Question 32 of the SC: What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them. We have covered the blessed, one-time divine act on the part of God acting as judge whereby he legally declares the believing sinner to be righteous before Him once and for all eternity - this, the bible calls "justification." Romans 3:23-24 23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," Romans 5:1 Chapter 5 1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Those who are justified before God by faith in Jesus and not by their works in any way lest any man should boast are forever secured in the love of God for the rest of eternity. Today, we move on to the next divine act, adoption. This is also a legal declaration whereby our status is changed from being children of the devil to being children of the living God - adopted children. Jesus it the Only and Unique Son of God by nature. We are sons and daughters of God through adoption. Once the divine cause of alienation and wrath is removed by the cross-work and imputed righteousness of Christ, that sinner is then legally adopted into the family of God - also by a one-time legal declaration. Justification and adoption are one-time legal acts of God acting as a judge. Then the process and life-long work of sanctification begins. As I have taught these three precious things to young people over the years, I have emphasized that justification is an act, adoption is an act, while sanctification is a work - an ongoing work and process. Act, Act, work/process. The Westminster Confession's chapter on Adoption is only one point, but a very rich point of God's Word it is indeed. We may move on to the chapter on sanctification if time permits today! We will see! Questions: 1. The Liberalism which J. Gresham Machen fought with all his might 100 years ago taught the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man. Why did Machen oppose those notions with such passion? 2. Why would the Westminster Divines have an entire chapter devoted to "Adoption?" 3. Why is adoption such a precious truth to the Christian? 4. How do false gospels which add the sinner's cooperation and works render adoption rather meaningless? 5. How does adoption help our sense of assurance of salvation? 6. The confession says we have the spirit of adoption by which we cry out, Abba, Father. How is the Christian instinct to pray the fruit of our adoption? 7. What are the liberties and privileges of the children of God? SANCTIFICATION: 1. What does it mean that the "dominion of the whole body of sin" is destroyed when we are born again, regenerated, and given new hearts? What are these "new hearts?" 2. Why is sanctification always "imperfect" in this life? 3. What does the confession mean by there being in the life of every true believer an continual and "irreconcilable war" with the flesh? What is "the flesh?"