blhowes
Puritan Board Professor
What a blessing it was to listen this morning to a sermon about prayer by Pastor Same Allison, an OPC preacher. During the sermon, the idea of our adoption was mentioned. I'd never really thought about the doctrine of adoption, so I thought I'd do a search and read a little about it.
I found a sermon by James Borwine, TH.D, of Westminster Presbyterian Church called Covenant Theology: Adoption. Very good.
I especially enjoyed the application of the doctrine at the end of the sermon.
First, a son knows security...
Second, as son knows hope...
Third, a son trusts...
Fourth, a son knows acceptance...
1Jo 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.
I found a sermon by James Borwine, TH.D, of Westminster Presbyterian Church called Covenant Theology: Adoption. Very good.
John says that the right to become a child of God was given to those who received His Son. There are two words in this verse that need to be emphasized. First, we have the word “gave” (didomi) which means just what we suppose: “to give, grant, bestow.” I realize that it may seem unnecessary to emphasize this simple word, but I don't want there to be any misunderstanding of the fact that adoption as a child of God is something that God grants us; it is something He gives us, something He bestows upon us. Adoption as a child of God, like every element of our redemption, is not something we earn, it is not something that God is forced to do. The status of sonship is a loving and merciful gift from our heavenly Father.
Second, there is the word translated “right” (exousia) This word means “power, authority, right, liberty.” The fact that this right is given to us by God indicates two things: 1) we don't have the right to be numbered among God's sons until God gives it to us; 2) we could not, by our own devices, achieve this right or authority to be numbered among the children of God. Therefore, in our salvation, God bestows upon us the right or authority to become one of His children. Sonship is, once again, a gift from God; it follows the exercise of faith by which we are justified before God and it puts us in the category of family in our relationship to God.
I especially enjoyed the application of the doctrine at the end of the sermon.
First, a son knows security...
Second, as son knows hope...
Third, a son trusts...
Fourth, a son knows acceptance...
1Jo 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.