WSC 34
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q34. What is adoption?
Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.
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.
- 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,
- 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
- 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?
- 3 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WLC Q74 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?