A Catechism for Girls and Boys

I’d like to tweak the answer to this question, too. I explain in the first comment on this post. 

Part III: Questions about Salvation

95. Q. What is adoption?
       A. It is God’s goodness in receiving sinful rebels as his beloved children.

(Click through to read scriptural proof.)

• John 1:12

  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God … 

• Ephesians 1:5

  [H]e predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will… .

• Ephesians 5:1

  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

• Galatians 4:7, 31

  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

  So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

• 1 John 3:1-3

  See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Scripture quoted from the English Standard Version.

Taken from A Catechism for Girls and Boys found here.

Previously posted questions and answers.

Comments

[rebecca]

I'd change receiving to taking (or something like that) to reflect God's initiative in adoption.

What do you think?

[Jeri]

Hey Rebecca,

I was curious and found that interestingly, "receive" is from the c. 1300 Latin recipere, to "regain, take back", so your alternate wording is good! But aside from that, I wonder if this "receive" is meant to give the picture of a conquering king holding court, graciously receiving back the allegiance of the subjects who had rebelled against him. Question 22 has asked, "Why do you need Christ as King?" The answer in the full-version Baptist catechism says, "Christ performs the office of a king in subduing us to himself..." A lovely picture of his gracious purposes bringing about the conquering of our rebel souls. So I think I'd use that imagery if I left the wording as is.

[rebecca]

Hello Jeri,

Yes, if you left the wording as is, you would want to explain it. The way we commonly use the word "receive" gives the wrong impression, I think.