Adoption

Robert Murray MCheyne


I desire, my friends, to open up to you shortly the subject of adoption. By nature you are children of Satan; I would here show you how you may be made sons of God: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God"

First, what is the fountain of adoption? In answer to that, I say, it flows from the love of the Father: 'Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will' - Ephesians 1:5. Observe that the only reason why God adopts any one is the good pleasure of His will: 'So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.'—Romans 9:16. I suppose that this congregation may be divided into two parts: the one are the children of Satan; the other, the children of God. Who can tell why you were chosen and not another? It was the good pleasure of His will: 'Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.'

Ah, my friends, this is a humbling doctrine. There is no difference between us and the children of wrath; some of us were more wicked than they, yet God set His love on us. We were like the prodigal, yet he put on us the best robe. This should humble us in the dust. If there are any here that think they have been chosen because they were better than others; ah! if you think that, you are grossly mistaken.

I would show you a second point, and that is the power by which God brings the children of the wicked one, and makes us children of God. Can we do it ourselves? No; the answer you will find in Matthew 3:9; 'And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.' See also the 4th chapter of Romans, 17th verse: 'God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.' See also Romans 11:23: 'And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.' So you see, dear brethren, that the only power that can bring a child of Satan and make him a child of God, is God himself. God is able to graff them in again. Ah! dear friends, the power is not in creatures. It is not in the power of man - it is not in the power given to ministers; they cannot make you children of God. O my unconverted friends, observe what the power is that can take you out of the family of nature, and put thee among the children: 'How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.' - Jeremiah 3:19. It is God that must put you among the children. You that have been brought up in an ungodly family, God alone can bring you into His family. It is God alone that can do it. There is no power in earth, in heaven, or in hell, that can do it. Adoption is God's bestowment. Look then to him for it.

Towards the LORD my eyes Continually set, And he it is that shall bring forth My feet out of the net. —Psalm 25:15
Set your eyes on God, then wait upon Him.