-28 Chapter 28. Of Adoption.

1-28 Chapter 28. Of Adoption.

1. Adoption is the gracious sentence of God whereby he accepts the faithful for Christ’s sake, into the dignity of Sons. John 1:12. As many as received him, to them he gave power to be made the Sons of God, to those who believe in his name.
2. It is called a “gracious sentence of God,” because it manifests the gracious will of God toward men. 1 John 3:1, See what love the Father has shown to us, that we should be called the Sons of God.
3. This sentence is pronounced with the same difference in degrees as justification.442 For it was first in God’s predestination. Ephesians 1:5, He has predestined us, that he might adopt us to be Sons. Afterward it was in Christ. Galatians 4:4-5, God has sent forth his Son, that we might receive adoption. After that it was in believers themselves. Galatians 4:6, And because you are Sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying “Abba, Father.”
4. Adoption is properly said only of the faithful that are called and justified, John 1:12.443 For by adoption we are not made just, which would necessarily follow if adoption were part of justification itself (as some would have it); nor is it being called to Christ. Rather, it is a certain excellent dignity flowing from the application of Christ. Romans 8:17, Heirs together with Christ.
5. Yet calling and justification serve as a foundation for this relation of Adoption: for the right of Adoption is obtained by Faith, and by the righteousness of Faith, John 1:12.
6. But although Adoption follows upon Faith, it does not immediately follow — justification comes between.
For Adoption, of its own nature, fore-requires and pre-supposes the reconciliation which is found in Justification.
7. Hence, all the faithful expect Heaven by a double-title, as it were; namely by the title of Redemption, which they have by justification, and by the title of Sonship, which they have by adoption.
8. Yet this ought to be understood in such a way, that the title of Redemption is a foundation of this right; and Adoption adds a certain manner of excellence and dignity to it.
9. From this arises the FIRST DIFFERENCE between Divine and human Adoption: for human Adoption concerns a person who is stranger, who has no right to the inheritance except by force of Adoption. But the faithful, who have no right to the inheritance of life by natural generation, yet have this right adjudged to them by virtue of Regeneration, Faith, and Justification.
10. From this also follows the SECOND DIFFERENCE: that human adoption is only an extrinsic denomination,444 and it communicates those things which are external; but Divine adoption is a relation so real, that it is also founded in an intrinsic action, and it communicates a new inward life.
11. This Adoption is made for Christ’s sake, because Christ not only deserved it as Redeemer — Galatians 4:5, That he might redeem them to receive the adoption of Sons — but being already applied by Faith, he is also the bond of this Union. Romans 8:17; Romans 8:29, Heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ; to be conformed to the Image of his Son.
12. For as Christ in Justification is applied as a garment to cover our sins, so in Adoption he is applied as a brother and Prince of our salvation. Hebrews 2:10-13, Many Sons; the Prince of Salvation. He that sanctifies, and those who are sanctified, are all of one. He is not ashamed to call them Brethren. Behold, I and the children whom God has given me.445
13. This application and conjunction is so near, that although Christ is properly the only “natural” Son of God, and much more the first begotten of God, yet by this grace of Adoption and communion with Christ, all the faithful are also said to be the first begotten of God. Hebrews 12:22-23, You have come to the universal assembly and meeting of the firstborn who are written in Heaven.
14. From this it also appears that believers are the Sons of God in a far different manner than Adam was the Son of God in the first Creation. Adam might metaphorically be called the Son of God, because of that dependence which he had on God, combined with that similitude and Image to which he was created.446 Yet he was not the Son of God by this mystical conjunction and communion with Christ, who is the natural Son of God.447
15. From this arises the THIRD DIFFERENCE between human adoption and divine. Human adoption was brought in for lack of a natural Son; but the divine Adoption is not from any lack, but out of an abundant goodness, whereby a likeness of a natural Son and a mystical conjunction with him, is communicated to the adopted Sons.
16. That dignity which this Adoption brings with it, not only far exceeds that common relation whereby God is said to be the Father of every Creature, but also that relation which we had before the Fall, because that relation was weak; but by reason of the band,448 this relation remains forever. John 8:32, The servant does not abide in the house forever, but the Son abides forever.
17. Hence the Name of God and of Christ are pronounced upon the faithful by a special right and reason, 1 John 3:1;449 just as Jacob taking the sons of Joseph into adoption would have them called by his name, Genesis 48:5.450
18. Hence also, the faithful are taken as it were, into God’s Family, and are of his household, Galatians 6:10.451 That is, they may always be under the fatherly tuition of God, depending upon him for nourishment, education, and perpetual conservation: just as in olden times among the Hebrews, adoption was often testified of in no other way than by nurturing and educating their next of kin in blood, Esther 2:7.452
19. Together with the dignity of SONS, there is also joined the condition of HEIRS. Romans 8:17, If sons, then also heirs. But this inheritance to which the faithful are adopted, is eternal blessedness. This is why sometimes in Scripture adoption comprehends all that glory which is prepared for the faithful, and is expected by them in Heaven. Romans 8:23, Looking for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
20. Therefore eternal blessedness pertains to the faithful; and it is communicated to them, not out of justice for their deserts, but from that grace by which they are taken into the number of sons. Galatians 3:29, If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs by promise.
21. From this arises a certain FOURTH DIFFERENCE between human adoption and divine: for human adoption is ordained that the Son might succeed the Father in the inheritance; but divine adoption is not ordained for succession, but for participation in the assigned inheritance — because both the Father and his first begotten Son live forever, and so it allows no succession.
22. A proper adjunct of this adoption is the testimony of the Spirit which is given to the faithful, whereby this dignity is sealed together with the inheritance which is to be expected from it; and it is called the SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, Romans 8:15-16; Romans 8:23; Galatians 4:5-7.453
23. But the Spirit is said to be communicated to the faithful, not because Faith goes before all operations of the Spirit (as some unskillfully gather) — for the very first regeneration and conversion is plainly attributed to the Holy Spirit by Christ. John 3:5-6; John 3:8, Born of the Spirit.454 — but because it is only after believers have already believed, that they receive this operation of the Holy Spirit whereby they are sealed, as with an earnest of their inheritance. Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; Galatians 3:14.455
24. And from this it also sufficiently appears that assurance of salvation is not properly justifying Faith, but rather a fruit of that Faith; because the Apostle expressly says, After you believed, you were sealed, Ephesians 1:13.
25. The first fruit of adoption is that Christian liberty whereby all believers are set at liberty by a manumission,456 as it were, from the bondage of the Law, sin, and the world. John 8:32; John 8:36, If the son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed.457 Romans 6:22, Being freed from sin, we are made servants of God; Galatians 4:26, the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all; Hebrews 2:15, That he might set at liberty those who for fear of death were subject to bondage all their lifetime.
26. The second fruit of adoption is that the faithful, partaking of the dignity of Christ, are also made by him Prophets, Priests, and Kings, as it were, Revelation 1:6.458
27. The third fruit of adoption is that all the Creatures,459 and those things which are done by them, are either subject to the dominion and pure use of the faith (Titus 1:15; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23), or else they perform the office of Ministry for them, as it is affirmed about the Angels, Hebrews 1:14;461 or at least it turns to their good, Romans 8:28.462