
·         Judge adopts me – even though he already has a large family (& @ great cost)
This is Adoption/New birth: 1st conscious experience

Ephesian 1.5 – ‘Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, [& why does he do it?] according to the good pleasure of his will’

So is it Adoption or New Birth?
·         In BCoF ch 11= Justification, Chapter 12 = Adoption
·         Adoption & New Birth are both NT pictures
·         So is it ‘Born of God’, or ‘Adopted’?
·         Both pictures used – because neither is really adequate…
·         In the world – adoption is sometimes portrayed as being ‘inferior’ to being raised with natural parents & it may go wrong…
There are some in the Church who were adopted, & it may not be their experience, but
Illus: It’s a horror to some people realising what has ‘happened’ later in life…
But, spiritual adoption is entirely different – it can never be a horror…

Romans 8.15 – ‘For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.’
·         No ordinary adoption. Abba – as a ‘vocation’
Spiritual adoption means rescue from ‘slavery of the world’ – change of family
Galatians 4.4-5 - ‘But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.’
·         No longer sin’s slave, but through adoption – becoming the willing servant of God

Both New Birth & Adoption – speak of the closeness of the parent bond
John 1.12 - ‘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’
2 Cor 6.18 - ‘Wherefore come out from among them, & be ye separate, saith the Lord, & touch not the unclean thing; & I will receive you. & will be a Father unto you, & ye shall be my sons & daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.’

What should be the Results?
1.     Love God for the 1st time ‘Abba, Father’ (Jew + Gentile. [Not Dad]).
Christ used this form of address in Gethsemane.
Mark 14.36 – ‘& he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.’
2.     Pray & pour out your heart – Free access
Illus: Young boy walks into the president or emperor’s throne room… (cf. with others)
Col 1.13 – ‘Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, & hath translated [transferred, or carried away) us into the kingdom of his dear Son’
3.     Spirit indwells, you understand the Bible – love to hear his voice & wisdom
Romans 8.4 – ‘That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’
4.     Sense of belonging – the family bond. No halfway position…
5.     Assurance
Romans 8.15,16 – ‘For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.’ 
6.     New family likeness – changed interests
‘Like father, like son’ – new responsibilities… 
7.     No longer troubled by sin – dominion broken

And what does God do for his part?
1.     Commits himself to raising us for life – ‘Cares for us’. 1 Peter 5.7 – ‘Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you’  [Careth = interest/concern]
2.     Pities us – compassionate & caring love, deep concern. Psalm 103.13 – ‘Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.’  [Pitieth = great love & compassion].
3.     Provides for us – all essentials we need (not necessarily what we want)
4.     Guides us – rules to obey & instructions to keep. Phil 4.4-8, 1 Cor 6.12 & 10.23
5.     Educates & trains us – by the spirit dealing with us through the word – intimations
6.     Disciplines us. Hebrews 12.6 – ‘For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, & scourgeth every son whom he receiveth’
7.     Protects us throughout life. Proverbs 14.26 – ‘In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: & his children shall have a place of refuge’
8.     Makes us heirs of God. Romans 8.17 – ‘& if children, then heirs; heirs of God, & joint-heirs with Christ’

Lessons/Applications
1.     Can’t be justified, but not adopted (i.e. be justified but not changed in nature)
o    Lordship of Christ debate. (we are co-heirs)
BCoF – ‘God has guaranteed that in Christ… all those who are justified shall be made partakers (sharers) of the grace of adoption’
o    No adoption; then there’s been no justification
Illustration: Some speak of Christ as an insurance policy
o    Even to a worldling, justification & free pardon – is an attractive hand-out
o    In Luther’s day, gave rise to licence

2.     Cannot be lost (Eternal Security)
o    God does not turn back on His promise of ‘life commitment’
o    New Birth picture – we can never not be God’s son or daughter
o    A right to claim the promises of God
o    Reminds us of the Eternal/Everlasting Inheritance

3.     Sanctification
o    Act, behave, dress, speak like we are the King’s Son/daughter
o    Behave as Ambassadors of Him

4.     We bear the family name
o    Speak of him – ‘tell all’ you are a believer

Conclusion
Adoption is an act of God’s free grace whereby we are received into the number, & have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God
1 John 1.1,2 – ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, & it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is’