CHAPTER 3
Of Adoption.
Angels are called Sons of God, being made after his image, admitted into intimate familiarity with him, and having a kind of authority over inferior creatures, Job 38:7, and perhaps Job 1:6; Job 2:1. But some take the two last texts to mean professed saints, as Gen 6:2; Matt 8:12.—In much the same respects, Adam was the son of God, Luke 3:38, but some apply that text to Christ, who is the Son of God by natural, necessary, and therefore eternal generation, Ps 2:7; John 1:14; John 3:16.—Men are called sons of God, 1. Because they are created and preserved by him, Mal 2:10; Acts 17:25,28; Heb 12:9. 2. Because they represent him as his deputies in civil government, particularly in that which was typical, Ps 82:6; John 10:34-36. 3. Because of their peculiar relation to him, as his subjects or church members, Gen 6:2; Matt 8:12; Exod 4:22. Deut 14:1; Deut 32:10-11; Rom 9:4.—Believers are sons of God in a very exalted manner, 1. By their spiritual marriage-union with Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, Ps 45:10-11; John 1:12; Exod 21:9. 2. By regeneration, in which they are spiritually begotten or born in his image, by the renewing power of his Spirit, John 1:12-13; John 3:3,5-6; James 1:18; 1 Pet 1:3,23; 1 Pet 2:2; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18. 3. By adoption, in which they who were by nature children of Satan, of disobedience, and of wrath, are, in consequence of the imputation of Jesus' righteousness to them for their justification, admitted members of his family, by a concurrent and absolutely gracious act of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 1 John 3:1; Jer 3:4,19; 2 Cor 6:18; Eph 1:5; John 1:12. Rom 8:16; Gal 4:6.
All the elect, and they only, are in their respective times of love thus adopted, Eph 1:5; Gal 3:26.—These under the Old Testament were God's children, Job 34:36; Ps 103:13; Isa 63:16; Jer 3:4,14,19; Jer 31:20;—by spiritual union to Christ, Hos 2:19-20; Isa 54:5; Ps 45:9-14;—by regeneration, Ezek 36:26; Ezek 11:19-20; Ps 51:10;—and in respect of adoption and spiritual heirship, Gal 4:1; Ps 16:5-6; Ps 17:15;—and as children they had fellowship with him, Gen 5:22,24; Gen 6:9; Gen 15:1; Gen 17:1; Lam 3:24; Ps 73:23-26,28; Ps 143:10; Heb 11:10.—Their adoption was as perfect as ours under the gospel:—But the Lord used them as children under age. He prescribed to them their natural food, and what they might touch, Lev 11; Deut 14; Col 2:21. He much concealed himself from them, Isa 45:15; Matt 13:17. The sacrificial tokens of variance between him and them, were yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily renewed. Canaan was but an obscure pledge of their heavenly inheritance; and, though never to forget it in their prayers, they were sometimes driven from it.—Under the New Testament, Christ, having assumed our nature, and paid our debt, sets us, his younger brethren, free from the legal ceremonies and the beggarly elements of this world, John 8:32,36; Col 2:16,20. He calls them to more spiritual and reasonable service, Rom 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:5; Heb 9:10-11; Mal 1:11; Matt 11:30; Hos 11:4. He gives them more knowledge of, and intimacy with himself and his Father in him, Song 8:1-2; John 1:18; John 14:9-10; John 15:15; Jer 31:34; 1 John 2:20,27; Isa 54:13; Isa 48:17; Eph 2:18; Eph 3:12; 1 John 1:37. He allows them greater boldness in their approaches to God, and equal access to him from every part of the world, Heb 10:19-22; Heb 4:14-16; Heb 7:19; Heb 11:40; John 10:7,9; John 14:6; Rom 5:1-3; Eph 2:18; Eph 3:9,12; Isa 19:19; Isa 45:22; Isa 54:5; Ps 24:1; Ps 2:8. He bestows his Spirit upon them more abundantly, Rom 8:15-17; Gal 4:4-6; Isa 44:3,5; Joel 2:28; Acts 2; 1 Cor 12; and calls them to more direct and immediate views of their spiritual inheritance, Luke 22:29.
Adoption into the family of God includes, I. Advancement to great honour. God, of his mere grace and love, reigning through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, translates us from the family of Satan into his own, in which we have him for our new-covenant Father, Christ, holy angels and saints for our spiritual brethren, 1 John 3:1; Jer 3:19; John 20:18; Rom 8:29; Heb 2:11-12; and are God's prophets, priests, and kings, anointed with the same Spirit as Christ, 1 John 2:20,27;
2 Cor 1:21-22; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:5-6; Rev 5:10,—As prophets, being enlightened in the knowledge of divine mysteries or even future events, Ps 25:14; Ps 73:24-26,28; Ps 43:5, we, 1. Openly confess Christ and his truths with our mouth, 2 Cor 4:13; Rom 10:10; Matt 10:32; entertain our neighbours with holy conference and spiritual instructions, Eph 4:29; Eph 6:4; Phil 2:16; Song 4:11; Song 5:10-16; Song 7:9; sing the praises of God, Eph 5:19-20; Col 3:16-17; 1 Sam 10:5; 1 Sam 19:24-25; 1 Chron 25:1-2,5. 2. Study an holy, instructive, and exemplary practice, Matt 5:11; Phil 2:16; 1 Pet 2:12,15; 1 Pet 3:1. 3. Attest the truths of God by our sufferings, Rev 2:10; Luke 14:26; Matt 16:25.—As priests, we live in familiar fellowship with God, and offer up spiritual sacrifices, intercessions, and worship to him, Rom 12:1-2; Col 3:5; Heb 13:15-16; Phil 2:17; 2 Tim 4:6 Mal 1:11; Rev 8:3-4; 1 Pet 2:5; 1 Cor 15:58; Heb 10:25; Heb 12:28.—As kings, we have generous and noble spirits, Ps 51:12; Dan 5:11-12; Song 1:3; Zech 10:3; 2 Cor 4:17-18; Phil 3:8-9; Heb 11:26-27; possess royal treasures of God's word and grace, Ps 119:11,72; Job 23:12; Jer 15:16; James 2:5; and are venerable before God and men, and dangerous to be injured, Isa 43:4; Isa 49:23; Isa 60:14; Song 6:4,9; Rev 3:9; and spiritually war with, and conquer sin and Satan, and rule the world and our own spirits, Gal 5:17,24; Eph 6:10-20; Rom 7:14-25; Rom 6:10-14; Rom 8:37; Rom 16:20; Rev 12:11; 1 Cor 6:1-2,12; 1 John 5:4; Rev 2:26-27; Isa 45:11; Prov 16:32.
II. Adoption includes God's vouchsafing a right to all the privileges of his family. 1. A new name, Jer 14:9; 2 Cor 6:18; Rev 3:12; Isa 56:6; Isa 62:12. 2. A new spirit of adoption, the Holy Ghost to comfort and seal us up to the day of redemption, Rom 8:9,15; Gal 4:5-6; Eph 1:13-14; Eph 4:30; 2 Cor 1:21-22; 2 Cor 5:5. 3. His own fatherly sympathy, Ps 103:13; Zech 2:8; Isa 63:4-5,7,9,15. 4. His fatherly protection, Prov 14:26; 2 Chron 16:9; Deut 33:27-29; Isa 46:4; Isa 4:5-6; Isa 26:20; Ps 121:2-8; Ps 41:1-3; Zech 2:5,8. 5. The ministration of angels to attend, guard, provide for, and direct us, Heb 1:14; Ps 34:7. 6. New-covenant provision of every thing that can be useful to soul or body, Ps 34:8-10; Matt 6:30-33; 1 Pet 5:7; Phil 4:6,19; Ps 84:11; Ps 85:12. 7. Fatherly and kind correction, wisely managed for our spiritual advantage, Heb 12:6-11; Prov 3:12; Ps 94:12-13; Ps 84:28-35; Ps 119:67,71,75; Isa 27:9; Mic 7:14; Hos 2:14; Zech 13:9; Rom 8:28;
2 Cor 4:17. 8. Unfailing establishment in this adopted state, and all the happy relations included in it, Lam 3:31-32; Ps 37:24,28; Jer 32:40; Rom 8:35-39; 2 Sam 23:5. 9. Spiritual freedom from the power of the law as a broken covenant, and from the power of sin, Satan, the world, and death,—attended with a holy pleasure in serving God himself as our Father, John 8:32,36; 2 Cor 3:17; Hos 11:4; Gal 1:4; Gal 4:4-5; Ps 116:16; Ps 119:32,45,166. 10. Filial boldness and familiarity with him, as reconciled in Christ, Heb 10:19-22; Heb 4:16; Job 23:3; Ps 63:3-8; Song 1-8. 11. His fatherly hearing, accepting, and answering our prayers which are presented in faith, Ps 65:2; Ps 50:15; Ps 91:15; Ps 116:4-8; Ps 34:4,6,15; John 16:23-24; Matt 7:7-11; Isa 57:9; Isa 65:24. 12. His fatherly instruction and direction in spiritual things, and holy conversation, Isa 47:17; Isa 54:13; Ps 73:23-24; Ps 32:8; Hos 11:4; Hos 14:2; Jer 3:19; Ps 48:14; 2 Thess 3:6; Prov 3:5-6. 13. Fatherly comfort under every adversity, 2 Thess 2:16-17; 2 Cor 1:3-19; Zeph 3:17; Jer 31:13-14,25; Isa 51:7,12; Isa 66:13-14; Isa 65:18-19; Isa 57:18-19. 14. A full, free, and irrevocable right to all happiness in time and eternity, being heirs of promises,—of righteousness,—of the grace of life,—of salvation,—of the world,—of the kingdom,—and heavenly inheritance,—nay, of God himself, Jer 3:19; Heb 6:17; Heb 11:7; Heb 1:14; Ps 119:111; 1 Pet 1:4; 1 Pet 3:7; Rom 4:13; James 2:5; Rom 8:17; Ps 16:5-6; Ps 73:26; Lam 3:24.—Or, our inheritance by adoption includes, 1. Our happy enjoyment of all temporal good things, that is, our enjoying all that this earth can afford, in so far as it is for our real profit, and our tasting of God's special love in it, 2 Cor 8:9; Ps 37:16; Prov 17:1; all creatures leading us to God himself as our Creator, Redeemer, and Father, Ps 104:24; Ps 36:7; Ps 92:4-5; Ps 8:3-4; Ps 107:43; Hos 14:9; Hos 2:6-7,14; and under his directions, working together for our good, Rom 8:28; 2 Cor 4:17; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Ps 91:11;—and the very earth being preserved and renewed for promoting our happiness, Isa 6:13; Isa 65:8; Matt 24:22; 2 Pet 3:10,13; Isa 65:17; Isa 66:22. 2. Our spiritual kingdom, Luke 22:29; Luke 17:20-21; which includes our superior excellency among men, Ps 16:3; Prov 12:26; our victory, triumph, and dominion over sin, Satan, and the world, Rom 6:14; Rom 16:20; 1 John 5:4; Gal 6:14; our rich treasures of gifts and graces, Ps 45:12-14; Rev 2:9; James 2:5; Isa 54:11-12; and our inward order, peace, purity, and joy in the Holy Ghost, Prov 16:32; Rom 14:17. 3. God himself, as our all in all, Rom 8:17; Ps 16:5-6;
Ps 73:26; Ps 142:5; Ps 119:57; Lam 3:24; our unfailing security against all evil, Ps 23; Ps 41; Isa 43:1-2; Isa 41:10,14-16; our source and substance of all possible happiness, Ps 73:25-26; Ps 84:11; 1 Cor 15:28.
All the elect are chosen from all eternity to be adopted, and their names enrolled in the book of life, as future members of God's family, Eph 1:5; Rev 13:8; Matt 25:34. They are actually adopted in the moment of their union to Christ, and their regeneration after his image:—and faith, in so far as an instrumental cause, embraces and consents to God's adopting act, as intimated in the heart-renewing truth of the gospel, Jer 3:4,19; John 1:12-13; Gal 3:26-27; 2 Pet 1:4.—It is manifested by an holy and heavenly conversation, marking their likeness to God, love to him, and to his word, ordinances, people, and interests in the world, Matt 5:44-48; Luke 6:27-36; 1 Pet 1:13-17; 2 Pet 1:4-8; 1 John 1:1-5. And it will be publicly manifested in Christ's acknowledgment of them as his brethren, at the last day, Matt 25:34-40,45.
Reflection. Hast thou, my soul, experienced the double change of thy state? Am I, that was once an enemy of Jesus Christ and his Father, now washed in his blood, and justified in his sight? Am I, that was so long a child of the devil, and an heir of hell, made a Son, an heir of God, and joint heir with Christ, and made light and love in the Lord?—God forbid, that I should dare to preach a free justification, of which my soul never felt the need, never received, never delighted in?—a gracious adoption, in which I have no share?—Perhaps, in no lawful station do fewer experience these blessed changes than in that of preachers.—If men intrude themselves into, or even approach the sacred office in their pollutions, how often God consigns them over to spiritual death, that all that they read, think, or speak of Jesus Christ, and his eternal salvation, tends to harden their own hearts? How often do preachers neither pray nor talk about divine things, especially if out of their public ministrations, with the delightful feeling or inward warmth of the private Christian! How often, by affecting-like descants upon the doctrines, offers, and influences of the gospel, they, like Judas, but in a more invisible manner, hasten themselves to the depths of hell! But, if I am justified and adopted, why do not I always believe, wonder at, and praise him for his love? Hath God, in me, shewn to what amazing length his love and grace can go? And shall not I love him, and live to him, with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength? And shall not I count all things but loss and dung to win him, and be found in him, and cheerfully contribute toil, expence, reputation, health, and even life, to win souls to him?