1 John 3
Justification gives us two positive rights: the right to adoption as sons and the right to eternal life. The Westminster Confession has only one paragraph in the ordo salutis on adoption, but the article is especially rich.
All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have his name put upon them, receive the Spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry, Abba, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by him, as by a father: yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption; and inherit the promises, as heirs of eternal salvation. (WCF 12.1)
Notice the who, the why, and the what.
The who: All those who are justified. This is not a blessing for the special few, but for all those who are truly justified. Adoption is distinct from justification, but never separate from it. If justification is the change in a legal verdict, adoption is the change in our legal status. Adoption is the familial change of status that is conjoined to our judicial change of status. Adoption reminds us that we do not relate to God only as Judge, but also as Father.
The why: Our adoption is in Christ and for the sake of Christ. He is the older brother, a Son by natural right, who makes the way for us to be sons by grace. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12–13).
The what: The Confession lists thirteen blessings we enjoy as God’s adopted children.
1. We are counted in the number of God’s children.
2. We are no longer slaves, but free people.
3. We have the privilege of being at home.
4. We have God’s name upon us as members of his family.
5. We have access to the throne of grace.
6. We can speak intimately to God, crying out, “Abba, Father.”
7. We are pitied by our heavenly Father.
8. We are protected by our heavenly Father.
9. We are chastened by our heavenly Father.
10. We will never be cast off or disowned.
11. We are sealed and secure for all time.
12. We have an inheritance coming full of unspeakable blessings.
13. We are heirs of eternal life.
And so we exclaim: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1).
Kevin DeYoung is the senior pastor at Christ Covenant Church (PCA) in Matthews, North Carolina and associate professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.
