The blessing of adoption.
The apostle has already traced justification to faith, the inheritance to faith, life to faith; now he traces adoption to faith. Believers are not children of Abraham merely, but sons of God. It is clear, then, that they are no longer children "in need of a schoolmaster." "For ye are all"—both Jews and Gentiles—"sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
I. THE FOUNDATION OF SONSHIP.
1. It originates in the distinguishing grace of God. We "are predestinated to the adoption of children" (Ephesians 1:4-6).
2. It is based on the incarnation of the eternal Son, who became the Son of man that his people might become the sons of God. The Father loves them in his Son, and looks upon them with the complacency with which he regards his Son.
3. It is based on the mediatorial work of Christ; for, as it is in Christ "we have redemption through his blood," so in him we :have obtained the inheritance." Besides, God has sent forth his Son "to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Galatians 4:4, Galatians 4:5).
II. THE INSTRUMENT OF ADOPTION—FAITH. We become "sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (John 1:12). It is clear, then, that we do not become sons of God by nature.
1. We are "by nature children of wrath."
2. We only become sons on believing.
III. THE ADOPTION IS COMMON TO ALL BELIEVERS, WHETHER JEW OR GENTILE. It is not enjoyed in a varying degree by believers, as some seem to think, as if God regarded them with varying degrees of affection. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." The adoption carries with it Divine favour, discipline, training, tenderness, conformity to the image of God's Son.
IV. IT IS A PRIVILEGE CONCERNING WHICH BELIEVERS ARE NOT LEFT IN DOUBT; for we receive the witness of the Spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).