It is often difficult to critically analyze a popular teacher let alone a common belief system. People who follow these people or hold so close to these ideas, who have not thought any other way before, often hear the criticism and are immediately filled with hatred and disdain the criticism.
John Murray, for example, says Regeneration is the prerequisite of adoption. It is the same Holy Spirit who regenerates who is also sent into the hearts of the adopted, crying Abba Father. But adoption itself is not simply regeneration, nor is it the Spirit of adoption - the one is prerequisite, the other is consequent." - Redemption Accomplished and Applied, Page 141
What is wrong with this statement? What is wrong with saying that regeneration is prerequisite to adoption? The primary issue is that one makes what happens in us the basis of adoption, justification.
The simple critique that shall be given is that according to Scripture the basis of being called a son is the cross of Christ. Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified, by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Or John 5:24 or John 6:46 "verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."
Life precedes knowledge and assent. One must have life before they believe
We do sing songs that refer to this truth at the cross at the cross. Ones sins must be expiated and God's wrath propitiated before one is regenerated. One must therefore be adopted before they can posses belief in Christ alone.
The general flows out of the principle. Regeneration is not the difference maker, Christ is.
Or again like Luke 5:20 says, "And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee."
This man believed because his sins were forgiven. The result of this forgiveness was that he believed. He was converted in other words because of the principle doctrine.
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