God Our Saviour: 8

Doctrine of the Cross

Adoption

A legal term

Heavenly Sonship and Earthly Sonship — Blessings, Gifts and Rewards

The First Principles of the Oracles of God

  • •Regeneration is Salvation.
  • •Justification deals with our “Standing.”
Adoption is a legal term that means when a man makes someone else’s son his son legally, and makes him equal to his own children with all legal rights to heir-ship.

Adoption — when planned

Ephesians 1:3–5 “…before the foundation of the world…;” cf. 2:6 “…in heavenly places…;” cf. Galatians 4:1–7; Romans 8:17; Isaiah 53:12.

—Example of Adoption

Exodus 2:10 cf. Hebrews 11:24–25 “…choosing rather to suffer affliction with…;” Romans 9:11 cf. 11:5 “…election of grace…”

Adoption — established at salvation

1 John 3:1–3 “…the sons of God…” cf. Galatians 3:26; John 1:12; cf. Romans 8:22, 23 “…ourselves also, which have…”

Side note: Positional — Sanctification. Scripture teaches “Salvation”; “…delivered…, and deliverance”; “…sealed unto…”. Now the “…waiting for the adoption…” is Christian Maturity, which is Progressive — Ephesians 4:13 “…unto a perfect man, unto the measure of…” — then v.23, Complete Sanctification / Glorification: “…to wit, the Redemption of our body.” (Romans 13:10–12, again Progressive: “…salvation nearer…;” “…than when we believed…” — past tense.)

Adoption — ten blessings of

  • 1)Made objects of God’s special Love — God loves us as much as he loves Jesus. John 17:23 “…hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
  • 2)Made objects of his Fatherly care. Luke 12:27–33 “…your Father knoweth that ye have need…”
  • 3)We have the Family name. 1 John 3:1; Ephesians 3:15 “…hath bestowed…” (past tense), “…we should be called the sons of God…” (progressive); “…of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…”
  • 4)We received a Family likeness. Romans 8:29 “…for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed…”
  • 5)We receive the family Love. John 13:35; 1 John 3:14 “…have love one to another…” “…we love the brethren…” (the righteousness of the brethren cf. v.9, 10)
  • 6)We have the right to call God our Father. Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6 “…Abba…” (affectionate cry)
  • 7)The Privilege of serving in God’s Family (also Deity verse). John 14:23 “…he will keep my words…”
  • 8)The Privilege of receiving Fatherly Chastisement. Hebrews 12:5–8, 11 “…endure chastening; God dealeth with you as with sons…”
  • 9)We receive Fatherly comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3–6 “…the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
  • 10)We get the blessing of inheritance. 1 Peter 1:3–5; Romans 8:16, 17 “…an inheritance…, …who are kept by…”

Adoption — nine blessings of Ephesians 1:4–14

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
  • 1.v.4 — chosen us: saints
  • 2.v.5 — adopted into family: children
  • 3.v.6 — bestowed his grace on us: hath made us
  • 4.v.7 — redeemed us: “redemption through his blood…according to the riches of his grace”
  • 5.v.8, 9 — gave us wisdom and insight into his future plan: “…hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us…”
  • 6.v.10 — we Christians receive universal Reconciliation: “…gather together in one all things in Christ…”
  • 7.v.11 — we are made God’s treasure-inheritance: “…have obtained an inheritance…”
  • 8.v.13 — have been granted the Holy Spirit: “…were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise…”
  • 9.v.14 — we are assured of salvation: “…is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession…”

Adoption — five evidences of Sonship

  • 1)An adopted child is led by the Spirit of God. cf. Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:18, 22–24
  • 2)We have Confidence in God. cf. Galatians 4:4–6; Philippians 1:6
  • 3)We have the Liberty of Access to God. cf. Ephesians 3:11, 12; Hebrews 4:15, 16
  • 4)We have Love for the brethren. cf. 1 John 2:10; 3:14; chapter 4
  • 5)We have obedience to God. cf. 1 John 5:1–3

What do you think of Christ, is the test?

To find your State and your Stand.

You cannot be right in the rest, until you think rightly

“The Son of Man”

Doctrine of the Cross of Christ — Acts 20:32 · 2 Timothy 2:2 · Romans 12:1, 2 — “Martyred Lifestyle”

God’s Judicial Machinery Imputation The Word of God (printable)