The Great Doctrines of the Bible Part 25

Gal. 2:16--"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ," or as the Revised Version margin has it: "But only through faith in Jesus Christ." Rom.

3:26--"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

"Him that believeth in Jesus" is contrasted with "as many as are of the works of the law" (Gal. 3:10). When Paul in Romans 4:5 says: "Now to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the unG.o.dly," he gives the death-blow to Jewish righteousness.

"His faith is counted for righteousness;" that pictures the man who, despairing of all dependence upon his works, casts himself unreservedly upon the mercy of G.o.d, as set forth in Jesus Christ, for his justification. Thus it come to pa.s.s that "all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39). The best of men need to be saved by faith in Jesus Christ, and the worst need only that. As there is no difference in the need, neither is there in the method of its application. On this common ground all saved sinners meet, and will stand forever. The first step, then, in justification is to despair of works; the second, to believe on him that justifieth the unG.o.dly.

We are not to slight good works, for they have their place, but they follow, not precede justification. The workingman is not the justified man, but the justified man is the workingman. Works are not meritorious, but they meet with their reward in the life of the justified. The tree _shows_ its life by its fruits, but it was alive before the fruit or even the leaves appeared. (See under Faith, II. 3, p. 148, for further suggestions regarding the relation between faith and works.)

Summing up we may say that men are justified _judicially_ by G.o.d. (Rom. 8:33); _meritoriously_ by Christ, (Isa. 53:11); _mediately_ by _faith_, (Rom. 5:1); _evidentially_ by works, (James 2:14, 18-24).

THE DOCTRINES OF SALVATION

E. ADOPTION.

I. THE MEANING OF ADOPTION.

1. ETYMOLOGICALLY.

2. SCRIPTURALLY.

II. THE TIME OF ADOPTION.

1. ETERNAL.

2. WHEN ONE BELIEVES.

3. COMPLETE AT RESURRECTION.

III. THE BLESSINGS OF ADOPTION.

1. FILIAL.

2. EXPERIMENTAL.

IV. SOME EVIDENCES OF SONSHIP.

1. GUIDANCE.

2. CONFIDENCE.

3. ACCESS.

4. LOVE FOR THE BRETHREN.

5. OBEDIENCE.

E. ADOPTION.

Regeneration begins the new life in the soul; justification deals with the new att.i.tude of G.o.d towards that soul, or perhaps better, of that soul towards G.o.d; adoption admits man into the family of G.o.d with filial joy. Regeneration has to do with our change in nature; justification, with our change in standing; sanctification, with our change in character; adoption, with our change in position. In regeneration the believer becomes a child of G.o.d (John 1:12,13); in adoption, the believer, already a child, receives a place as an adult son; thus the child becomes a son, the minor becomes an adult (Gal. 4:1-7).

I. THE MEANING OF ADOPTION.

Adoption means _ the placing of a son_. It is a legal metaphor as regeneration is a physical one. It is a Roman word, for adoption was hardly, if at all, known among the Jews. It means the taking by one man of the son of another to be his son, so that that son has the same position and all the advantages of a son by birth.

The word is Pauline, not Johannine. The word is never once used of Christ. It is used of the believer when the question of rights, privileges, and heirship are involved. It is peculiarly a Pauline word (Gal. 4:5; Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Eph. 1:5). John uses the word "children," not "sons," because he is always speaking of sonship from the standpoint of nature, growth, and likeness (cf. 1 John 3:1, R. V.).

Exodus 2:10 and Heb. 11:24, furnish two splendid ill.u.s.trations of the Scriptural sense and use of adoption.

II. THE TIME WHEN ADOPTION TAKES PLACE.

1. IN A CERTAIN SENSE IT IS ETERNAL IN ITS NATURE.

Eph. 1:4, 5--Before the foundation of the world we were predestinated unto the adoption of children. We need to distinguish between the foreordaining to adoption, and the actual act of adoption which took place when we believed in Christ. Just as the incarnation was foreordained, and yet took place in time; and just as the Lamb was slain from before the foundation of the word, and yet actually only on Calvary. Why then mention this eternal aspect of adoption? To exclude works and to show that our salvation had its origin solely in the grace of G.o.d (Rom. 9:11; 11:5, 6). Just as if we should adopt a child it would be a wholly gracious act on our part.

2. IT TAKES PLACE THE MOMENT ONE BELIEVES IN JESUS CHRIST.

1 John 3:2--"Beloved, now are we the sons of G.o.d." Gal. 3:26--"For ye are all the children of G.o.d by faith in Christ Jesus." See also John 1:12. Sonship is now the present possession of the believer.

Strange as it may be, inconceivable as it may seem, it is nevertheless true. The world may not think so (v. 1), but G.o.d says so, and the Christian believing it, exclaims, "I'm the child of a King." Formerly we were slaves; now we are sons.

3. OUR SONSHIP WILL BE COMPLETED AT THE RESURRECTION AND COMING AGAIN OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Rom. 8:23--"Waiting for the adoption, to-wit, the redemption, of the body." Here in this world we are _incognito_; we are not recognized as sons of G.o.d. But some day we shall throw off this disguise (2 Cor. 5:10). It doth not appear, it hath not yet appeared what we shall be; the revelation of the sons of G.o.d is reserved for a future day. See also I John 3:1-3.

III. THE BLESSINGS OF ADOPTION.

The blessings of adoption are too numerous to mention save in the briefest way. Some of them are as follows:

Objects of G.o.d's peculiar love (John 17:23), and His fatherly care (Luke 12:27-33).

We have the family name (1 John 3:1; Eph. 3:14, 15), the family likeness (Rom. 8:29); family love (John 13:35; 1 John 3:14); a filial spirit (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6); a family service (John 14:23, 24; 15:8).

We receive fatherly chastis.e.m.e.nt (Heb. 12:5-11); fatherly comfort (Isa. 66:13; 2 Cor. 1:4), and an inheritance (1 Pet. 1:3-5; Rom.

8:17).

IV. SOME EVIDENCES OF SONSHIP.

Those who are adopted into G.o.d's family are: Led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:4; Gal. 5:18). Have a childlike confidence in G.o.d (Gal.

4:5, 6). Have liberty of access (Eph. 3:12). Have love for the brethren (1 John 2:9-11; 5:1). Are obedient (1 John 5:1-3).

F. SANCTIFICATION.

I. ITS MEANING.

1. NEGATIVELY--SEPARATION FROM EVIL.

2. POSITIVELY--DEDICATION UNTO G.o.d.

3. USED OF THE DIVINE NATURE.

II. WHEN IT TAKES PLACE.

1. INSTANT.

2. PROGRESSIVE.

3. COMPLETE.

III. THE MEANS.

1. DIVINE.

2. HUMAN.