Adoption

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.
Shorter Catechism 34 (Westminster Confession of Faith)

As we have heard teaching from 1 John 3: 1-3 on adoption, the marvel of what our great God does for his people has truly hit me. That God, who has no need of us, adopts us as his own. Not just to serve him but to be his child.
Pastor used these three heads to explain the verses:
v1 The wonder of Adoption
v2 The splendour involved
v3 The fervour it creates within us

My thoughts
Sometimes we become blase about our privileges as the children of God. Sometimes we focus too much on nick picking details and become overly critical of others. We can tend to miss the beauty and wonder of the basic teachings of scripture. If one has been called and justified then he is adopted and being sanctified. One day he shall be glorified! It is indeed a wonder to be called the sons of God and to think upon, to envision, what eternity will be like in his presence. I came home thinking too of the loved ones who have died in the Lord and are already in glory! All this, the hope we have, should increase our zeal to serve him in this life and long for our eternal home.

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not ye appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
1 Peter 3 : 1-3