Westminster Confession of Faith Adult Sunday School Chapters 12-13

1. Theology of the
Westminster Confession
Adult Sunday School
2017

2. Adoption
Salvation
WCF
12

3. All those who are justified God graciously guarantees to
make partakers of the grace of adoption in and for his
only Son, Jesus Christ. By this act they are taken into
the number of God's children and enjoy the liberties and
privileges of that relationship; they are given his name;
they receive the Spirit of adoption; they have access to
the throne of grace with boldness; and they are enabled
to cry, 'Abba, Father'. Like a father, God has compassion
on, protects, provides for, and chastens them; yet, they
will never be cast off, but are sealed to the day of
redemption, and will inherit the promises as heirs of
everlasting salvation. [WCF 12, MESV]
WCF
12
Salvation
Of Adoption

4. • One very brief paragraph is devoted to
"adoption" compared to six paragraphs for
"justification"
• Chapter 12 of the Confession is the shortest for
three reasons:
1. A limited pool of theological reflection on this subject from
which the assembly could draw
2. The assembly could offer a crisp statement on the doctrine
of adoption because it could state the truth without
correction of error
3. There is considerable thematic overlap between the
doctrine of adoption and the doctrine of assurance of faith
and salvation and some aspects of the experience of God's
children are related in chapter 18 on Assurance
WCF
12
Salvation
Adoption: a short chapter

5. Adoption: a definition
• Adoption - made children of the living God.
To receive the Holy Spirit is to receive "the
spirit of adoption" (Rom 8:15).
• Adoption as the term clearly implies, is an act
of transfer from an alien family into the
family of God himself
• Those who were by nature children of wrath,
children of darkness, etc. are constituted the
children of light and of God
Adoption is the permanent transfer of
spiritual family status
WCF
12
Salvation

6. Adoption: through Christ
• Chapter 12 begins by reminding us that the saving
blessings and graces that come from Jesus Christ
always come as a package:
• Justified in Christ
• Adopted in Christ
• Sanctified in Christ
• Etc.
• "Adoption" comes to us only in Christ and for Christ
since it is the good pleasure of God's eternal will (Eph
1:5) that our Savior should bring many sons to glory
Adoption is “in Christ” and comes with all Christ’s
salvation blessings
WCF
12
Salvation

7. Adoption: related to other
saving graces
• Uniqueness of adoption as it relates to other
saving graces such as "justification" and
"sanctification"
• "Adoption": called by the Father's name, to receive
the Holy Spirit of adoption
• "Adoption" in terms of what we receive and in
terms of what God gives
• Adoption also in the sense of chastisement
wherein discipline is always a mercy
WCF
12
Salvation

8. Adoption: the family seal
• Spirit of adoption is that the Spirit is God's seal
"to the day of redemption" (Eph 4:39)
• Adoption into God's family: aligned vertically
and horizontally
• Only those adopted can pray in a manner
acceptable to God because they have the
Spirit of adoption
Adoption legally seals us by the Spirit for
membership in God’s family (the Church)
WCF
12
Salvation

9. Adoption: benefits of sonship
• God treats them as sons
• Sons receive his pity and
protection
• Sons are under His
watchful providence
• Sons are subjected to
appropriate discipline
• God keeps His sons in
safety even to the end
WCF
12
Salvation

10. Sanctification
Salvation
WCF
13

11. Of Sanctification
Those who are effectively called and regenerated,
having a new heart and a new spirit created in
them, are further sanctified - truly and personally
- through the power of Christ's death and
resurrection, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in
them. The dominion of the whole body of sin is
destroyed, its various lusts are more and more
weakened and put to death, and those called and
regenerated are more and more enlivened and
strengthened in all saving graces, leading to the
practice of true holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord. [WCF 13.1, MESV]
WCF
13.1
Salvation

12. Sanctification: the work of God
• This section tells us about the dimensions of
sanctification
• God effectually calls and revitalizes those who
are spiritually dead. He gives them new heart, a
new spirit, and a new life which we call
"regeneration" or "born again“.
• Those God regenerates he also sanctifies -
personally set apart and made holy
• Sanctification is God's work, sanctification only
happens in Christ
WCF
13.1
Salvation

13. Sanctification: through Christ by
the Spirit
• Sanctification only found in union with Christ
• Sanctification is the work of the Spirit of the
resurrected Christ
• Spirit of God unites us to Christ and is our
teacher
• It is the Spirit of God the Father and God the
Son who sanctifies us
Sanctification is God’s work in us through
Christ by the Spirit
WCF
13.1
Salvation

14. Sanctification: via Scripture
• The principal means used by the Spirit to sanctify us
is Scripture
• Thus we saw that we are sanctified by "Word and
Spirit" because the Spirit uses the Word to teach us
the truth
• Word of God dwelling richly in us to see sin's
dominion destroyed (set free by the truth from
slavery)
• Subjection of sin to be complemented by becoming
more and more alive to God's righteousness. Sin is
weakened and replaced by saving graces.
Sanctification comes to the Christian via Scriptural
formation
WCF
13.1
Salvation

15. Sanctification: practice of
holiness
• Sanctification is about the practice of true
holiness and is about seeing Jesus
• Pursue sanctification by
1. Trusting in the virtue of Christ's death and
resurrection
2. Diligent study, trust, and application of the
Word of God
3. Humbly asking Spirit of God to help us fight sin
and love what is good, by his grace and through
his power
Sanctification is about practicing holiness
while looking to Jesus
WCF
13.1
Salvation

16. Of Sanctification
This sanctification, although imperfect
in this life, is effected in every part of
man's nature. Some remnants of
corruption still persist in every part,
and so there arises a continual and
irreconcilable war - the flesh warring
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against
the flesh. [WCF 13.2, MESV]
WCF
13.2
Salvation

17. Sanctification: it changes
everything
• Sections 13.2 and 13.3
tell us about the
experience of
sanctification
• Sanctification penetrates
our whole being
• Every part of us needs to
be affected and changed
by the grace of God
WCF
13.2
Salvation
1 Thess 4:3a

18. Sanctification: touches the
whole of a person
• Sanctification is not only a matter of the heart
but also
• The mind – the way that we think
• The body - the way that we use our bodies and the
things that we do
• The verbal - the way of speech
• Because we need to pray that the God of peace
will himself sanctify you completely (1 Thess
5:23) we see that sanctification is different
from justification and adoption
Sanctification must transform every part of a
Christian’s life
WCF
13.2
Salvation

19. Of Sanctification
Although in this war the remaining corruption
may strongly prevail for a time, yet, through
the continual supply of strength from the
sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate
nature overcomes, and so the saints grow in
grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
[WCF 13.3, MESV]
WCF
13.3
Salvation

20. Sanctification: incomplete and
continuous
• Our sanctification is not defective, it is
incomplete. Thus corruption still exists in us.
• The Christian is conscripted to a continual and
irreconcilable war wherein the desires of the
Spirit are against the flesh (Gal 5:17)
• The desires of the flesh and the desires of the
Spirit are opposed to each other (Gal 5:17)
Sanctification is incomplete and continuous in
this life
WCF
13.3
Salvation

21. Sanctification: hating one’s own
conquered but still present sin
• Doctrine of sanctification teaches us there is a
radical breach with the power and love of sin
• Even so, sin is not obliterated in this life in
every believer or even in any one true believer
• Dominion of sin is broken but the presence of
sin is not entirely eliminated
WCF
13.3
Salvation

22. Sanctification: continual
repentance and faith
• "Surviving" sin (its presence) versus
"Reigning" sin (its dominion). Run to Jesus
and run from sin!
• Encourage one another in Christ to walk in
the fear of God and have earnest
dependence on the Word and the Spirit.
• Sanctification works best when Christians
experience it together
WCF
13.3
Salvation

23. Summary of key points
• Adoption is the permanent transfer of spiritual
family status
• Adoption is “in Christ” and comes with all
Christ’s salvation blessings
• Adoption legally seals us by the Spirit for
membership in God’s family (the Church)
WCF
12
Salvation

24. Summary of key points
• Sanctification is God’s work in us through Christ by the
Spirit
• Sanctification comes to the Christian via Scriptural
formation
• Sanctification is about practicing holiness while looking
to Jesus
• Sanctification must transform every part of a
Christian’s life
• Sanctification is incomplete and continuous in this life
• Sanctification works best when Christians experience it
together
WCF
13
Salvation

25. Consider and discuss
1. In what ways can adoption in Christ bring unique comfort
to a Christian compared to an unbeliever?
2. “I keep praying for God to deliver me from a habitual sin,
and I try my best, but I just can’t gain victory. I’m so
discouraged!” How would you encourage and instruct
such a Christian?
3. If one aspect of sanctification is God disciplining his
children, how can you tell the difference between
discipline and judgment?
4. The doctrine of sanctification is often poked with a stick
without getting too close. In what ways are you doing
this? How is God presently calling us corporately to
pursue holiness? How is God presently calling you
personally to pursue holiness?
WCF
12-13
Salvation

26. Memorize
For he [Christ] who sanctifies and
those who are sanctified all have one
source. That is why he is not
ashamed to call them brothers,
saying, "I will tell of your name to my
brothers; in the midst of the
congregation I will sing your praise."
Hebrews 2:11-12
WCF
12-13
Salvation

27. Going deeper
Books
• Milton, Michael. What is the Doctrine of Adoption?
(Beginner)
• Powlison, David. How Does Sanctification Work? (Beginner)
• Garner, David. Sons in the Son (Intermediate)
• DeYoung, Kevin. The Hole in Our Holiness (Intermediate)
• Burke Trevor. Adopted into God’s Family (Advanced)
• Lane Tim & Paul Tripp. How People Change (Advanced)
Articles
• Boice, James Montgomery. A New Family
• Ferguson, Sinclair. The Reformed View of Sanctification
• Articles on Adoption and Sanctification at Monergism.com.
WCF
12-13
Salvation