Dynamic Doctrines of the Faith

Topic #8: Adoption (Part 2)

1JN 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

JN 1:12–13. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Q: Is everyone a child of God?

Q: The Bible teaches the universal _______________hood of man, not the universal _________________hood of man.

Q: What do we have to do to be adopted? How do we do that? Whose work is it?

Q: Why is this so unpopular?

 

GAL 4:4–7. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Q: What does it benefit us to be adopted? What rights do we inherit?

Q: Are the prayers of believers special to God, compared to the prayers of unbelievers?

 

HEB 2:11. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren

Q: Is there a difference between Jesus’ sonship and ours?

Q: Is there a difference between how the Father treats His Son and how He treats His sons and daughters?

 

Westminster Confession of Faith

Chapter XII. Of Adoption

 

All those that are justified, God vouchsafes, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption [EPH 1:5, GAL 4:4], by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God,[ROM 8:17; JOH 1:12] have His name put upon them [JER 14:9; 2CO 6:18; REV 3:12], receive the spirit of adoption, [ROM 8:15] have access to the throne of grace with boldness, [EPH 3:12; ROM 5:2] are enabled to cry, Abba, Father,[GAL 4:6] are pitied, [PSA 103:13] protected,[PRO 14:26] provided for, [MAT 6:30; 1PE 5:7] and chastened by Him as by a Father: [HEB 12:6] yet never cast off, [LAM 3:31] but sealed to the day of redemption; [EPH 4:30] and inherit the promises, [HEB 6:12] as heirs of everlasting salvation. [1PE 1:3; HEB 1:14]

Q: With what is adoption linked?

Q: Why does the Father do this?

Q: What are the benefits? List them: