Knowing God Study - Lesson 24 Ý
Copyright 2004-5 by William Meisheid

Chapter 19: Sons of God - Part 2

Today’s theme: A Christian is... continuing the mystery of adoption.

Scriptural background: 1 John 3:1a "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

Romans 8:29 -31a "For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?"

Quotes for the week

 “The spirit of prayer is the fruit and token of the Spirit of adoption.” John Newton

“The Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of adoption" which God puts into our hearts, by which we know that we are His children. The Spirit bears witness to this great truth (Gal. 4:6; Rom. 8:14, 16). This sealing has to do with the heart and the conscience—satisfying both as to the settlement of the sin and sonship question.”

“Just as the incarnation was fore ordained, 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 God (Rom. 9:11; 11:5, 6). Just as if we should adopt a child it would be a wholly gracious act on our part.” The Great Doctrines of the Bible by Rev. William Evans

Concern: That we will not grasp the importance of gospel holiness in our lives as Christians or see how our blessed assurance is tied to God, not us.

Two important components of our Christian lives are the demand for gospel holiness and the joy of assurance.

1   What is holiness and why is it important?

2   How is our blessed assurance tied to Philippians 4:7? “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Interacting with the text

Goal: To understand how the Holy Spirit, holiness, and our assurance in Christ are central to who we are as Christians, without falling into the traps of straining after experiences, slipping into antinomianism, or forgetting what the perfect Fatherhood of God means to our blessed assurance.

1   How does YOUR adoption shed light on the ministry and purpose of the work of the Holy Spirit in creation, in your life?

2   How is YOUR adoption related to gospel holiness?  With this in mind how does Hebrews 12 relate to YOUR adoption?

3   How is holiness related to God’s law? What problem do we have to keep on the lookout for?

4   What is the meaning of assurance to you?  How are adoption and assurance related?

5   What two sources witness to our adoption as children of God according to Packer?  Why are both of the sources important?

6   What question does Packer ask you that can't be sidestepped and speaks volumes on the lack of appreciation of the principal of adoption in the NT?  How do you answer that question?

7   Look at the 18 questions Packer asks on page 229.  Ask each question of yourself.  What do you think would happen if you asked yourself all 18 of these questions each evening for a month?  Would it change your life? Why or why not?

What To Do Next

Read Chapter Twenty: Thou our Guide and consider the importance of God having a plan for your life that fits within his larger plan for humanity and all of history. Think about why this knowledge is significant.

Goal: To understand the significance of our assurance in God.

In the end, it is our grasp of our blessed assurance that brings stability and unrelenting hope to our Christian walk. Consider doing the eighteen questions every day for a month exercise. Do it at the same time every day so it will become a habit. Record your observations throughout the exercise and especially note any differences between the beginning of the exercise and the end.