Dear Saints,

During our Westminster Standards teaching time last Lord’s Day evening, our memory work with the Westminster Shorter Catechism was the following:

Q. What is adoption?  A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 34

Included in its Bible verse references was the one we memorized, 1 John 3:1: 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.

Notice that this verse does not actually use the word “adoption” or any derivative of it.  But it does speak to adoption’s blessed result to behold: a legally binding filial identify of sonship by virtue of God the Father’s covenant love commitment to us through His Son and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, scrolling through some YouTube Shorts (as you know I am prone to do while waiting on the bus or trolley — or rocking babies to sleep, though this is something I don’t get to do much of at the moment), I came across this beautiful illustration of how we should be moved to tears with humble gratitude for having been adopted by the Triune God and added into His family and household. Please do click and watch this touching 59-second testimony to the blessed doctrine of adoption.

This endearing young man in foster home care was clearly already jovial by informal fellowship with his host family.  But notice that after looking at a family picture, he reads a note from them out loud weeping the words, “Carter, would you like to be our brother and son? We love you.” When his soon-to-be formal Father asks, “What do you think, buddy?” as his soon-to-be covenanted Mother races to embrace him from behind, he only can nod in tears while dropping his head to express a nonverbal, “Yes.” His Father-to-be next assures him gingerly with, “We’re going to adopt you, Carter,” as his will-be Mother kisses his cheek. Overwhelmed with emotion, the humble boy manages to sweetly sob, “Oh, thank you so much!” 

Beloved, may we behold in this deeply moving illustration the truth that by the love of God the Father, He chose to espouse and has adopted us as His sons and daughters!  We are not only admitted into the society of God’s Kingdom (Justification, WSC 33); we are welcomed into His family.

As we briefed upon in our study, let us remember that Romans 5:10 says we were enemies of God. Now we are His citizens. And now, we are His children with all the blessings of having God as our good, good Father.

We also recalled how this doctrine is expressed in the following texts:

Hosea 1:10: Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

Hosea 2:23: And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

See also Romans 9:24-26.

As Mrs. Renner added to these thoughts, it is the same idea expressed by Ruth to Naomi and by Boaz to Ruth, her kinsman redeemer (a type of Christ). As well, these verses reflect both for Jew and Gentile what God had already expressed earlier in Leviticus 26:12 to the descendants of Abraham: And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. And He later reaffirmed such a heart-warming notion with this beautiful expression of His faithful parental relationship to His people in Deuteronomy 1:31: And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.

Thus, in Jesus, … through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:18-19; see also 1 Timothy 3:15; Galatians 6:10; Hebrews 3:6). Beloved, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19).

We have an eternal home with God and a family we can forever call our own.  We take on the name of Jesus Christ and thus our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life with all our brethren!

The other two verses given by WSC 34 are:

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:

Romans 8:16-17: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Notice that none of the verses given by the WSC actually use the word adoption.  The divines seem to know the benefit of emphasizing the cause of adoption, the Father’s love, and even more, its effect: our sonship through His Son.  That said, the formal term and doctrine of adoption are spoken of in these verses:

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 serviceof 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,

As I mentioned last Lord’s Day evening, my systematic theology seminary professor Dr. Wayne Spear would point to the fact that the Westminster Confession of Faith was the only Reformed Confession with an entire chapter devoted to the doctrine of adoption (to defend against the comment by some that it is not as warm and personal as some other Reformed standards).  In closing, I’d like to review here what I offered in our membership class booklet for your benefit on this chapter about adoption.

All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption:(a) by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God,(b) have His name put upon them,(c) receive the spirit of adoption,(d) have access to the throne of grace with boldness,(e) are enabled to cry, Abba, Father,(f) are pitied,(g) protected,(h) provided for,(i) and chastened by Him as by a Father;(k) yet never cast off,(l) but sealed to the day of redemption,(m) and inherit the promises,(n) as heirs of everlasting salvation.(o)

Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 12, “Of Adoption”

(a)Eph. 1:5. (b)Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 8:17; John 1:12. (c)Jer. 14:9; 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 3:12. (d)Rom. 8:15. (e)Eph. 3:12; Rom. 5:2. (f)Gal. 4:6. (g)Ps. 103:13. (h)Prov. 14:26. (i)Matt. 6:30, 32; 1 Pet. 5:7. (k)Heb 12:6. (l)Lam. 3:31. (m)Eph. 4:30. (n)Heb. 6:12. (o)1 Pet. 1:3, 4; Heb. 1:14.

Adoption implies sonship, which also was lost in the fall.  Justification secures citizenship in the Kingdom.  Adoption secures family in God’s house.  Both are legal declarations (acts).  Once declared righteous, you are called family.  You may approach Him like a son and call Him “Daddy” (Abba, although notice per Dr. Derek Thomas that this word is always followed with the respectful “Father” in Scripture). 

There is intimate fellowship, protection, and direction with “Our Father”.  As a son, you have a right to the inheritance Jesus gives you (John 1:11-12; Rev. 21:7).  Sproul’s emphasis of our benefit in adoption is helpful: “ … God takes home a child who was not his natural-born child, but is now his supernaturally born child …” ¹

While this chapter is short, it is lovely, and the “first creed to treat adoption as a distinct subject”.²  As sons, God “vouchsafeth” for us; He identifies Himself with us as His own for whom He has responsibility. 

Adoption implies freedom from slavery.  Not only pardon from punishment, but acceptance and restoration.  We are not estranged.  Talk to your Father regularly. 

Adoption also implies our mutual relationship to one another as family, “received into the number.”³  We have no universal Fatherhood or brotherhood with the world, but only an adoptive Father and adopted family in Christ: “The Bible speaks of a universal neighborhood, not a universal brotherhood.  That is, every person is my neighbor, but only fellow Christians are the adopted children of God.”⁴  He is the universal Creator, but only “our Father”.⁵ 

While Watson recognizes we are sonship of God by “creation”, yet “This is no privilege; for men may have God for their Father by creation, and yet have the devil for their father;” for, “Our sonship [as Christians] is by adoption,” and “He ennobles us with his name” and “a new nature.” ⁶he adds, “Faith interests us in the privilege of adoption … Gal iii 26 … An unbeliever may call God judge, but not father.” ⁷ Further, God’s Fatherly discipline is loving, and “never vengeful or vindictive”.⁸

Some additional thoughts on adoption by Thomas Watson from his, A Body of Divinity:

“Our sonship differs from Christ’s.  He was the Son of God by eternal generation, a son before time; but our sonship is … By creation” and “adoption” (232).  It is both to “females as well as males 2 Cor vi I8)” (232).  “It is taking a stranger into the relation of a son and heir …” (232).  “Adoption is a state of freedom; a slave being adopted is made a free man … Gal iv 7” (233).  “God adopts all his sons to an inheritance … Luke xii 32 … Adoption ends in coronation” (234).  “Our adoption was purchased at a dear rate; for when God was about to make us sons and heirs, he could not seal the deed but by the blood of his own Son” (235).  “David thought it no small honour that he should be a king’s son-in-law.  I Sam. xviii I8.  But what honour to be the sons of the high God!” (235).  “The first sign of adoption is obedience.  A son obeys his father” (236).”  “True obedience looks at God in all things.  ‘That Christ may be magnified.’ Phil i 20.  Though a child of God shoots short, yet he takes a right aim” (237).  “True child-like obedience must be uniform.  A child of God makes conscience of one command as well as another … ‘When I have respect unto all thy commandments.’  Psalm cxix 6.  To obey God in some things of religion and not in others, shows an unsound heart …” (237).  “True childlike obedience is constant. ‘Blessed is he that doth righteousness at all times.’  Psalm cvi 3” (238).  “The second sign of adoption is to love to be in our Father’s presence.  The child who loves his father is never so well as when he is near him” (238).  “The third sign of adoption is to have the guidance of God’s Spirit … Rom viii 14” (238).  “The Spirit’s guidance is agreeable to the Word; enthusiasts leave the Word … John xvii 17 … John xvi 13 … The Word’s teaching and the Spirit’s leading agree together … The fourth sign is, that if we are adopted we have an entire love to all God’s children. ‘Love the brotherhood.’ I Pet ii 17” (239).  “Extol and magnify God’s mercy, who has adopted you into his family; who, of slaves, has made you sons; of heirs of hell, heirs of the promise” (240).  “Adoption is a greater mercy than Adam had in paradise; he was a son by creation, but here is a further sonship by adoption” (240).

Semper Reformanda,

Pastor Grant

Footnotes:

1. R.C. Sproul, Truths We Confess: A Layman’s Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith, vol. 2 (Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 2006), 74. ↩︎
2. Rowland Ward, The Westminster Confession of Faith: A Study Guide (Melbourne, Australia: New Melbourne Press, 1996), 92.  VanDixhoorn (172) notes three reasons for the brevity of the chapter: 1) “It was not treated as an independent topic at the Reformation …”; 2) “ … the assembly could offer a crisp statement on the doctrine of adoption because it could state the truth without correction of error”; and 3) “ … some aspects of the experience of God’s children are related in chapter 18 on assurance.”  Chad Van Dixhoorn, Confessing the Faith: A reader’s guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith (Carlisle, Pa.: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2014). Green, 88: “Of the great creeds of Christendom, not one contains a formal article on adoption except the Westminster Standards. Adoption has a place in the Confession of Faith and in both Catechisms.” James Benjamin Green, A Harmony of the Westminster Presbyterian Standards with Explanatory Notes, Seventh Printing (Location?: Wm. Collins World, 1976). Green here also gives a lovely suggestion for a thematic sermon on adoption that is worth our meditation:
   1. Ephesians 1:5: The End of Foreordination Is Adoption.
   2. Galatians 4:4-5: The End of Incarnation and Redemption Is Adoption.
   3. Romans 8:23: The Object of Christian Hope is Adoption.
   4. Romans 8:15: The Filial Spirit Is the Evidence of Adoption.
   5. Galatians 4:7: Inheritance Is the Privilege of Adoption (of the Adopted). ↩︎
3. “ … if the angels of God who stand before his throne are sent as servants of people here on earth, how much more ought we to serve the same family ourselves!” Van Dixhoorn, 174-175. ↩︎
4. Sproul, vol. 2, 70. ↩︎
5. “ … if a man becomes a child of God by adoption, he could not have been a child of God by nature.” Gordon H. Clark,What Presbyterians Believe: An Exposition of the Westminster Confession (Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1956), 55. ↩︎
6. Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity: Contained in Sermons Upon the Westminster Assembly’s Catechism (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1970), 232, 233. ↩︎
7. Ibid, 234. He also writes, “See the sad condition of such as live and die in unbelief.  They are not the sons of God … No faith, no sonship … Unbelievers are ‘dead in trespasses.’  Eph ii I.  God has no dead children; and not being children, they have no right to inherit.” Ibid, 236. ↩︎
8. VanDixhoorn, 174. ↩︎