WLC 74

Q74. What is 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.

Proof texts

• 1 John 3:1 — [1] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
• Eph. 1:5 — [5] he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
• Gal. 4:4-5 — [4] But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
• John 1:12 — [12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
• 2 Cor. 4:18 — [18] as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
• Rev. 3:12 — [12] The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
• Gal. 4:6 — [6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
• Ps. 103:13 — [13] As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
• Prov. 14:26 — [26] In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
• Matt. 6:32 — [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
• Heb. 6:12 — [12] so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
• Rom. 8:17 — [17] 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.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited 1 John 3:1 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 12 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?