Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadR.A. Torrey Collection: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Man): 07 Adoption
TOPIC: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Man) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 07 Adoption
Other Subjects in this Topic:
Ch 07 Adoption
I. WHAT IS ADOPTION?
Etymologically the word translated "adoption" means "the placing a son."
In Greek usage outside of the Bible, from Pindar and Herodotus down, the two words from which we derive the word translated "adoption" mean "an adopted son." In Greek usage within the Bible, the term is used thus: Rom_9:4 "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises." (Compare to Exo_4:22-23; Deu_14:1; Isa_43:6; Jer_31:9; and Hos_11:1.) Rom_8:15; Rom_8:23 — "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father.... And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." Eph_1:5 — "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Gal_4:5 — "To redeem them that were under the law, that ye might receive the adoption of sons."
These are all the passages in which the word "adoption" is found. Here the word means the placing or adoption as sons. In regeneration we receive the nature of sons of God; in adoption we receive the position of sons of God.
Regeneration is a change of nature. Adoption is a change of relationship.
II. THE ORIGIN AND GROUNDS OF ADOPTION. Eph_1:3-6 RV — "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto 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."
Adoption originates in the eternal, sovereign, unmerited grace of God. Not because of any merit seen or foreseen in us, but because of His own loving, gracious choice, He foreordained us to adoption as sons. He did not foreordain us to adoption as sons because we were fit for the place; but, having foreordained us to adoption as sons, He makes us fit for the place to which He has graciously foreordained us.
Adoption is through Jesus — i.e., on the grounds of what He is and does.
Because of what His only begotten Son is and does, God adopts many sons.
III. WHO RECEIVES THE GRACE OF ADOPTION? Gal_3:25-26 — "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster, but ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal_4:4-7 — "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Joh_1:12 RV — "But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name."
Proposition: All those who believe in or receive Christ Jesus, receive the adoption of sons — i.e., they obtain a place or right as sons in the family of God.
IV. WHEN DOES ADOPTION OCCUR? Gal_3:25-26 — "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal_4:6 — "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father." 1Jn_3:1-2 RV — "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God: and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is."
First Proposition: The believer has already received his place as a son in the family of God.
We now have the rights of sons; we are not under tutors, governors, nor law. All things in the house are ours. Rom_8:23 — "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
Second Proposition: The full manifestation of our position as sons (the completion of our placing as sons of God) lies in the future and will not be realized until the body as well as the Spirit is redeemed. Col_3:4 RV — "When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory."
V. THE PROOF OF OUR ADOPTION. Gal_3:23-26 RV — "For before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
So that the law hath been our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith is come, we arc no longer under a tutor. For ye are all sons of God, through faith in Christ Jesus."
First Proposition: We know by the explicit statement of God's word that we are no longer under the law, but have a place as sons in the family of God. Gal_4:6 — "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father." Rom_8:15-16 RV — "For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God."
Second Proposition: Because we are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts.
This Spirit of Christ bears witness together with our spirit that we are children of God, crying, "Abba, Father!"
VI. THE RESULTS OF ADOPTION. Gal_4:6 — "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father."
First Proposition: God sends the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba Father. Rom_8:15 — "For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Second Proposition: We are delivered from bondage and fear and brought into filial trust in God. Gal_4:4-6 — "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
Gal_3:25-26 — "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster, for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Third Proposition: We are delivered from the bondage under the law to serve in the liberty of sons. Rom_8:17 — "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Fourth Proposition: Having received a place as children, we are made heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We are made heirs of all God is and all God has.