Our Union With Christ A systematic study on the Doctrines of Grace

Our Union With Christ A systematic study on the Doctrines of Grace

The Doctrine of Conversion Part 12

Doctrine of Conversion

Experience vs Interpretation of the Experience

The Human Experience Regeneration -Born Again -Effectual Calling -Outward Calling

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. - Phil. 1:6

The Divine Purpose Adoption Justification Actual Union Sanctification / Mortification Glorification

Two Dimensions: The Divine Purpose Adoption 1) Prior to conversion Justification Actual Union 2) Result of conversion (Things that follow after Sanctification / Mortification Glorification conversion.)

Prior to conversion: The individual is not actually adopted, justified, united with Christ, sanctified, etc. until conversion. But something very important is taking place...

Prior to conversion: God s elective purposes, from eternity past are made known in regeneration, effectual calling, and outward calling.

Adoption and Justification God is declaring: My purpose is to Adopt you. My purpose is to Justify you. All of the legal requirements are in place and satisfied.

Adoption Ephesians 1: 5-6 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Christ to Himself, according to the kind intentions of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1: 5-6 1) He predestined us to adoption as sons 2) through Christ to Himself, 3) according to the kind intentions of His will, 4) to the praise of the glory of His grace, 5) which He freely bestowed on us 6) in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1: 5-6 He predestined us (pre-determined, pre- set our destiny) to adoption as sons. - Is there anything that God determined will come to pass that does not come to pass? - He pre-determined our adoption.

Ephesians 1: 5-6 through Christ to Himself, - Our adoption was never in view without the work of Christ. - The work of Christ was never in view without our actual adoption. - Adopted us to Himself

Ephesians 1: 5-6 according to the kind intentions of His will How? - only according to - not based on some foreseen action on our part.

The election and predestination to adoption is God s absolute act of free love which is grounded totally in Himself and there was nothing apart from Him which gave His will direction.

Ephesians 1: 5-6 to the praise of the glory of His grace Why? The grace of God manifestly appears in the predestination of men to adoption; in that God had no need of sons, He having a dear and well beloved one (eternal with Himself); in whom he is well pleased; and in that those he adopts are so unworthy of the relation... that this should be before the world was; and in providing Christ as a Redeemer... the glory of grace appears herein; the glory of God is the supreme end of all He does. - Gill

Ephesians 1: 5-6 which He freely bestowed on us charitoo : from charis to impart grace Lt. Trns. : Which he graced on us

Ephesians 1: 5-6 in the Beloved - Our adoption was never in view without the work of Christ. - The work of Christ was never in view without our actual adoption.

Adoption Cannot adopt someone who has a father. Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever, the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father. - John 8:34-38

Cannot adopt someone who has a father. - everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin - The slave does not remain in the house forever - the son does remain forever 1) Every son of sin is also a slave of sin. 2) However, every slave of sin is not a son of sin. How do we know the difference? The one who is just a slave and not a son does not remain in the house of sin forever.

Adoption Cannot adopt someone who has a father. In John 8: 41 the religious leaders tell Christ He is a fatherless child after He tells them they are doing the deeds of their father. John 8:44 You are of your Father the devil...

Adoption Gal 4:1-7 1. Now I say as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2. but he is under guardians and managers until the day set by the father. 3. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4. But when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

Adoption Gal 4:1-7 5. so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! 7. Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

so that He might redeem those : for this very reason exagorazo: ( Aorist Active Subjunctive: he might redeem) Aorist: Culminative or effective, denoting the success of the action. Active: Christ actively participated in the accomplishment. Subjunctive: purpose clause introduced by hina (so that or in order that)

so that He might redeem those : Lt. trans: God sent forth His Son to actively and fully accomplish redemption (i.e. Christ actually accomplished something).

who were under the Law: Did Christ redeem everyone who was under the Law? If He did, then no one is or will be in Hell now or ever.

that we might receive: Aorist Active Subjunctive Aorist: Culminative or effective, denoting the success of the action. Active: We actively participated in receiving. (God does not choose for us.) Subjunctive: This conditional clause is subordinate to the first conditional clause. to actually receive adoption by God because Christ redeemed. - If Christ does, then we will. - Christ did, so we do.

Our receiving is based on His redeeming. If Christ actually accomplished redemption on the cross, then the Father would be sinning against the Son by not giving Him everything He redeemed. Here is the point. Christ did accomplish redemption on the cross, therefore the Father gives Him everything He redeemed. John 6:37-40, 44-45

If there is anyone in Hell past, present, or future, then he was not redeemed (fully completed action at the cross, therefore he could not receive). If anyone has ever received adoption of sons, then he was redeemed by Christ (fully completed action at the cross which permitted the receiving.)

Adoption and Justification Since the individual is not actually adopted or justified until conversion, does that mean conversion earns adoption, justification, sanctification, etc.?

Adoption and Justification If conversion earns my adoption, then I am not saved by grace but by something I bring to God, therefore I have grounds for boasting.