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We pray in Jesus' name, amen. We can turn to chapter 12 in 
the Confession of Faith of Adoption. It's a brief chapter, one paragraph, 
but packed with good things. So I'll read that particular 
paragraph, and then we'll look at it in some detail. So chapter 
12 of Adoption. All those that are justified, 
God vouchsafed in and for the sake of His only Son, Jesus Christ, 
to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are 
taken into the number and enjoy the liberties and privileges 
of children of God, have His name put upon them, receive the 
spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, 
are enabled to cry, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for, 
and chastened by him as by a father, yet never cast off, but sealed 
to the day of redemption, and inherit the promises as heirs 
of everlasting salvation. Amen. Well, Westminster Shorter 
Catechism asks, what is adoption? Adoption is an act of God's free 
grace whereby we are received into the number and have a right 
to all the privileges of the sons of God. So this paragraph 
falls out like that. It gives us first the basis of 
adoption, and then secondly, the benefits of adoption. Notice 
in the first place, those adopted are those called the Order of 
Salvation, or the Ordo Salutis, those that are justified. Those are the ones, and those 
alone, are the ones who are adopted by God Most High. So there is 
a redemptive focus of adoption about some sort of a concept, 
a vague notion, of the universe. To see where some might conclude 
that there is this statement or this idea of a universal... On one hand, some truth to that, 
but on the other hand, we have to tell the Apostle Paul's speech 
concerning the true and living God. Notice in verse 22, "...and 
said, Men of Athens, I picked up your worship, I even found 
an altar with this inscription, to the unknown God. Therefore, 
the one whom you proclaim anything, since he gives to all life, breath, 
and all things, And He has made from one blood every nation of 
men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined 
their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 
so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might 
grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us. 
For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some 
of your own poets have said. For we are also His offspring. 
Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think 
that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, something 
shaped by art and man's devising." So notice, we are also his offspring. Paul's not speaking there in 
a redemptive context. He is speaking in a creational 
context. God the Lord made the earth and 
all things in it, so there is a sense wherein all of his creatures 
are his offspring. But that's not what the grace 
of adoption is all about. It is those who are justified. It is addressing the reality 
that man, apart from God, is ultimately a son of Satan. Remember 
in John 8, 44, Jesus rebukes the religious leaders of his 
day and says that they are of their father, the devil. So it 
is not the case that there is this redemptive, universal fatherhood 
of God over all men. That is simply not the case. 
So all those that are justified. Now the ones that are justified 
are adopted. You can turn to Romans chapter 
8. Romans chapter 8. You see this emphasis there on 
the ordo salutis, or the order of salvation. As Raymond says, 
this is a skeletal framework. There's other doctrines, other 
aspects that we can insert in here with reference to the rest 
of the Bible, but this provides the sort of superstructure of 
God's spiritual blessings to the elect. So in 828, and we 
know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, 
to those who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, 
he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that 
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom 
he predestined, these he also called. Whom he called, these 
he also justified. And whom he justified, these 
he also glorified." So as the confession outlines, in between 
this idea of justification and glorification, there is this 
adoption. So in chapter 11, we dealt with 
justification by grace through faith. So in chapter 12, it ought 
not to surprise us that it says, all those that are justified. 
And then it spells out the nature of adoption. Notice it's God 
vouchsafed, which means that he gave or granted. So this adoptive privilege is 
not based on our performance, it's not based on what we've 
done. God doesn't say, hey, you've done well this week, so I'm going 
to adopt you into my family. No, it's a grace that comes from 
Him. That's why the Shorter Catechism says it's an act of God's free 
grace. And then notice it speaks concerning 
the ground. It says, "...in and for the sake 
of His only Son, Jesus Christ." So remember the emphasis on that 
aspect in chapter 11. Any benefit that we receive, 
any redemptive blessing that we receive, any grace given by 
God is received by virtue of our union with Christ. It's in 
Him. It's because of Him. It is grounded upon Him. As I 
said earlier, it's not based on our performance, it's not 
based on what we do, we don't earn a right to become the children 
of God, rather that is conveyed by God, the Father, and it's 
in and for the sake of His only Son, Jesus Christ, and then it 
makes, or gives us the execution of it. Notice, to make partakers 
of the grace of adoption. Now turn to Galatians and a few 
passages which underscore this grace of adoption. We see it 
a bit in our study there in Ephesians chapter 1, but in Galatians chapter 
4, We see the work of the triune God in the salvation of sinners 
at verse 4. It says, When the fullness of 
the time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born 
under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that 
we might receive the adoption as sons. So he sends the only 
begotten Son in order to rescue us and make us adopted sons of 
the Father. And because you are sons, God 
has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying 
out, Abba, Father. Therefore you are no longer a 
slave, but a son. And if a son, then an heir of 
God through Jesus or through Christ." And then over in Ephesians, 
we saw this in Ephesians chapter 1, specifically at verses 4 and 
5. So as Paul praises the Father 
for the work of salvation, he speaks concerning the Father's 
work in salvation. via the means of appropriations, 
he says in verse 4, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation 
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before 
Him, in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus 
Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will. 
And that's a most important statement because oftentimes people hear 
the Calvinistic or Reformed doctrine of adoption or predestination 
or election and they conclude that it's a bad thing. They somehow 
think that it's not good. Paul rather celebrates this grace 
praises God for every spiritual blessing and underscores the 
in love nature by which God predestined us. So in love, having predestined 
us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself. And then turn 
back to John chapter one. John chapter 1. I dealt with 
this a little bit in the sermon on Ephesians 1.5, but I think 
it bears repetition. Notice in John 1 at verse 12, 
it says, "...as many as received Him, to them He gave the right 
to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, 
who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor 
of the will of man, but of God." So we see that same emphasis 
in terms of adoption, though from a different vantage point. 
The apostle John speaks of us having been born again, having 
been begotten by God into the family of God. You can turn to 
1 John to see that emphasis again. First John chapter 1 at verse 
29, if you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices 
righteousness is born of Him. And then in chapter 3 at verse 
1, behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us 
that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does 
not know us because it did not know Him. Over in 1 John chapter 
5, notice in verse 1, whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ 
is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also 
loves Him who is begotten of Him. And then over in chapter 
5 at verse 18, we know that whoever is born of God does not sin, 
but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked 
one does not touch yet. So again, same emphasis. We are 
included into the family of God. The Apostle Paul looks at it 
from the vantage point of adoption. The Apostle John looks at it 
from the vantage point of being born or begotten into the family 
of God. No inconsistency, the same truth 
with different sort of perspectives. And Warfield makes the observation. 
He says, there is a corresponding difference in the use by Paul 
and John of the conception of childship or sonship to God. In accordance with his juridical 
point of view, Paul speaks of sonship conferred by adoption 
and thinks of our acquisition of the rights and the inheritance 
of sons, which is very powerful. In the Roman Empire at that time, 
when you were adopted, you weren't considered a second-tier citizen. 
You weren't a little bit lesser than the natural born. You had 
the rights and the entitlement to every privilege and every 
blessing. that was the householders. You were on equal footing with 
the natural-born son, natural-born daughter. And then he goes on 
to say, in accordance with his essential point of view, John 
speaks of childship as conveyed through birth and thinks of growing 
up into the likeness of God. Accordingly, Paul prefers the 
term sons. We are adults received by God's 
grace into the number of his sons. And John prefers the term 
children, or even little children. We are born into the family of 
God as the infants of his household. This difference in the use of 
the conception of childship is not a difference of doctrine. 
It is only a difference in the illustrative use of the conception 
of childship in the setting forth of doctrines. Again, same truth, 
coming at it from a different perspective. And it does yield 
for us appreciation in both ways. We're adopted by God with full 
privileges and rights to be the children of God and the family 
of God. And with reference to John, we're born again into this 
family of God. Same result, same emphasis, same 
purpose, same blessing. But again, the apostles come 
at it from a different vantage point to underscore the goodness 
of God there. So that's the basis. Now notice 
the benefits. And there are four things that 
the confession underscores here. First, inclusion into the family 
of God. It's a most blessed thing, which 
infers or implies that apart from the grace of adoption, we're 
not in the family of God. So we enter into the family of 
God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We don't 
enter into the family of God based on our virtue, based on 
our works, or based on any of our performance. So by which 
they are taken into the number and enjoy the liberties and privileges 
of children of God. Turn back to Romans chapter 8 
again. Romans chapter 8. just underscoring 
this entitlement to the privileges that come. And again, entitlement 
shouldn't be understood the way that leftists and woke people 
speak of it, but it is by God's grace. Notice in chapter 8 at 
verse 15. For you did not receive the spirit 
of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption 
by which we cry out, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness 
with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then 
heirs." Now notice this, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed we suffer with Him, 
that we may also be glorified together. Joint heirs with Christ. So it's again, not a conferral 
of partial benefit. It's not a conferral of, well, 
you get in, and then by your own works and by your own merit, 
you stay in. No, we are conferred with this privilege by God's 
grace, and it is a most blessed thing. Same emphasis that we 
saw there in John 1, 12 and 13. We're born of God. We receive 
blessing because our Father is gracious. And then notice in 
the confession, it says, by which they are taken into the number 
and enjoy the liberties and privileges of children of God, have His 
name put upon them. Turn over to 2 Corinthians chapter 
6. 2 Corinthians chapter 6. We'll read a bit of the context 
here. beginning in verse 14, do not 
be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship 
has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light 
with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what 
part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple 
of God with idols? For you are the temple of the 
living God. As God has said, I will dwell in them and walk 
among them. I will be their God and they 
shall be my people. Therefore come out from among 
them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean 
and I will receive you. I will be a father to you, and 
you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Now, 
verse 18 speaks of, or is a quote from, 2 Samuel chapter 7, concerning 
the fact that the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the 
Son of the Father. By virtue of our union with Him, 
we are brought into that blessed state where we are joint heirs 
with the Son. And then notice in verse 1 of 
chapter 7, bad place for a paragraph break. Notice, therefore, having 
these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all 
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear 
of God. Notice, we don't cleanse ourselves from the filthiness 
of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness 
in the fear of God just by, you know, pulling up our bootstraps, 
knuckling under, trying harder and being better. Certainly those 
aspects of discipline and self-control are enjoined upon us in other 
parts of the Word, but here it's having these promises. The fact 
that God is our God, verse 16. The fact that on the basis of 
that there is this admonition in verse 17 to come out from 
among them, don't engage in idolatry. And then that promise in verse 
18, I will be a father to you and you shall be my sons and 
daughters says the Lord Almighty. It's based on those promises 
that we cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and 
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. In other words, 
we don't just do it based on our own strength, we do it reflecting 
upon and resting in the goodness of our God in terms of our conduct 
in the Christian life. In other words, we're not only 
saved by grace, we are kept by God's grace and preserved unto 
glorification as a result of God's grace. And then Revelation 
3 speaks as well of having God's name upon us. Revelation chapter 
3, specifically at verse 12, the letter to the church in Philadelphia. So Revelation 3, 12, "...he who 
overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and 
he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name 
of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem 
which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write 
on him my new name." Now brethren, that's an identifying mark. It's 
probably not something we should look for with a mirror on the 
top of our head. But it means that he owns us. 
It means we're sealed and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. So we have 
God's name written upon us. Just like when you get to Revelation 
chapter 13, the number of the beast. Is it going to be a tattoo 
on the arm? Is it going to be a little number 
embedded on the back of somebody's head? It speaks of ownership. 
It speaks of having been sealed. It speaks of identification with 
one. And so that's the concept there 
of having God's name written upon us. Now in the confession, 
after the inclusion into the family of God, notice secondly 
the reception of the privileges. The reception of the privileges. 
So by which they are taken into the number and enjoy the liberties 
and privileges of children of God, have his name put upon them, 
receive the spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of 
grace with boldness, are unable to cry Abba Father, are pitied, 
protected, provided for, and chastened by Him as by a father, 
yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption. and 
inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting life." Again, 
a brief statement in terms of adoption, but a very packed statement 
in terms of benefit and blessing conveyed by God to us. So with 
reference to these privileges, we receive the spirit of adoption. 
We've already seen that in Romans chapter 8. We see that in Galatians 
chapter 4. That is not something that is, 
what's the word I'm looking for? emotional. It's not that once 
the Spirit comes upon us, we always have this conscious feeling 
that the Spirit is with us. When we look to feelings in terms 
of God's grace, we're always going to end up with big problems. 
We need to believe what Scripture says concerning God's provision 
in terms of grace. There's not always an accompanying 
warm feeling that the Spirit promotes when He indwells us. 
But the fact that the Bible reveals it is the warrant for us to believe 
it and to understand it. So we have the Spirit of God, 
and then we have this access to the throne of grace. There 
you can turn to Ephesians chapter 2. You're probably thinking Hebrews, 
and we'll look at that one in just a moment. But Ephesians 
chapter 2 highlights this access that we have to the throne of 
grace. So notice in Hebrews chapter 
2, specifically at verse 14, for he himself is our peace who 
has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 
having abolished in his flesh the enmity, that is, the law 
of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in 
himself one new man from the two, thus making peace. So what 
do we have? We don't have two distinct and 
separate peoples of God. Rather, in Christ we have solidarity. We have the creation of one new 
man. Jew-Gentile, under the redemptive 
benefit of Jesus Christ, are the family of God, the Church 
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then verse 16, and that he 
might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, 
thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached 
peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. Now 
notice, for through Him we both have access by one Spirit to 
the Father. Now therefore you are no longer 
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints 
and members of the household of God. having been built on 
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself 
being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being 
fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you 
also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in 
the Spirit. Brethren, I think if we mused 
on that or reflected upon that every Sunday morning before we 
came to worship, it might impact us differently. When we come 
together as the church for worship, this is what is happening. This 
is what is transpiring. This is what is taking place. 
Turn over to the book of Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 10, specifically 
verses 19 to 22. Hebrews chapter 10, verses 19 
to 22. Hebrews 10, 19 marks the beginning 
of the practical section. Not that chapter 1, 1 to 10, 
18 didn't have practicality involved, but the apostle now comes to 
apply all that he has said specifically concerning the mediatorial office 
of our Lord Jesus vis-a-vis his priestly office. So based on, 
again, same thing we saw in 2 Corinthians 6, having these promises, based 
on what God has done for us in the gospel of our salvation, 
from that vantage point, live in a manner that is consistent 
with that gospel. Same emphasis here, therefore, 
verse 19, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood 
of Jesus, by a new and living way which he consecrated for 
us, through the veil, that is his flesh, and having a high 
priest over the house of God. Let us draw near with a true 
heart and full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from 
an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us 
hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he 
who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another 
in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the 
assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but 
exhorting one another in so much the more as you see the day approaching." 
So we have this access, free access now, to the throne of 
grace. We come to the Father through 
the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. Turn back to Hebrews 
chapter 4. Same sort of emphasis. He gives 
exhortations. He wants the people of God to 
live in a particular manner, but in terms of the exhortations, 
he typically surrounds them with incentives, and those incentives 
are promises. Based on what God has accomplished, 
based on the life and the death and the resurrection of our Lord 
Jesus, based on that, you fulfill or you seek to fulfill these 
exhortations, these commands. So notice in 414, seeing then 
that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, 
Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For 
we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our 
weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are yet without 
sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we 
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." We 
don't come arrogantly, we don't come presumptuously, but based 
on the finished work of our blessed Savior, we come boldly. Why? 
because we are now children of the living God. We have the spirit 
of adoption, wherein we cry, Abba, Father. We have this access 
to the throne of grace with boldness. The Confession states it, reflecting 
obviously what we see here in Hebrews 4 and in Hebrews 10. And then in terms of the fatherly 
treatment by God, it's another aspect of adoption that we should 
give more attention to. Perhaps you do, I don't think 
I always do, but notice what it goes on to say. So they have 
access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to 
cry Abba Father, and then this litany of blessings from the 
Father to his children. So they are enabled to cry, Abba, 
Father. Again, Romans 8, Galatians chapter 
4, we have seen that. Now notice these things that 
the father does with reference to his children. In the first 
place, they are pity. Turn back to Psalm 103. Psalm 
103. All of these things are calculated 
to promote in the people of God hope, encouragement, and perseverance. There's two different ways that 
we can respond when we're faced with sin, temptation, and we 
have issues. We can just pull up our bootstraps 
and try harder, or we can do that reflecting upon the promises 
of God that are yea and amen in our Lord Jesus Christ. So 
notice in Psalm 103 at verse 11. For as the heavens are high 
above the earth, So great is his mercy toward those who fear 
him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed 
our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, 
so the Lord pities those who fear him. For he knows our frame, 
he remembers that we are dust." What a most excellent promise. What an excellent expression 
of what we have in terms of sonship in the family of God Almighty. 
As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who 
fear him, for he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust. 
He knows us better than we know ourselves, and he hasn't cast 
us off, brethren. That ought to give us a great 
degree of encouragement as well. I'm sure that if we knew ourselves 
as we really are, we'd be tempted to cast ourselves off. But God 
Most High, in His goodness as Father to us, based on the redemptive 
benefits secured by the Lord Jesus and the indwelling power 
and presence of the Holy Spirit, He pities His children, and He 
knows our frame, and He remembers that we are dust. Notice, secondly, 
in the Confession, they're pitied and they're protected. You can 
turn to Proverbs chapter 14, going through the passages that 
the Confession supplies there. Proverbs chapter 14, specifically 
at verse 26. Proverbs 14, 26, in the fear 
of the Lord there is strong confidence, and his children will have a 
place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain 
of life to turn one away from the snares of death. So they 
are pitied by God, they are protected by God, and then in that particular 
statement it goes on to say they are provided for by God. 1 Peter chapter 5. 1 Peter chapter 
5, same emphasis. Or rather, what the confession 
is saying there in terms of provision by God. 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 
5. Likewise you younger people submit 
yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive 
to one another and be clothed with humility. For God resists 
the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble 
yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you 
in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for 
you." That comes from Psalm 55, 22. In the context, I think what 
the Apostle is telling us is that in this matter of humbling 
ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and that he may exalt 
you in due time." Notice, due time there isn't your time, it's 
according to his time. It's his clock, as it were, in 
terms of when he's going to exalt you. So we humble ourselves under 
the mighty hand of God, we will be exalted in due time. So what 
happens between this humbling of ourselves and this exaltation 
in due time? Well, typically what happens 
is there's a lot of soul wrestling on the part of the believer, 
because he's humbled himself under the mighty hand of God, 
and he's yet to be exalted by God. So he might be inclined 
to say, well, where is God? I've humbled myself under His 
mighty hand, and I'm waiting for this exaltation. That's the 
context for verse 7. Casting all your care upon Him, 
for He cares for you. Whether you're abased or whether 
you abound, the same God is over. Whether you are abased or abound, 
the same God is the God who cares for you, and you can cast all 
of your cares upon Him. And then after provided for, 
notice it says, and chastened by Him as a father. Turn to Hebrews 
chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12. Here the apostle is exhorting 
the people again, the people of God again, to running the 
race. And he does so with a variety 
of incentives. So in chapter 12, verse 1, he 
gives the command to run the race with endurance, run with 
endurance the race that is set before us. But the first incentive 
is found in verse one. We have this cloud of witnesses. And the cloud of witnesses aren't 
people up in the stands cheering for us to run. Those cloud of 
witnesses are for us to look upon and to see God's faithfulness. So when you look up into that 
amphitheater and you see all those people sitting up there, 
each one testifies that God is faithful. That's the function 
of the cloud of witnesses. They're not cheering us on. Rather, 
they exist to indicate or demonstrate to us that God is faithful. God 
was faithful to Enoch. God was faithful to Abraham. 
God was faithful to Sarah. God was faithful to Jephthah. 
God was faithful to Gideon. God was faithful to Samson. God 
was faithful to all those who are up there in that amphitheater, 
that cloud of witnesses. So we look upon them, we hear 
the consistent testimony that God is faithful. That's an incentive. But then notice in verse 2, looking 
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy 
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, 
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. So 
we've got this cloud of witnesses. We've got Jesus as well as the 
one we keep our eyes focused on. And then he speaks of God's 
fatherly intervention or rather action in our life. And one of 
those things is discipline. Typically, the people of God 
get upset about the discipline of God, when it should just be 
the opposite way. Now, I realize that when you 
spank your child, he doesn't say, thank you sir, may I have 
another. I understand that it's not the most pleasant thing. 
But the fact that there is discipline underscores the connection, and 
it underscores the provision that God gives to his children. 
So notice in verse 3, For consider him who endured such hostility 
from sinners against himself, lest you become weary and discouraged 
in your souls. You have not yet resisted the 
bloodshed striving against sin, and you have forgotten the exhortation 
which speaks to you as to sons. My son, do not despise the chastening 
of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him. 
For whom the Lord loves, He chastens and scourges every son whom He 
receives. If you endure chastening, God 
deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom a 
father does not chasten? Right? That's obvious. A father 
that doesn't chasten his son is a father who doesn't care 
about his son. And this is the emphasis in this 
context. Verse 8. But if you are without 
chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are 
illegitimate and not sons. Instead of recoiling at the rod, 
we ought to praise God that He's giving it to us because it affirms 
that He is our Father and that He is doing what is best for 
us. Verse 9, furthermore, we have 
had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. 
Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father 
of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days 
chastened us as seemed best to them, but he for our prophet, 
that we may be partakers of his holiness. Now, no, chastening 
seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Nevertheless, afterward, 
it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who 
have been trained by it." That's just part and parcel of being 
in God's family. There's discipline, there's chastening, 
there's tutelage, there's pain and sanction. There's those things 
that help us to learn, just like, again, in the parental relationship. 
with the child. Sometimes that infliction of 
pain, as crass as it may sound, is exactly what God calls us 
to for the benefit of the children. If you beat him with the rod, 
you will not kill him, but you will deliver his soul from hell. 
That's Solomon's emphasis. The withholding of the rod means 
that a father hates his son. but he who loves him disciplines 
him promptly. So the fact that God chastens 
us should never be interpreted as if God doesn't like us, God 
is angry with us, or God has somehow cast us out of the family. 
As Paul says here, if you are without chastening, of which 
all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not 
sons. Often, you know, I've got all 
these passages that I think, how would the health, wealth, 
and prosperity people deal with these? I doubt you get sermons 
from Joel Osteen on Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 8. You probably 
don't get sermons from Benny Hinn on this emphasis in terms 
of discipline that God gives to his children. And then the 
final aspect in the confession, after chastened by him as by 
a father, yet never cast off. Never cast off. Again, if you 
are a parent and you've had to discipline your child in the 
past, you knew that didn't mean the end of the relationship. 
Well, here's your spanking and here's your stick with the pillowcase 
and all of your stuff. Get out the front door and don't 
come back. That's not how we function. We 
discipline them in love, we pray for them, and then we always, 
hopefully, are pointing them to the cross of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. The fact that they sinned, the 
fact that we discipline or chasten them, does not argue for the 
dissolution of the relationship. And that needs to be kept in 
mind. God does discipline, yet never 
cast off. Turn to Isaiah 54. Isaiah 54. Yeah, that's another one of the 
passages there in the confession. Isaiah 54, 8 and 9. Isaiah 54 at verse 8, with a 
little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting 
kindness I will have mercy on you, says the Lord your Redeemer. For this is like the waters of 
Noah to me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would 
no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not 
be angry with you nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall 
depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart 
from you, nor shall my covenant to peace be removed, says the 
Lord, who has mercy on you. So that's calculated to promote 
in the children of God peace, comfort, and encouragement. Chastening 
does not dissolve the relationship. Chastening is part and parcel 
of the relationship, and we bless God for that. It's a means that 
He has provided to keep us in check and to keep us along the 
way. And then finally, in terms of 
the inheritance of the promises, look at what the Confession says. 
They are sealed to the day of redemption and inherit the promises 
as heirs of everlasting salvation. And there you can turn to Ephesians. 
Ephesians chapter 1, and then in Ephesians chapter 4. Passages 
again we've seen recently in our evening worship. But Ephesians 
1, the ministry of the Holy Spirit in terms of what God does in 
the salvation of sinners. Verse 13, in him you also trusted 
after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, 
in whom also having believed you were sealed with the Holy 
Spirit of promise. He is the seal. It's not baptism, 
not circumcision, not church membership. It is the Spirit 
himself who is the seal. And then it goes on to say, who 
is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased 
possession to the praise of his glory. So what Christ, what the 
Father does in eternity past, what Christ brings to fruition 
in history in terms of 1-7, the Spirit applies that. He functions 
as the seal and He functions as the guarantee of our inheritance 
until the redemption of the purchased possession. And in Ephesians 
4.30, same emphasis, do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom 
you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, 
wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you 
with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, 
forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Again, 
when you look at the imperatives in the epistles, that means commands, 
how we're supposed to function, how we're supposed to live as 
the blood-bought child of God. They don't come as if we're not 
the blood-bought child of God. They come because we're the blood-bought 
child of God. In other words, the indicative 
of the cross is the emphasis. It is the basis upon which the 
foundation by which we pursue those imperatives according to 
the Holy Spirit. See, every other religion says, 
do this, and then you will be accepted. Christianity, God graciously 
accepts us, and then He says, now go do this. And when you 
falter, when you fall, confess your sins, and He is faithful 
and just to forgive us, and the blood of His Son cleanses us 
from all sin. So we are sealed by the Holy 
Spirit and then we are inheritors of the promises. They inherit 
the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation. You can turn to Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 1. Hebrews chapter 
1 at verse 14 and then Hebrews chapter 6. Hebrews 1.14, are 
they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those 
who will inherit salvation? Scripture is clear. We didn't 
work for it. We didn't earn it. It's not our 
performance. It's not our merit. It's an inheritance, 
just like the children of Israel didn't earn the land of promise. They didn't earn Canaan. They 
were rather given it by God Almighty in His grace and according to 
His mercy. And then notice in Hebrews chapter 
6, Hebrews chapter 6, verse 9, but beloved, after dealing with 
apostasy in verses 1 to 8, he now says to encourage the believer 
to persevere in verse 9. Beloved, we are confident of 
better things concerning you. Yes, things that accompany salvation, 
though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget 
your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward his 
name, in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister. 
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to 
the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become 
sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit 
the promises. For when God made a promise to 
Abraham, because he could swear by no one greater, he swore by 
himself saying, surely blessing, I will bless you. and multiplying, 
I will multiply you. And so after he had patiently 
endured, he had obtained the promise. For men indeed swear 
by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end 
of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show 
more abundantly to the heirs a promise, the immutability of 
his counsel, confirmed it by an oath. that by two immutable 
things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have 
strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the 
hope set before us." Beautiful. This hope we have as an anchor 
of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the presence 
behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, 
having become high priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. 
So by God's grace, according to his mercy, we have inherited 
all of the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation. It 
is a most wonderful statement concerning our relation to, our 
relationship with God the Father. In conclusion, a few other consequences. First, the Father's name has 
been placed upon us. We see that in the Confession. 
We see as well the sealing of the Holy Spirit. This filial 
relationship that we have with Jesus, if you look at Hebrews 
chapter 2, we see something of that as well. Hebrews chapter 
2. Notice in verse 10, it was fitting 
for him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in 
bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their 
salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he who sanctifies and 
those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason 
he, the reference is Christ, is not ashamed to call them brethren. saying, I will declare your name 
to my brethren. In the midst of the assembly, 
I will sing praise to you. Christ is not ashamed to call 
us brethren. Now brethren, if you think about 
that, there should be every reason in the world why he would be 
ashamed to call us brethren. But he's not. This is the grace 
of God. This is the blessing of adoption, 
the inheritance laid up for us in heaven, and preservation by 
the power of God. One more passage in 1 Peter 1. 
were preserved by the power of God. It's like that fifth point 
of Calvinism, perseverance of the saints. It's true, we always 
need to make sure we emphasize preservation by God. It's not 
a perseverance of the saints according to the power of the 
saints, it's perseverance of the saints according to the power 
of God. And in 1 Peter 1, verse 3, blessed 
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Same thing 
Paul does in Ephesians 1, 3, blessed be the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ. And here Peter says, who according 
to his abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope, through 
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance 
incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, 
reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God, 
through faith, for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last 
time." So God's grace, His power, His Spirit, that is the means 
by which we persevere. And then finally, in terms of 
some practical consequences, look at Ephesians 5. Again, I 
mentioned this when we looked at adoption in Ephesians 1, so 
we'll just end on this note, and then if there's any, there'll 
be a bit of time for questions or comments. But notice, in Ephesians 
5, the apostle tells us there are ways that we're supposed 
to want. Notice, in the first place, we're 
to walk in love. Ephesians chapter 5, verse 2. "...and walk in love, and giving 
himself for us, and offering in a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling 
aroma." So we were chosen by God. are predestined to adoption 
as sons by Christ Jesus in order to live in a particular way. 
So we're to walk in love, Ephesians 5, 1-7. We're to walk in the 
light, according to Ephesians 5, verses 8-11. Notice, verse 
8, for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the 
Lord. Walk as children of light. And then thirdly, we're to walk 
in wisdom. Notice in verse 15, see then 
that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming 
the time because the days are evil. So adopted sons and daughters 
of God Almighty have all those privileges, they have all of 
those benefits, they have all of those blessings, and in terms 
of responsibility, we're to walk in love, we're to walk in light, 
and we're to walk in wisdom. Now when we walk in love, walk 
in light, and walk in wisdom, we're still going to falter. 
We're still going to sin. We still need to be mindful of 
1 John chapter 2. My little children, I write these 
things so that you may not sin. And if anyone does sin, we have 
an advocate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the righteous. 
So we take those imperatives to be sure. We understand them 
in light of the indicative of the cross. Nevertheless, we're 
supposed to pursue that as an ideal, though when we do fall, 
we confess our sins. He's faithful and just to forgive 
us. We have that advocate with the Father, even Jesus Christ 
the righteous at the right hand of the Father, wherein He always 
lives to make intercession for us. Well, a wonderful truth and 
a blessed truth that I hope that we reflect on often in terms 
of our relationship with our blessed God. Well, I'll pray. 
Father, we thank You that we can call You Father. We thank 
You that You have redeemed us by Your grace and for Your glory. 
As Paul says in Ephesians 1, 7, in Him we have redemption 
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. according to the riches 
of His grace. We praise You that You have made 
us partakers of this. We praise You for the seal of 
the Holy Spirit. We praise You that He is the 
guarantee of that inheritance and that final redemption or 
that purchased possession on the day of redemption. Lord, 
encourage our hearts, strengthen us with might in the inner man, 
and help us to persevere by Your grace and for Your glory. And 
we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Just random, the discipline from 
God, is that what David's referring to when he says, thy rod and 
thy staff? I don't think so there. I think 
in the 23rd Psalm, the rod and the staff is more of a defense 
mechanism. He protects us. He fends off 
the wolves and that sort of thing. Yeah, Psalm 23, the emphasis 
isn't so much on our sanctification, but on God's provision. So the rod and the staff there. 
Yeah, I mean, I have a good to Hebrews 12, where I think Hebrews 
12 is quoted from Proverbs 3. There is a rod for the believer 
to be sure, but I think the Psalm 23 emphasis is keeping the walls 
away, keeping the enemies from the child of God.