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Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 74

Question 74

What is adoption?

Adoption is an act of the free grace of God, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children, have his name put upon them, the Spirit of his Son given to them, are under his fatherly care and dispensations, admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow heirs with Christ in glory.

Scripture references for paragraph 1

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

1 John 3:1

1Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

Ephesians 1:5

5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Galatians 4:4-5

4But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

John 1:12

12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

2 Corinthians 4:18

18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Revelation 3:12

12The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.

Galatians 4:6

6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

Psalms 103:13

13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Proverbs 14:26

26He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Matthew 6:32

32For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Hebrews 6:12

12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Romans 8:17

17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Source and edition

Westminster Larger Catechism. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription

Unlicense. Source transcription.

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