God's Sovereign Love and Adoption in Christian Theology

God's sovereign love is a foundational concept, described as an inherent part of God's character ^[1]. This love is characterized by its greatness, abiding nature, unfailing quality, and unalienable bond ^[1]. It is also described as everlasting and constraining ^[1]. The love of God is not dependent on human merit, as evidenced by its manifestation towards perishing sinners and the destitute ^[1]. It is particularly directed toward those who are considered saints ^[1].

The concept of God's love is further elaborated through the idea of "loving-kindness," which is seen as being mediated through Christ ^[6]. This loving-kindness is described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and merciful ^[6]. It is considered better than life itself ^[6].

A significant expression of God's sovereign love is the doctrine of adoption, which refers to God bringing individuals into his redeemed family and granting them the privileges of children ^[3]. This spiritual adoption is distinct from natural adoption, such as Pharaoh's daughter adopting Moses, or national adoption, where God adopted Israel ^[3]. Paul uses the term "adoption" to describe the present and future privileges of Christians, drawing a parallel to the Roman custom where a person without natural children could adopt another's child, establishing a relationship equivalent to that of a natural parent and child ^[2]. This figurative use emphasizes the close relationship believers have with God, being received into his family from the world ^[2].

Adoption is explained as being according to God's promise and is received through faith ^[4]. It is an act of God's grace, predestined before the world began ^{[4, 9, 11]}. John Gill notes that God had no need of sons, having a beloved one in whom he was well pleased, and yet he chose to adopt unworthy individuals, demonstrating his grace ^[11]. This adoption is accomplished through Jesus Christ ^{[4, 9]}. Those who are adopted are gathered together in Christ, and this new relationship is connected with the new birth ^[4]. The Holy Spirit serves as a witness to this adoption, and being led by the Spirit is an evidence of it ^[4].

The love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, is a key aspect of this divine relationship ^{[5, 12]}. This love is special, peculiar, free, sovereign, and enduring ^[12]. It is demonstrated through Christ's actions, such as becoming a surety, espousing believers, assuming human nature, and dying in their place ^[12]. The Father's love for the Son is also emphasized, with all things given into the Son's hand ^[10].

The love that believers are called to exhibit is a reflection of God's love. This includes love for Christ, which is shown through obedience, seeking him, ministering to him, and preferring him above all others ^[7]. This love should be sincere and supreme ^[7]. Furthermore, love for fellow believers is a characteristic of those born of God ^{[8, 13]}. Matthew Henry notes that Christian love is demanded by the eminent relation believers have to God as his children ^[13].

Adoption is a covenant relationship, and those who are victorious and persevere in life will inherit God's blessings, signifying their privileges and responsibilities within this relationship ^[15]. The beauty of the adopted lies in the righteousness of Christ, their washing from sin, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and their participation in God's salvation ^[14]. This profound love and adoption are meant to fill believers with the fullness of God ^[5].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Adoption — an expression used by St. Paul in reference to the present and prospective privileges of Christians. (Romans 8:15,23; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5) He probably alludes to the Roman custom by which a person not having children of his own might adopt as his son one born of other parents. The relationship was to all intents and purposes the same as existed between a natural father and son. The term is used figuratively to show the close relationship to God of the Christian. (Galatians 4:4,5; Romans 8:14-17) He is received into God's family from the world, and ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Adoption — The giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth. (1.) Natural. Thus Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses (Ex. 2:10), and Mordecai Esther (Esther 2:7). (2.) National. God adopted Israel (Ex. 4:22; Deut. 7:6; Hos. 11:1; Rom. 9:4). (3.) Spiritual. An act of God's grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers of all the blessings he has provided for them. Adoption represents the new relations into which the believer is introduced by justification, and the privileges connecte”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Adoption — Explained -- 2Co 6:18. Is according to promise -- Ro 9:8; Ga 3:29. Is by faith -- Ga 3:7,26. Is of God's grace -- Eze 16:3-6; Ro 4:16,17; Eph 1:5,6,11. Is through Christ -- Joh 1:12; Ga 4:4,5; Eph 1:5; Heb 2:10,13. Saints predestinated to -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:5,11. Of Gentiles, predicted -- Ho 2:23; Ro 9:24-26; Eph 3:6. The Adopted are gathered together in one by Christ -- Joh 11:52. New birth connected with -- Joh 1:12,13. The Holy Spirit is a Witness of -- Ro 8:16. Being led by the Spirit is an evidence of -- Ro 8:14. Saints receive the Spirit of -- Ro 8:15”
Ephesians “and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. -- Ephesians 3:19”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Christ — Exhibited by God -- Mt 17:5; Joh 5:20. Exhibited by saints -- 1Pe 1:8. His personal excellence is deserving of -- Song 5:9-16. His love to us a motive to -- 2Co 5:14. Manifested in Seeking him. -- Song 3:2. Obeying him. -- Joh 14:15,21,23. Ministering to him. -- Mt 27:55; 25:40. Preferring him to all others. -- Mt 10:37. Taking up the cross for Him. -- Mt 10:38. A characteristic of saints -- Song 1:4. An evidence of adoption -- Joh 8:42. Should be Sincere. -- Eph 6:24. With the soul. -- Song 1:7. In proportion to our mercies. -- Lu 7:47. Supreme. -- ”
1 John “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. -- 1 John 5:1”
Ephesians “having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, -- Ephesians 1:5”
John “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. -- John 3:35”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 1:6: To the praise of the glory of his grace,.... 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; in whom he is well pleased; and in that those he adopts are so unworthy of the relation; and in that men, and not angels, should be taken by him into his family; and that some, and not others of the same race; and that this should be before the world was; and in providing Christ as a Redeemer, to open the way for the reception of this grace and happiness; and in appointing t”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:18: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,.... The love of Christ to his own, to his church and people, is special and peculiar; free and Sovereign; as early as his Father's love, and is durable and unchangeable; the greatest love that ever was heard of; it is matchless and unparalleled; it is exceeding strong and affectionate, and is wonderful and surprising: the instances of it are, his engaging as a surety for them; his espousing both their persons and their cause; his assumption of their nature; his dying in their room and stead; his payment of th”
1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 5:1: I. The apostle having, in the conclusion of the last chapter, as was there observed, urged Christian love upon those two accounts, as suitable to Christian profession and as suitable to the divine command, here adds a third: Such love is suitable, and indeed demanded, by their eminent relation; our Christian brethren or fellow-believers are nearly related to God; they are his children: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, Jo1 5:1. Here the Christian brother is, 1. Described by his faith; he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ - that he i”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 45:11: So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty,.... Which lies in the comeliness or righteousness of Christ put upon her; in the holiness of Christ reckoned to her; in being washed from all sin in the blood of Christ; in the graces of the Spirit being implanted in her, in which the beauty of holiness lies; in the salvation she is interested in, and beautified with; in enjoying the order and ordinance of Christ's house, and in having the presence of God and Christ with her: and this beauty is not natural, nor acquired by her, but what is given her; it is not an outward, ”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:7: 21:7 All who are victorious: God’s children who persevere in life will inherit his blessings. Adoption is a covenant relationship; the language of adoption certifies their privileges and responsibilities (cp. Gen 17:8; 2 Sam 7:14-16; Jer 31:33; Ezek 34:24).”

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