Te Doctrne of

Adoption

A southasiaharvest.com Teaching Series

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An Extended Study Guide from the Reformed Perspective

What is a Christian? The richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father. If you want to [know] how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being Gods child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all. -J.I. Packer

The Doctrine of Adoption

Definitions of Adoption:
Adoption is an act of the free grace of God, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children, have his name put upon them, the Spirit of his Son given to them, are under his fatherly care and dispensations, admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow-heirs with Christ in glory. -WCF Larger Catechism #74
. . .OR MORE CONDENSED. . .

Adoption is an act of God whereby he makes us members of his family. -Wayne Grudem Adoption is the gracious act of God in which He confers upon sinners the position of sons and the privileges of sonship. -David Platt What is adoption? It is taking a stranger into the relation of a son and heir; as Moses was the adopted son of King Pharaohs daughter, Exod 2:20, and Esther was the adopted child of her cousin Mordecai. Esth 2:2. Thus God adopts us into the family of heaven. -Thomas Watson

I. The WONDER of Adoption

1 John 3:3, Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!

Why is our adoption such an amazing thing? *It is a wonder that God should adopt us when He had a Son of His own.
We needed a Father, but he did not need sons. -Thomas Watson

*It is a wonder that God should adopt us in considering what we were before God adopted us.
Mordecai adopted Esther, because she was fair. When we were in our blood God adopted us. When I saw thee polluted in thy blood, it was the time of love. Ezek. 16:6, 8. God did not adopt us when we were bespangled with the jewels of holiness, and had the angels, glory upon us; but when we were black as Ethiopians, diseased as lepers, was the time of his love. -Thomas Watson

*It is a wonder that God should adopt us at such a great expense.

It was no easy thing to make heirs of wrath, heirs of the promise. When God had found out a way to adopt, it was no easy way. 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. -Thomas Watson

*It is a wonder that God should adopt His enemiesthose who were of the Devil's family.
For God to have pardoned his enemies had been much; but to adopt them for his heirs, sets the angels in heaven wondering. -Thomas Watson

*It is a wonder that God should adopt so many into His own family.
Men adopt usually but one heir, but God is resolved to increase his family, he brings many sons to glory. -Thomas Watson

II. Adoption in the Old Testament

*EPHRAIM and MANASSEH: The sons of Joseph adopted by Jacob: Genesis 48:5-6, And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. *MOSES: Adopted by Pharaoh's daughter: Exodus 2:10, The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, 'Because I drew him out of the water. *MEPHIBOSHETH: Son of Jonathan adopted by King David: 2 Samuel 9:13, So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king's table regularly. *GENUBATH: Adopted son of Pharaoh during Solomon's days: 1 Kings 11:20, The sister of Tahpenes bore his son Genubath, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh. *OBED: Son of Ruth adopted by Naomi: Ruth 4:16-17, Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. The neighbor women gave him a name saying, 'A son has been born to Naomi!' *ESTHER: Adopted daughter of Mordecai: Esther 2:7, [Mordecai] was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. *ISRAEL: The nation Israel was called God's son: In one sense they were God's ADOPTED son. . . Romans 9:3-4, For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises
See also Deuteronomy 14:1 2; cf. 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:5, 6, 20; Isaiah 43:6; cf. Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 63:16; Hosea 11:1; Malachi 1:6; Malachi 2:10.

But in another sense they were God's NATURAL son. . .

Exodus 4:22, Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, 'Israel is My son, My firstborn.'

Jeremiah 31:9, With weeping they will come, and by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, on a straight path in which they will not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.

Who disowned and rejected their own Father. . .

John 1:11-13, He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Through which rejection we Gentiles have received the adoption as sons. . .

Romans 11:11,15,17, by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. . .their rejection is the reconciliation of the world. . .some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree. . . 1 Peter 2:10, for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

But one day will be grafted back into the family:

Romans 11:23-25, And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mysteryso that you will not be wise in your own estimationthat a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in

III. The CHARACTERISTICS of Adoption

Adoption is an act of pure grace. . . Old Testament Picture: King David and Mephibosheth: the dead dog feasts regularly at the king's table.
Ephesians 1:5-6, In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Luke 12:32, Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Adoption is a mercy spun out of the bowels of free grace. All by nature are strangers, therefore have no right to sonship. God is pleased to adopt one, and not another; to make one a vessel of glory, another a vessel of wrath. The adopted heir may cry out, Lord, how is it, that thou wilt show thyself to me, and not unto the world? -Thomas Watson

. . .originating in the electing love of God the FATHER. . . Ephesians 1:5-6, In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself. . .
1 John 3:1, See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.

. . .based on the particular redemption brought about through Christ the SON. . . Galatians 4:4-5, But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. . . .and effectually applied by the HOLY SPIRIT. . . Romans 8:15, For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!'
the spirit of adoption springs as naturally from the Spirit's work in applying the Gospel, as the spirit of bondage from the Spirit's work in applying the law. It belongs to the office of the Holy Spirit to unfold to the believer the unsearchable riches of Christto open up the freeness of his grace, and the fulness of Gospel privilege which belongs to his people; "for," says our Lord, "he shall glorify me: he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (Jn.16:14)and the apostle, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him; but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit" (1Cor.2:9). "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God(1Cor.2:12). -James Buchanan, The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit.

. . .to all who call upon Christ in faith. . .

Galatians 3:26, For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

. . .for whom this adoption is both a present reality AND a future expectation. . . PRESENT REALITY (at conversion): Romans 8:15, For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!'
Galatians 3:26, For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 1 John 3:1, See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.

FUTURE EXPECTATION (at glorification): Romans 8:23, And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. . . .that can never be revoked or changed.
Romans 8:29-30, For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
the children of God may be corrected for their faults, and chastised by their heavenly Father; but never turned out of doors, nor disinherited, much less disowned, which is impossible; the son abides in the house for ever; and such that are sons are never more servants; once a child of God and always so (John 8:35; Gal. 4:7) -John Gill

IV. The CAUSE of Adoption

Why does God adopt us into His family?
Ephesians 1:5-6, In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,

according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. *In LOVE (v5). . . 1 John 3:1, See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. *According to His GOOD PLEASURE (v5). . .
Observe that the only reason why God adopts any one is the good pleasure of his will: "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." I suppose that this congregation may be divided into two parts: the one are the children of Satan; the other, the children of God. Who can tell why it is so? Who can tell why you were chosen and not another? It was the good pleasure of his will: "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." Ah, my friends, this is a humbling doctrine. There is no difference between us and the children of wrath; some of us were more wicked than they, yet God set his love on us. We were like the prodigal, yet he put on us the best robe. This should humble us in the dust. If there are any here that think they have been chosen because they were better than others; ah! if you think that, you are grossly mistaken. -Robert Murray McCheyne

*For His GLORY (v6). . .

It were much for God to take a clod of dust and make it a star; it is more for God to take a piece of clay and sin and adopt it for his heir. -Thomas Watson

V. The MARKS of Adoption

What the marks of adoption are NOT: *Having godly Christian parents is no certain mark that we ourselves are truly adopted sons.
This is a warning for us! We ought to examine ourselves: The Jews boasted that they were of
Abrahams seed, and thought they must needs be good, because they came of such a holy line. But adoption does not come by blood. Many parents have wicked sons; Abraham had an Ishmael; Isaac an Esau. -Thomas Watson

*Declaring ourselves to be the children of God is no certain mark that we ourselves are truly adopted sons. According to the Lord, many will there be who professed themselves to be God's children, but were not so (Matthew 7). Many take upon their lips the title of a true son of God, who are in reality true sons of the Devil. Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. What the marks of adoption ARE: *A true childlike obedience to the Father is a necessary mark of adoption: 1 John 3:9-10, No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
*The adopted sons of God will resemble their heavenly Father, and have upon them the image of their Elder Brother, Christ Jesus:
* As Christ is, so are they, each one resembles the children of a King (Judges 8:18). -Thomas Cole * 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 1:1. 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. -Thomas Watson

*A love to be in the Father's presence is a necessary mark of adoption:

Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. Gen 4:16. [But] the child who loves his father is never so well as when he is near him. Are we children? We love the presence of God in his ordinances. In prayer we speak to God, in the preaching of his word he speaks to us; and how does every child of God delight to hear his Fathers voice! My soul thirsts for thee, to see thy glory so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Psalm 63:3, 2. -Thomas Watson

*To have the guidance of God's Spirit is a necessary mark of adoption: Romans 8:14, For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Rom 8:14. As Israel was led by the pillar of fire, so Gods children are led by the Spirit. As wicked men are led by the evil spirit - the spirit of Satan led Herod to incest, Ahab to murder, Judas to treason - so the good Spirit leads Gods children into virtuous actions. -Thomas Watson

*To have a true love for all of God's children is a necessary mark of adoption: 1 John 3:14, We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.
If we are adopted, we love the good we see in Gods children: we admire their graces, we pass by their imprudencies. -Thomas Watson

*To share in the sufferings of Christ is a necessary mark of adoption: Romans 8:16-17, The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may be glorified with Him.

VI. The AFFECTS of Adoption1

What relationships are radically changed when a person is Adopted into God's family? Some observations from 1 John 3. . . *Our relationship to GOD: Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1a). *Our relationship to the WORLD: Therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not (1 John 3:1b). *Our relationship to the FUTURE: It does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2). *Our relationship to OURSELVES: Every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure (1 John 3:3). *Our relationship to the church as the FAMILY of GOD: We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. . .We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:14,16).

1 Taken from Joel Beeke's, A Puritan Theology; quoted there from John Cotton's exposition of 1st John.

VII. The PRIVILEGES and BENEFITS of Adoption2

What are the privileges and benefits that are bestowed upon God's adopted children?
Adoption as God's child is better than being the child or heir of any earthly Prince [since] the son of the greatest Potentate may be the child of wrath; but the child of God by grace, hath Christ Jesus to be his eldest brother, with whom he is fellow heir in heaven; he hath the Holy Ghost also for his comforter, and the kingdom of heaven for his everlasting inheritance. -William Perkins

IN PARTICULAR:

*A new FAMILY: Our Father cuts us off from the family to which we naturally belong in Adam as children of wrath and of the devil and grafts us into His own family to make us members of the covenant family of God (John 8:35).
We are, by nature, Children of wrath, children of Belial, children of old Adam, children of sin and death, we are cut off from that family, no longer to be reckoned of it [or of its] bondage, baseness, obligations, curses, and are, taken into God's family as His sons and daughters -Stephen Marshall Pharaohs daughter took Moses out of the ark of bulrushes in the water, and adopted him for her son. God did not take us out of the water, but out of our blood, and adopted us. Ezek 16:6. He adopted us from slavery: it is a mercy to redeem a slave, but it is more to adopt him. -Thomas Watson

*A new NAME: Our Father gives us freedom to call on Him by His Father-name and gives us a new name, which serves as our guarantee of admission to the house of God as sons and daughters of God (Revelation 2:17; 3:12). *A new SPIRIT: Our Father gifts us with the Spirit of adoption (Galatians 4:6). *A new LIFE: Our Father grants us likeness to Himself and His Son (Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2-3).
As Christ is, so are they, each one resembles the children of a King (Judges 8:18). -Thomas Cole, quoted earlier under MARKS of Adoption.

*A new DIGNITY: Our Father adopts us into a state of great dignity (Exodus 19:5; Isaiah 43:3-4; Zechariah 2:8; Malachi 3:17).
God adopts us to a state of dignity. He makes us heirs of promise, he installs us into honor. Since thou west precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable. Isa 43:3. The adopted are Gods treasure; Exod. 19:5; his jewels; Mal. 3:17; his first-born; Heb 12:23. They have angels for their life-guards. Heb 1:14. They are of the blood royal of heaven. -Thomas Watson David thought it no small honor that he should be a kings son-in-law. I Sam 18:18. But what honor to be the sons of the high God! What honor that God has made us so near in alliance to him, sons of God the Father, members of God the Son, temples of God the Holy Ghost! -Thomas Watson

*A new FREEDOM: Our Father offers us spiritual, Christian liberty as His sons and daughters (John 8:32, 36; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Hosea 11:4; Galatians 1:4; 4:4-5; Psalm 116:16; 119:32, 45, 166).
How is an adopted son free? Not to do what he wishes; but he is free from the dominion of sin, the tyranny of Satan, and the curse of the law. He is free in the manner of worship. He has Gods free Spirit, which makes him free and cheerful in the service of God. -Thomas Watson

*A new INHERITANCE: Our Father grants His adopted sons and daughters the inheritance of the kingdom (Romans 8:16-17; Galatians 3:18; Ephesians 1:11-12; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
Adoption ends in coronation. The kingdom God gives his adopted sons and heirs excels all earthly monarchies. -Thomas Watson

*The Father's PROMISES: Our Father especially strengthens our faith through His gifts of
2 Again, much of this is (very gratefully) taken from Beeke's A Puritan Theology.

promises and prayer (Romans 8:15).

If we are adopted, then we have an interest in all the promises; the promises are children's bread. -Thomas Watson

*The Father's LOVE: Our Father loves us even as He has loved His own Special Son (John 17:23). *The Father's SYMPATHY: Our Father comforts us with His love and pity (Psalm 103:13-14; Romans 5:5).
All the love that ever was in any parents towards children, is but as one drop of the infinite ocean of fatherly love that there is in God unto his people. -Jeremiah Burroughs

*The Father's INSTRUCTION, DIRECTION, and LEADING: Our Father leads us in the paths of righteousness (Isaiah 47:17; 54:13; Psalm 23:3; 48:14; Romans 8:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; Proverbs 3:5-6). *The Father's PROVISION: Our Father provides everything that we need as His children, both physically and spiritually (Matthew 6:25-34; 7:9-11; Philippians 4:19). *The Father's PROTECTION: Our Father will protect us from all harm (Psalm 34:10; 89:18; Matthew 6:31-33), preserve us, and keep us from falling (Psalm 91:11-12; 1 Peter 1:5).
God's sons in this life are like little children, always tripping, and stumbling, and falling, and so weak that they could never get up again but for him; but by reasons of his hand that is upon them, his everlasting Arm that is under them. -Samuel Willard

*The Father's DISCIPLINE: Our Father corrects and chastens us for our sanctification (Hebrews 12:6; see all of vv3-11). Illustration: Our Father deals more faithfully with His adopted sons than David did in this regard toward Ammon and Absalom, his natural sons.
* Our sufferings are, for our education and instruction in his family. -John Owen * God's chastenings are badges of our sonship and of the Father's love. -Joel Beeke

VIII. Scriptural insights from the doctrine of Adoption

What Scriptural insights does the doctrine of adoption clarify for us? *Adoption helps us to understand why we ask for forgiveness daily when we are already justified.
It is in the context of this relationship with God as our heavenly Father that we are to understand the prayer that Jesus told his disciples to pray daily, 'Our Father who art in heaven. . .forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us' (Matt.6:9-12). This daily prayer for forgiveness of sins is not a prayer that God would give us justification again and again throughout our lives, for justification is a onetime event that occurs immediately after we trust in Christ with saving faith. Rather, the prayer for forgiveness of sins each day is a prayer that God's fatherly relationship with us, which has been disrupted by sin that displeased him, be restored. . .The prayer, 'Forgive us our sins,' therefore, is one in which we are relating not to God as eternal judge of the universe, but to God as a Father. -Wayne Grudem

*Adoption helps us to understand how God can be fully pleased with us in Christ through justification, yet at times displeased with our actions or conduct. We are, in one sense, fully pleasing to God because of Jesus Christ:
Psalm 149:4, For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Ephesians 5:2, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us,

an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Yet, Scripture also exhorts us to walk in a manner pleasing to Him:

2 Corinthians 5:9, Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. Ephesians 5:8-10, for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord . Colossians 1:9-12, For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father , who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of saints in Light. Colossians 3:20, Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is wellpleasing to the Lord.

IX. Adoption and other aspects of salvation3

Adoption and Redemption (PlannedAccomplishedApplied):
*Our adoption was the grande END for which GOD the FATHER elected us

Ephesians 1:5, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself. . .

. . .the PURPOSE for which CHRIST the SON made atonement for us (Gal.4:4-5). . .

Galatians 4:4-5, But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
. . .and the BASIS for which the HOLY SPIRIT was given unto us (Galatians 4:6).

Galatians 4:6, Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father! Regeneration and Adoption:
REGENERATION Deals with our nature Gives the nature of sons The Spirit's renewing Engraves upon us the likeness of the Father Makes us partakers of the divine nature ADOPTION Deals with our status Gives the name of sons The Spirit's inhabiting Relates us to God as our Father Makes us partakers of the divine affections

3 Much from the sections on Regeneration and Justification taken (very gratefully) from Joel Beeke's landmark work, A Puritan Theology.

*QUESTION: It seems that these two doctrines are at odds. Which is it? Are we born into God's family (through regeneration), or are we adopted in God's family (adoption)? *ANSWER: It seems to be both: It may be that the Scripture represents us as entering into the family of God by bothby generation and by adoption. -John Murray *OT Picture: Adoption without Regeneration. A few examples from the Old Testament of those who had the status of sons, but not the nature of sons:
*Ham the son of Noah *Ishmael the son of Abraham *Esau the son of Isaac *Absalom the son of David

Justification and Adoption: How they are SIMILAR. . . *Both have to do with reversing our status. *The status of both is an act rather than a process. *Both adoption and justification are instantaneous (rather than progressive). *Both are complete once for all: adoption is no more subject to degrees than justification is. How they are DIFFERENT. . .
JUSTIFICATION Involves a legal relationship ADOPTION Involves a personal relationship; bringing us from the courtroom into the family. The language of law The language of love Declares we are right before God Declares we are loved by God God is our Judge God is our Father Conveys citizenship in the kingdom of God Conveys sonship in the family of God

OT Picture: Justification without adoption: The fractured and strange relationship between king David and his son Absalom resembles a state of justification without adoption. For when Absalom returned to Judah, after having been exiled on account of murdering his brother Amnon, he is reinstated by his father the king (2 Samuel 14-15), and thus justified, as it were, before the king. His crime has been forgiven. Yet, it is apparent that the affectionate familiarity of the father-son relationship is not fully restored. Absalom is forgiven of his crimes before the judge, but no longer feasts at the table of his father. The law no longer condemns him, but his father yet refuses to embrace him. . .God does not so deal with us: all those whom he pardons in justification, He also embraces in adoption.
IN SHORT: In regeneration God gives us new spiritual life within. In justification God gives us right legal standing before Him. But in adoption God makes us members of His family. -Wayne Grudem

X. Applications of the doctrine of Adoption

If we have been adopted by our heavenly Father. . .

*Let us then TRUST Him: Psalm 27:1, The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? *Let us then COMMUNE with Him: John 15:9, Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
Psalm 62:8, Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. 1 Peter 5:7, Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

*Let us then seek to PLEASE and HONOR Him: Malachi 1:6, 'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. *Let us then ASK Him for the good things He provides: Luke 11:13, If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? *Let us then SUBMIT to Him: Matthew 6:9-10, Our Father. . .Your will be done.
Matthew 26:39, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet now as I will, but as You will.

*Let us then HUMBLE ourselves as His little children: Before Him: Matthew 18:3-4, Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Isaiah 66:2, 'For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being,' declares the Lord. 'But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.' 1 Peter 5:6, Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.

Before other Brothers and Sisters: Philippians 2:3-5, Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus *Let us then IMITATE Him: Luke 6:35-36, But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Romans 15:7, Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. James 1:27, Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

WORKS CITED

Beeke, Joel. A Puritan Theology: Doctrine For Life. Buchanan, James. The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit. Gill, John. Doctrinal Divinity. Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. McCheyne, Robert Murray. Adoption: A sermon on 1 John 3:1. Murray, John. Redemption Accomplished and Applied. Packer, J.I. Knowing God. Perkins, William. A Cloud of Faithful Witnesses. Platt, David. Crucifixion, Salvation, and the Glory of God. Watson, Thomas. A Body of Divinity. Webb, Robert Alexander. Christian Salvation: It's Doctrine and Experience.