Father and Son sculpture from Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, Norway.
When I was in college, in the mid-seventies, I had the opportunity to spend thirty days in Europe each year. As I begin to prepare for this post, and give some thought to what image I would like to present, this sculpture popped into my mind.
I can recall standing in front of this Vigeland sculpture and feeling a wave of emotion swell over me. If I had to describe my feelings, in one word, when I contemplate this sculpture, to me it would be.....longing.
Here on earth I feel a sense of loss from this sculpture and thinking of eternity I feel a deep sense of longing.
Our next journey, in the text of Dr. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, is with the Doctrine of Adoption. The Bible tells us that we are adopted into God's family and become sons of God.
So far, in our journey to understand God's redemptive plan, we have started with the concept of Common Grace, then to Election, the Gospel Call, the Effectual Call, Regeneration, Saving Faith, Repentance,and Justification.
Let's now turn our attention to the subject of the Doctrine of Adoption. Please read on...
The definition of adoption: Adoption is an act of God whereby he makes us members of his family.
Scriptural Evidence for Adoption
John 1:12, "But to all who receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
In contrast, Paul says that before our conversion we were "children of wrath". Ephesians 2:3, ..."among whom we all lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
Romans 8:14-17, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."
Paul further tells us that the adoption process was not fully realized in the old covenant. He tells us that "the law" was our guardian until Christ made us children of God through justified faith. Here is Paul in Galatians 3:23-26, "Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith."
Paul also tells us, in Galatians 4:4-7, that the Holy Spirit bears witness, in our hearts that we are sons of God. "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
Lastly, in this section, Paul tells us that although we are sons of God, the full realization of this won't be until we have our new resurrection bodies. So in a sense, the elect of God await full benefits of this privilege upon Christ's return. Here is Romans 8:23, "And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
In closing this particular section, Dr. Grudem makes a very important observation. When these verses talk about being "sons" of God, it is not at the exclusion of women. In the first century Jewish tradition, the inheritance went to the sons of the family. So Paul is making the point that we are all (men and women) "sons" of God in that we all receive this inheritance and become heirs with Christ.
Adoption Follows Conversion and is an Outcome of Saving Faith
Galatians 3:26, "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith."
Adoption Is Distinct From Justification
Dr. Grudem, in his text, wants us to understand that Adoption is distinct and separate from Regeneration and Justification. He points to the angels for example. They were created by God and live in glorified bodies but are not members of the family of God. They were not adopted into the family.
Grudem further wonders that isn't is possible that God could have created a race that is both regenerated and justified but not adopted into the family of God? He isn't making a case that such a being exists, he is simply pointing out that adoption is a further blessing to us and also a distinct blessing. He even goes on to say that perhaps this is the single greatest blessing, even above forgiveness of sins! Hmm...I look forward to his thoughts in this regard.
The Privileges of Adoption
Dr. Grudem outlines the privileges of our adoption:
- Being able to speak and relate to God as "Father". We don't come to God as king or judge, although he clearly is that, but through adoption we are allowed to come to him as Father. 1 John 3:1, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are..." As his children, the Father understands our needs (Ps. 103:13-14), the Father gives us many good gifts (Luke 11:13), the Father gives us the inheritance of heaven (1 Cor. 2:9), the Father continues to forgive our sins after justification (Matt 6:9-12).
- Parental guidance from God through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14)
- God disciplines us as his children (Hebrews 12:5-6). At first blush this may not seem a privilege, but certainly every parent understands that loving discipline towards their child is clearly a blessing and a privilege.
- The privilege of sharing in Christ's suffering and subsequent glory (Romans 8:17). This one is a little more difficult to wrap the mind around. But Christ suffered tremendously on our behalf. As a little child desires to be like his father, so too it is a blessing for us to suffer and also receive subsequent glory from our trials here on earth. God doesn't promise that everything will be perfect happiness on this earth. We live in fallen bodies and are surrounded by evil. Some of that is going to rub off on us from time to time and it is certainly going to affect our lives. Imagine, for example the parents of a child addicted to drugs. Tremendous suffering. Yet, somehow we can relate our suffering to Christ and understand that this is temporal and we will receive tremendous glory in our death and resurrection.
- We have the privilege of being members of one family with other Christians (1 Timothy 5:1-2)
- As children, we love to imitate our Father (Eph. 5:1).
There is a lifetime of things to meditate on in this lesson. I have never really understood how one would meditate on the Words of God. I certainly understand now. These things, I will be mulling over in my mind for the rest of my life.
To be completely honest, the hole in my heart is not healed this day. BUT...I can see clearly through these words, and the meditation of my heart, that there is healing here.
Does that make sense?????
Link to Dr. Wayne Grudem's lecture on Adoption (Membership in God's Family)
Dr. Grudem has a strong appreciation for the old hymns and their very rich texts. At the end of this lesson (and every lesson) there is a recommended hymn to sing to understand the texts meaning and sing back to God in praise.
The song at the end of this chapter is "Children of the Heavenly Father". This is a great Swedish hymn written in the 19th century by Caroline V. Sandell-Berg who is pictured here to the left.
Here is the text to her hymn:
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.Lo, their very hairs He numbers,
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His ev’ry blessing
And His help in woes distressing.Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.
To close this post, I have embedded the St. Olaf Choir singing a beautiful rendition of this hymn:
