ADOPTION (2)
1 Peter 1: 3-12
Exposition by Max A Forsythe
This morning for our second section on the doctrinal teaching of Adoption,
we will turn to the Larger Catechism which provides more detailed
instruction on this wonderful grace given freely to us by our Father in
heaven. Of this grace I have experienced more than a full measure in my few
short years. In the sixties, I tried foolishly to volunteer for service in
Southeast Asia twice. Both times, the Lord thought better and sent me
instead on a seven month "hardship" tour in Germany where I was able to use
up most of my accumulated leave time before flying home in the midst of the
Czech crisis.
Providentially, most of my professional church problems have been because I
stood solidly with the Confession of Westminster instead of honoring the
emerging humanist consensus of the sixties and seventies. Again in the
public arena, the persecutions and trials that have plagued my secular
career have almost all been related to the fact that I am old enough to
remember from my classical education that God is God, men were once men and
the Western culture was once civilized! And by civilized I mean that the
sciences, philosophy and literature were once hand maidens to the theology
of the Reformers.
Now, I do not believe in a theology of naming and claiming financial
rewards, but the Lord has indeed kept me and my family under the shadow of
His wing. When I first went looking for a job in 1963, the first
interviewer I talked to asked me to report in three days later to start
work. Ever since, I have always had more than enough employment to keep me
busy and out of mischief! In addition, I have been blessed with enough
common sense to listen to the wisdom of the ancient and reformed fathers of
the faith.
Hard experience and even being denied ordination because I would not
compromise on confessing Christ has gained me in early middle age a
wonderful congregation and a growing audience around the world wide web. To
honor the wisdom of the church fathers I have vowed to be very cautious in
my theology so that I may not add to nor take away from the very Word of God
revealed to His Church, the bride of Christ.
Last week we looked at the responsibilities inherent in our adoption into
the family of God. This week, I would like to show you some of the benefits
of belonging to that family in this life as well as in the next! From both
the Confession of Faith and the Larger Catechism I have outlined eight
privileges that are ours by adoption.
These eight exceptional benefits will be the focus of our brief survey for
the remainder of out time this morning.
Our first benefit is noted in John's Gospel, 1:12-13 Our second benefit is found in Revelation 3: 12 The third benefit comes from the presence of God's own Spirit within us.
The fourth benefit is the life long experience that I began with this
morning. We may find the scriptural definition in Matthew 6: 31-33 Fifth, we benefit from certain liberties and privileges from being sons of
God. Paul testifies to this eternal benefit in Romans 8: 17 Some time ago, my Father received a family Bible that contained a short news
report from the troubled times in the old country. The report was of a
Presbyterian mother who decided to take her children home early from the
evening church service. Instead they were intercepted by an angry mob who
murdered them just because they were Presbyterians. That little article
explained why those names were so common down through the generations of our
family. I know, that is perhaps a benefit that you would like to avoid, but
it the time comes that the world has so long ignored how well we live, some
of us may be called to show them how much better we can die!
Our sixth benefit is mentioned by Paul in Romans 6: 12 Benefit seven brings us back to our passage for today. Look again at verse
four: Our final benefit comes for our Father's ongoing love for us. If we belong
to Him, we are not going to get away with just anything. I well remember
the small town where I grew up. I was spending the day in the village and
one of my friends wanted to break the law against firecrackers. I didn't
think we could get away with it, and I was right. One of the little old
ladies who belonged to the church called the Town Marshal, who drove right
over. He was upset, since he worked the third shift, and his sleep had been
rudely interrupted. Not only did he confiscate the firecrackers, but he
called my parents, who came early to pick me up!
Yes, there are sins and there are secret desires that lead us all astray.
Some are allowed to remind us that we are just barely saved. Some sins
however, are punished immediately because the impact they have on our
personal work and witness as members of Christ's Church. As chagrined and
embarrassed as we might be, we still have to repent in awe before our Maker
who loves us so much that He not only sent Christ to die for us, but also
calls us to be heirs with Christ in the holy family that is His own Church.
May we learn always to cherish these benefits of adoption even as we go on
through sanctification to prepare ourselves for the glory of heaven's
coming at the end of the age.
1. We are received into the number of his children. John 1:12-13 2. We have his name put upon us. Revelation 3:12 3. The Spirit of his Son given to us. Galatians 4:6 4. We are under his fatherly care and dispensations. Matthew 6:31-33 5. We have all the liberties and privileges of
the sons of God. Romans 8:17 6. We are made heirs of all the promises. Hebrews 6:12 7. We are fellow heirs with Christ in glory. 1 Peter 1:4 8. We are chastened by him as by a father. Hebrews 12:5b-6 "Yet to all who
received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human
decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
This supernatural birth
indicates that we must derive our spiritual nature from the God of heaven.
How little humans make of this great, great blessing. By comparison,
several hundred years ago, a simple little tulip bulb genetically mutated to
what we now call a Rembrandt color scheme. If you know your tulips, they
are the ones that look like they were dipped in a paint bucket where two or
three colors were swirled together. The ordinarily cautious Dutch bid the
price of those mutant bulbs to fantastic heights before the market finally
collapsed to an ordinary level. So much excitement about a mere flower
bulb, mutations happen in nature all of the time, yet something more
wonderful happens when the Father of heaven engages our hearts and brings
about a new birth so that we may be named His children forever.
"Him who overcomes I will
make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it, I will
write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new
Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also
write on him my new name."
Why is it that worldly mankind will murder other
humans just to take their name brand shoes or jackets, but show no envy or
desire to put on the Name of Christ? Pathetic indeed is the world where the
Name of Christ is little honored. Are you proud of the name Christian? It
has been worn by the bride of Christ since the first generation of
Christians who were so named in the Middle East. A strong name it has been
and the world has been changed countless times by those who honor their Lord
and reflect His greater glory of the Son in their lives and witness.
"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the
Spirit who calls out, Abba, Father."
Many years ago, when my conversion was
being polished, there was a night when I prayed for what seemed hours on
end, and it really wasn't me thinking of the words that I was saying. That
has not been a common experience for me, but it was enough of an experience
to convince me of the validity of this particular benefit.
"So do
not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What
shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
"Now if we are
children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if
indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his
glory."
This benefit is indeed difficult to appreciate while we are
sometimes in the midst of experiencing it. It is like King Henry V
addressing his troops in the classical language of Shakespeare just before
the battle of Agincourt. One day, Henry told his tired and worn companies,
you will remember this day, show your wounds and men now in bed will wish
that they were here. How glorious in the sight of God is the honorable
death of His martyrs down through the ages.
"We do not want you
to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit
what has been promised."
I am reminded of the little Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins,
who at the end of J.R.R. Tolkien's first volume, complains about all his
troubles in helping the promises of old to come true. The kindly Gandalf
observes, that the prophesies were not told especially for his benefit, but
for all of those who would come after. We like that little Hobbit do have
to go on and make our calling and salvation certain and sure!
"into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -kept in
heaven for you".
Here we see, that everything of lasting importance is
waiting for us in heaven. All of the vain treasures of earth that would
charm us the most, do not last. And how true it is, we cannot take our
earthly treasures with us. Isn't it just absolutely amazing, that we can
have all the benefits of Christ's Kingdom here and then realize that they
are only a shadow of what awaits us at the end of the age?
-
Amen.
Resources Used:
Green, James B. A Harmony of the Westminster Presbyterian Standards.
Hodge, A.A. The Confession of Faith.
(PCA) The Confession of Faith: The Shorter Catechism.
Watson, Thomas. A Body of Divinity, 10 Commandments & Lord's Prayer
Places Preached:
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America)
Box 132049 -- Columbus, OH 43213-8049
WSC034b 09 February 97
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