Adoption as Sons of God
Last updated: 2026-04-10
Adoption is an act of God's free grace whereby those justified through faith in Christ are received into His family, bearing His name and becoming heirs of eternal salvation. This status grants believers intimate access to the Father, fatherly care, and the promise of inheritance, all grounded entirely in the work of Jesus Christ.
📖 The Grace of Adoption
Adoption is not something we earn through merit, but an act of God's sovereign and free grace. As stated in the 1689 LBCF Ch.12 §1, those who are justified are taken into the number of God's children in and for the sake of His only Son, Jesus Christ. This means that while Christ is the eternal and natural Son of God, we are made children by adoption. This transition from strangers to sons is the bedrock of our identity in the gospel, securing us as part of God's own household.
Sources: 1689 LBCF Ch.12 §1 · Galatians 4:4-7
🛡️ Privileges of the Children of God
Because we are adopted, we are invited to call upon God as our Father. The 1689 LBCF Ch.12 §1 outlines that we receive the spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry 'Abba, Father,' with boldness. We are no longer under the spirit of fear, but are objects of His fatherly pity, protection, and provision. Even when the Lord finds it necessary to chasten us, it is the discipline of a loving Father, not a judge. We are sealed to the day of redemption and serve as fellow-heirs with Christ in glory.
Sources: 1689 LBCF Ch.12 §1 · Romans 8:15-17
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