DIVINE & ETERNAL ADOPTION

"Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son." -Galatians 4:7 [KJV]

Why does St. Paul tell believers this, seeing he had in the former verse said, that the Spirit assured their hearts of it? We hence plainly see the necessity of the outward word of reconciliation, as well as the inward testimony of the Spirit: and if the witness of the Spirit within does not accord to the testimony of the word without, we do well to suspect it. Besides, from the working of a legal spirit, the prevailings of unbelief, the raging of corrupt lusts, an undue attention to the things of this life, and the accusations of Satan, children of God are prone to live below their glorious state and inestimable privilege. 

Hence, our loving heavenly Father has not the joy of our hearts, nor the glory of our lives. We do not always, as commanded, rejoice in Christ, our dear elder Brother. Therefore, St. Paul reminds, “thou art no more a servant.” Consider, (1st.) what means he by a servant? (1st.) He is under the law, in bondage to it. He gets no freedom of spirit, nor liberty of soul from it, do what he will. It still says, Do: work on: you have not done enough yet. I must have perfect obedience from you. You are my bounden servant. (2d.) He works for wages: he expects justification by his works, and salvation for his obedience. (3d.) He is always under fear and terror, of being punished in hell for his faults, and the wrath of God coming upon him for his disobedience. For, (4th.) he sees no higher motive to act by, and work from, than the law of works. 

He is alive to the law, though he is under the sentence of the curse, and death by it. Tell him of free and full justification unto life, by the work of the Son of God only, without works; he rejects it as downright Antinomianism. O, believer in Jesus, rejoice that thou art no more such a servant, but a son. (2d.) See the blessedness of this state. (1st.) You are not left to work under the law, to obtain God’s favour: for He hath freely adopted you to be His son. You have not received the Spirit of bondage to fear (hell and damnation), but the Spirit of adoption, whereby you cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15.) 

(2d.) You are a regenerate son. God hath begotten you again, (from the dead hope of the law) to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3.) What work couldst thou do, to deserve this blessing? Just as much as a devil in hell could, to deserve to be made an angel in heaven. It was of thy Father’s abundant mercy. (3d.) Thou art a son of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26.) A believing son by gospel grace: not a working servant, under legal terror. Live then up to your dignity, upon your Father’s love, and elder Brother’s grace, above the slavery of sin, the bondage of the law, and the fear of hell. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us! see 1 John 3:1.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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