“Adoption, as the term clearly implies, is an act of transfer from an alien family into the family of God himself. This is surely the apex of grace and privilege. We would not dare to conceive of such grace far less claim it apart from God’s own revelation and assurance. It staggers imagination because of its amazing condescension and love. The Spirit alone could be the seal of it in our hearts. ‘Eye hath not seen, no ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God’ (1 Cor. 2:9, 10). It is only as there is the conjunction of the witness of revelation and the inward witness of the Spirit in our hearts that we are able to scale this pinnacle of faith and say with the filial confidence and love, Abba Father.” John Murray, p. 134 in his Redemption Accomplished and Applied.
Murray elsewhere says that adoption reigns as the chief fruit of Christ’s redemptive work for His children; here he calls it the apex of grace. I've been accustomed to think of justification as the apex of grace.
The Spirit works with the Word to confirm, to seal the eternal inheritance; but more, the Spirit enables us to grasp the promises and reality regarding God's good pleasure and delight in us and for us.
The Word convinces, and the Spirit convinces. A double testimony to the truth.
G. Mark Sumpter
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