Adoption and Progressive Sanctification
As taught in the Reformed / Presbyterian tradition
Being received into the family of God and the ongoing work of dying to sin and living to righteousness.
Within the rich tapestry of Reformed soteriology, a pivotal question emerges: How does the legal declaration of a sinner’s righteousness before a holy God (Justification) translate into a lived, relational reality and a transformed character? The Reformed tradition answers this through the twin doctrines of Adoption and Progressive Sanctification. While Justification addresses our legal standing in the heavenly courtroom, Adoption addresses our familial status in the household of God, and Sanctification addresses our moral likeness to the Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. These are not merely abstract theological categories but the very heartbeat of the Christian life. In the Reformed understanding, specifically as articulated by the Westminster Standards and the continental confessions, these graces are distinct yet inseparable from Union with Christ.
By the end of this lesson
- **Distinguish** between the legal status of Justification and the relational status of Adoption within Reformed systematics.
- **Articulate** the relationship between Union with Christ and the "Double Grace" of justification and sanctification.
- **Identify** the distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the process of adoption and progressive sanctification.
- **Explain** the Reformed concept of "synergy" in sanctification, contrasting it with the "monergism" of regeneration.
- **Trace** the historical development of the doctrine of Adoption from the early Reformers to the Westminster Confession of Faith.
- **Defend** the necessity of progressive sanctification against antinomianism while maintaining the assurance of salvation.
- **Apply** the doctrine of Adoption to the believer’s prayer life and identity, specifically regarding the "Abba, Father" relationship.
- **Compare** the Reformed view of sanctification with perfectionist traditions, explaining the persistence of indwelling sin.
Scripture
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