Some of you have asked for the quotes that Mickey used from Sunday, so here they are.
Text: 1 John 3:1 SEE what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
WILLIAM PERKINS (Heirs With Christ, Beeke, 15) – “At earthly preferments (blessings) men will stand amazed; but seldom shall you find a man that is ravished with joy in this, that he is the child of God.”
Regarding adoption being a grace gift…
THOMAS WATSON (A Body of Divinity) – “We have enough in us to move God to correct us, but nothing to move him to adopt us, therefore exalt free grace, begin the work of angels here; bless him with your praises who hath blessed you in making you his sons and daughters.”
Regarding our identity being as children of God…
J. I. PACKER (Knowing God, 181) – “What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God for his Father…Father is the Christian name for God.”
Regarding the Spirit of Adoption…
CHARLES SPURGEON – “And what is “the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father?” I cannot tell you; but if you have felt it you will know it. It is a sweet compound of faith that knows God to be my Father, love that loves him as my Father, joy that rejoices in him as my Father, fear that trembles to disobey him because he is my Father and a confident affection and trustfulness that relies upon him, and casts itself wholly upon him, because it knows by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit, that Jehovah, the God of earth and heaven, is the Father of my heart. Oh! have you ever felt the spirit of adoption?”
