Archive for June, 2008
James Buchanan, a Scottish theologian and pastor of the 19th Century, writes the following about the necessity of adoption:
“This closer and more endearing relation to God, which is constituted by Adoption, is necessary, in addition to that which is included within our Justification, to complete the view of our Christian privileges, and to enhance our [...]
Richard Phillips, one of our speakers for our T4A conference this fall, writes:
“Adoption makes us full members of God’s family, not second-class children. It provides us all the privileges of sonship, with obligations as well. What are these privileges? First, we have a relationship with God as our Father; we come to [...]
Dr. Howard Griffith, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at RTS, writes:
“Seen in the light of the ultimate goal of God’s work, adoption is the very heart of the gospel” (“‘The First Title of the Spirit’: Adoption in Calvin’s Soteriology.” In Evangelical Quarterly 73, 152).
If our adoption in Christ is this important, it should not surprise [...]
In his commentary on Galatians, Philip Ryken writes:
“The . . . second purpose for Christ’s coming was ‘that we might receive adoption as sons’ (Gal. 4:5). Christ’s coming had an adopting purpose as well as atoning purpose. God sent his Son to make us all his sons and daughters. Christ accomplished our adoption [...]
We now have all of our speakers for our Together for Adoption 2008 Regional Conference.
Theme: Our Adoption in Christ: What it Means for Us and for Orphans
Date: November 1, 2008
Location: Southside Fellowship (Greenville, SC)
Sessions and Speakers:
The Good News of Adoption (Ephesians 1-2)
Rick Phillips
God’s Joy in Adoption
Russell Moore
Adoption and the Multi-Ethnic Family of God (Ephesians 1-2)
Carl Robbins
Our Adoption and Visiting Orphans in Their Affliction (Romans 8:22-23)
Tullian Tchividjian (Josh [...]
Commenting on Ephesians 1:3-6, Dr. Michael Barrett, President of Geneva Reformed Seminary, writes:
“The adoption of children is specifically defined as being accomplished through the agency or mediation of Jesus Christ (v. 4). The Lord Jesus as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity is the eternal object of His Father’s love. Christ testified to this [...]
“Christians often find it difficult to believe that God’s unfailing love is real. This is where the knowledge and increasing assurance that we are children of God is a refuge and shield against the attacks of Satan. Just as part of his plan of action in his temptation of Jesus included the issue of whether [...]
“The Foundation of sonship is based in the incarnation of the eternal Son, who became the Son of man, partaker of flesh and blood, that His people might become the sons of God” (George Smeaton, The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, 209).
Sermon: Heirs with Christ: The Glorious Doctrine of Adoption
Mark Lincoln, pastor of Crossroads Bible Church, recently preached an excellent sermon on adoption at Desert Springs Church entitled “Heirs with Christ: The Glorious Doctrine of Adoption.”
(HT: Zach Nielsen via Justin Taylor)
The Church’s Understanding of Justification in Comparison to Its Understanding of Adoption
Regarding the church’s understanding of objective truth, John L. Girardeau writes:
It is needless to observe that its growth, in the history of the church, has largely depended upon the challenge of acknowledged truth by errorists, by the conflict of theological views, and by the thorough-going discussion which has for these reasons been necessitated. In [...]
Our Father which art in heaven…(Matt. 6:9).
The doctrine of adoption has profound ramifications for the Christian life. If we are true believers, it addresses so many aspects of our walk that it becomes a dominant metaphor for our salvation. One particular area of encouragement comes in relation to our prayer life.
First, consider in general the [...]
