Assurance of Adoption

Nothing is more ultimate and more at stake in the salvation of Christians and for their assurance of salvation than their adoption by God as their Father in union with Christ (Rom 8:29). Assurance of Adoption explores this central truth in fresh, perceptive, and helpful ways. I commend its careful reading and study. --Richard B. Gaffin Jr., Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary Chun Tse presents us with a highly creative and thought-provoking approach to assurance, informed by careful study of the Holy Scriptures and reflection on the Reformed tradition. One need not agree with all his proposals in order to be enriched by his scholarly and fertile thinking. By centering assurance upon adoption in Christ, Tse offers biblical and holistic insights that, by God's grace, will not only enlighten the mind but also strengthen the soul. --Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan In drawing attention to the importance of adoption in the discussion of the assurance of salvation, Chun Tse's study provides a way to understand the relationship between the existential, judicial, relational, moral, and eschatological aspects of God's redemptive work through Christ. In doing so, an abstract doctrinal affirmation becomes directly relevant to the struggles of individual believers. Moving from historical and theological considerations to a careful examination of the biblical witnesses, readers are compelled to end in doxological exclamation in view of the incredible work of God that centers on Christ, the only foundation for a certainty that defies human weaknesses. --David W. Pao, Professor of New Testament and Chair of the New Testament Department, Trinity EvangelicalDivinity School Written with the precision of an engineer and the heart of a pastor (Chun Tse is both), Assurance of Adoption comes as a welcome contribution to the growing corpus on the theology of adoption. Tse here restores Puritan advocacy for adoption's pastoral poignancy. But this is no mere recapitulation. Tse nimbly excavates adoption's storehouse of treasure for gospel assurance and distinctively unearths how and why 'Abba! Father' surges from the soul of the child of God. --David B. Garner, Academic Dean and Vice President of Global Ministries, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary Real assurance of just about anything is in short order today. There are lots of promises in the advertising world that if you'll just call this number, or ask your doctor, you may aspire to a degree of certainty in a product. Chun Tse's study makes no such tentative conjectures. This is one of the most sure-footed guides to the question of assurance of salvation available. It takes us through the history of the subject, the wisdom of the confessions, but, most of all, the exegesis of Scripture, to ground assurance in its only sure source: the character of God. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to know for sure if God loves them. --William Edgar, Professor of Apologetics, Westminster Theological Seminary Chun Tse eloquently and persuasively shows that Christian assurance is grounded in our blood-bought adoption as children of God. Replete with skillful handling of biblical texts, Assurance of Adoption is cogently argued, historically informed, pastorally encouraging, compelling, and logical. Anyone seeking assurance of salvation in Christ in the Reformed tradition will find ample help in these pages. --Daniel M. Gurtner, former Ernest and Mildred Hogan Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Chun Tse has written a compelling and insightful book which challenges the contemporary church's neglect of the theology of adoption. Drawing on the wealth of the Reformed and Puritan traditions this work offers an important and timely perspective on assurance grounded in the Bible, centered on union with Christ, and intended for the enriching of faith and the consolation of the Christian soul. --Simon J. G. Burton, John Laing Senior Lecturer in Reformation History, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh