Calvary Road Baptist Church
“INTRODUCING ADOPTION INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD”
I want to bring you what I believe will become a series of messages from God’s Word on adoption. God most recently began to stir my heart about this matter of adoption in stages, and I was surprised when reviewing my records of how infrequently I have preached the doctrine.
I recently spent a few minutes reviewing my sermons, and Bible studies over the decades. Of course, I saw that I had preached the Gospel thousands of times, pointedly preaching about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, the Trinity, the Gospel, the topic of salvation, and the Second Coming of Christ innumerable times.
I brought you specific sermons about grace nine times, perseverance six times, justification fourteen times, election twenty-three times, faith twenty-eight times, the resurrection thirteen times, and repentance nine times. This is not counting the occasions in which comments and sub-points elaborated these doctrines.
I could not figure out how many sermons I have delivered on God’s wrath, Hell, and the lake of fire. But I have only presented sermons devoted to the doctrine of adoption three times to you. The first occasion was that memorable Sunday morning following our baby girl’s arrival into our home, Sarah.
I intend to remedy that deficiency. When I was in Nepal for the annual Bible conference last November, I preached a series of messages requested of me by Samuel Rai related to the Puritan Thomas Watson’s classic work, A Body Of Divinity, a collection of sermons explaining the Westminster Assembly’s catechism.[1]
Watson is so observant, so profound are his insights, that I typically read less than a page from A Body Of Divinity each day, with a period of reflection devoted to each portion of his insightful comments. Books like that should never be read only once, so I have begun again, including that book in my daily devotions since returning from that trip. It is an enriching exercise.
Upon arriving at Watson’s chapter on adoption, I was surprised by finding myself on less-than-familiar terrain. And when I reviewed the sermons on adoption I brought you, I understood why. So, I am excited to announce that we will investigate the Biblical doctrine of adoption more thoroughly, using the great Puritan Thomas Watson as our primary (but not our only) advisor and mentor during our inquiry into Bible truths related to adoption.
Granting that the Greek word for adoption is not the only means by which God communicates the concept of adoption, just as the concept of God’s Triune nature is shown throughout the Bible without there being a Hebrew or Greek counterpart to our English word Trinity, we are still well-served by being aware of the five places Paul. Only the Apostle Paul, among human writers of Scripture, used the Greek word for adoption, uἱoqέsia.
The word is a technical term for the ‘adoption’ of children. The term appears outside the New Testament in Greek literature as early as the second century B.C. (but not occurring in the LXX).[2] Without a corresponding Hebrew term, we see the concept in the Old Testament, with the adoption of Moses by Pharaoh’s daughter in the Book of Exodus and Mordecai’s adoption of Hadassah in the Book of Esther.
Paul uses the term in a narrow sense, confining it only to establishing a family relationship between God and individuals, with the full enjoyment of the adoption experienced only at the resurrection, when the time of fulfillment releases us who are adopted from out earthly bodies.[3]
Read along with me the five places in Paul’s epistles the word for adoption was used:
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.”
Romans 8.23:
“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
Romans 9.4:
“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.”
Galatians 4.5:
“To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
Ephesians 1.5:
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
Although Romans 9.4, Galatians 4.5, and Ephesians 1.5 seem to explicitly refer to the adoption of Jewish believers in Christ, Romans 8.15 and 23 certainly include Gentile believers among the adopted. Other allusions to adoption undoubtedly include Gentile believers in Jesus among those who are adopted into the family of God.
Thus, not only has the Savior broken down the middle wall of partition so that Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ might publicly worship together in the gathering of the assembly, Ephesians 2.14, “that he might reconcile both unto God in one body,” Ephesians 2.16, but we are also brought together as sons of God into His family.
Since this is an introductory message, I will set before you three basic considerations:
First, WHAT ADOPTION IS
“Adoption is an act of God whereby he makes us members of his family.”[4] If that definition is accurate, and I am persuaded that it is, then being made a member of the family of God and being made a member of the body of Christ (being made a member of the assembly) are two entirely different matters. More on this in this series of messages, but for now, we will focus on what adoption is.
The writer of the fourth Gospel introduces his readers to the doctrine of adoption near the beginning, in John 1.12-13. The passage reads,
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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
From these two verses, we see references to the Lord Jesus Christ (him, he, and his in verse 12), to believers (as many as received him, to them, and them that believe), and to God (twice). As to actions, we see two references to faith (received him and believe on his name), two assertions of sovereignty (to them gave he power in verse 12, and which were born of God in verse 13). Not often observed is that John also used two metaphors in the passage, which I would argue are not the same things described using two terms. “Become the sons of God” alludes to adoption, verse 12, and “were born” alludes to regeneration, the new birth, verse 13. Again, adoption is not the new birth, and the new birth is not adoption.
As we narrow our focus, note with me some of the key features associated with adoption. Adoption is specific rather than general. Not every person is adopted into God’s family, but only those who come to faith in Christ. “As many as received him,” which is then shown at the end of the verse to refer to faith, “to them that believe on his name.” But not everyone has faith, which is from the Holy Spirit (Second Corinthians 4.13), through the ministry of the Word (Romans 10.17), and is a gift (Ephesians 2.8) not given to everyone (Second Thessalonians 3.2). Thus, God graciously qualifies sinners for the privilege of adoption, whereby sinners who have come to faith in Christ become God’s sons! Remember, though Jesus is the Son of God and Christians are the sons of God, our sonship is very different from His Sonship. Christ is the Son of God by eternal generation, a son before time. On the other hand, our sonship is by creation for all of us, in one respect (We are his offspring, Paul told the Athenians in Acts 17.28). But in another respect, our sonship as believers comes by adoption.
Here are some other features of a believer’s adoption into the family of God. First, adoption takes in all nations. I have already shown you Paul’s application of the Greek word for adoption to Gentiles as well as Jewish believers in Christ, so that,
“in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him,”
Acts 10.35. Additionally, adoption takes in both sexes, females as well as males:
“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty,”
Second Corinthians 6.18. Such a feature is not reflected in either Hinduism[5] or Islam.[6] Thirdly, as I previously stated, adoption is an act of pure grace:
“Having predestinated us to the adoption of children, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
Ephesians 1.5.
To conclude what adoption is before proceeding to my second main point, Adoption is taking a stranger and making that person not only a son but an heir, as Moses was the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter, Exodus 2.10, and Esther was the adopted child of her cousin Mordecai, Esther 2.7. Thus, God adopts us into His family, and in so doing does two things that I will mention here and elaborate on in my final point: First, God makes us noble by giving to us His name. One who is adopted bears the name of the One who adopts him:
“I will write on him the name of my God,”
Revelation 3.12.
Then, God consecrates us with His Spirit. Watson rightly observed,
“Whom he adopts, he anoints; whom he makes sons, he makes saints. When a man adopts another for his son and heir, he may put his name upon him, but he cannot put his disposition into him; if he be of a morose rugged nature, he cannot alter it; but whom God adopts he sanctifies; he not only gives a new name but a new nature. 2 Pet 1.4. He turns the wolf into a lamb; he makes the heart humble and gracious; he works such a change as if another soul dwelt in the same body.”[7]
Next, HOW ADOPTION IS ACCOMPLISHED
We see from John 1.12 that the means of adoption is faith. This is elsewhere supported in the New Testament by Galatians 3.26, where Paul wrote,
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Before coming to faith in Christ, we were spiritually illegitimate, having no relation to God as a father. Any unbeliever may call God his judge but not his father. Thus, the faith the Spirit of God places into our bosoms, through the ministry of the Word, as a gift is appropriately labeled by Thomas Watson to be the affiliating grace, conferring on us the title of sonship and giving us the right to inherit.
Why is faith so important? Through faith, life is imparted, the just living by faith, Habakkuk 2.4. Life makes it possible for us to be adopted since dead children are never adopted. Faith is the means by which the Spirit makes us alive, and adoption is how we come to be the sons of God; God comes to be our father, and we become Christ’s brethren.
How amazing is this love of God, in making us His sons. Is this not a wonder? The wonder of God’s love in adopting us will appear all the more from a consideration of these six things:
First, reflect on the fact that God would adopt us when He had a Son of His Own. People adopt because they want children and want someone to bear their name. The wonder of God’s love is that He would adopt us when He already had a Son of His Own, the Lord Jesus. Christ is called God’s “dear Son” in Colossians 1.13. In Hebrews 1.4 He is identified as a Son more worthy than the angels. Since God already had a Son of His own, and such a Son, how wonderful is God’s love in adopting us! We needed a Father, but He did not need sons.
Next, reflect on what we were before God adopted us. We were very deformed. But who adopts for his heir someone so damaged as we were? Those who are adopted are usually lovely. Mordecai adopted beautiful Esther. But it was in our defilement that God adopted us.
“When I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said ... Live,”
Ezekiel 16.6. God did not adopt us when we were clean, sweet-smelling, and pretty, but when we were foul, with stench, and diseased.
Third, there is the great expense in adopting us. When men adopt, they have only some legal document signed, and the thing is done. But when God adopts, how expensive it is. And how complicated for Him. He had to figure out a way. It was no easy thing to make heirs of wrath into heirs of the promise. Then, when He found a way to adopt us, it was not easy. Our adoption cost Him dearly, for when God made us sons and heirs, He could not seal the deed but by the blood of His Own Son. Here is the wonder of God’s love in adopting us, that He paid so high a price as the blood of His Son!
Fourth, consider that God should adopt His enemies. If a man adopts someone for his heir, does he usually adopt his mortal enemy? But God adopted us, when we were strangers and enemies. Is that not a wonder of His love? For God to have pardoned His enemies is one thing. But to adopt us as heirs? Doesn’t that cause the angels to scratch their heads in wonder?
Fifth, there is God retrieving great numbers from the devil’s family and adopting them into His family. Christ is said to bring many sons to glory, Hebrews 2.10. And while most people will adopt one heir, and sometimes two, God brings many sons to glory. Astounding!
Finally, consider that God confers great honor upon us by adopting us. David was grateful to be the king’s son-in-law, First Samuel 18.18. But we have the honor to be the sons of the most high God! And the more honor God has put upon us in adopting us, the more He has magnified His love towards us. What honor that God has made us sons of God the Father, members of God the Son, and temples of God the Holy Spirit! All this proclaims the wonder of God’s love in adopting us.
Third, WHAT IS THE END OF ADOPTION
What is the plan God has purposed that must come to pass?
Consider us formerly. What is the former state of one adopted by God? We were in a state of sin and misery. Some, in their misery, are so blind and senseless that they prefer the former state. But what do we adopted into God’s family know to be true? Consider that Pharaoh’s daughter took Moses out of the ark of bulrushes in the water, adopted him for her son, and raised him in the royal household. God did not take us out of the water, but He did take us out of our blood and adopted us, Ezekiel 16. He adopted us from slavery and has made us to be priests and kings. Understand it is merciful to redeem a slave. But it is so much more to adopt him. Yet that is what has happened to us.
Consider us presently. First, God has adopted us to a state of excellence. Christian? Wherever you are, you are in a good place. What He has done for us is more than taking a handful of dirt and transforming it into a star. He has taken hold of a lump of clay saturated with sin and adopted it for His heir. Next, God has adopted us to a state of liberty. Adoption is a state of freedom since a slave being adopted is made into a person set free:
“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ,”
Galatians 4.7. Obviously, we are not to do whatever we want, but we are free from the dominion of sin and set loose from the tyranny of Satan. We are free to worship God. We have God’s free Spirit, which makes us free and cheerful in our service to God. We are
“joyful in [God’s] house of prayer,”
Isaiah 56.7.
Third, God has adopted us to a state of dignity. He made us heirs of promise and installed us into honor. We are God’s treasure, Exodus 19.5. We are His jewels, Malachi 3.17. And we are His first-born, Hebrews 12.23.
Consider our end. What is honor without inheritance! God adopts all His sons to an inheritance:
“It is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,”
Luke 12.32. What we have been taught to pray for will be finally granted in full:
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”[8]
Then what? Our adoption ends in coronation. The kingdom God gives His adopted sons and heirs excels all earthly monarchies, in riches (streets of gold), in peace (He is the Prince of Peace), and in stability (“and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”[9]).
Ponder the sad condition of those who live their miserable lives and die in unbelief. They are not the sons of God:
“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.”
No faith, no sonship. Unbelievers have no sign of sonship. They do not know God. All God’s children know their father, but the wicked do not know him. “They proceed from evil to evil, and know not me, saith the LORD,” Jeremiah 9.3. Unbelievers are “dead in trespasses and sins” Ephesians 2.1.
God has no dead children. And not being children, they have no right to inherit. That is why we preach Christ, so they will consider His claims and believe on Him.
Our introduction to adoption into the family of God.
__________
[1] Thomas Watson, A Body Of Divinity Contained In Sermons Upon The Westminster Assembly’s Catechism, (London: The Banner of Truth Trust, Revised 1890)
[2] Gerhard Kittel, Editor, Theological Dictionary Of The New Testament, Vol VIII, (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972), pages 397-399.
[3] Bauer, Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, (Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2000), page 1024.
[4] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, Second Edition, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), page 913.
[5] Contemporary sources for the practice of sati routinely obscure the practice of drugging or binding widows burned on their dead husband’s funeral pyre, since few willingly submit to death by fire.
[6] Islam’s discrimination against women is well documented, as seen in Abd El Schafi, Behind The Veil: Unmasking Islam, (Abd El Schafi, 2000), pages 95 and 145.
[7] Thomas Watson, A Body Of Divinity Contained In Sermons Upon The Westminster Assembly’s Catechism, (London: The Banner of Truth Trust, Revised 1890), 152.
[8] Matthew 6.10
[9] Luke 1.33
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