The Message of Sonship: At Home in God's Household

The Bible Speaks Today: Bible Themes Series

by Trevor J. Burke

"Sonship" is an important, yet often overlooked, theme throughout the Bible. Adam, the first human being, is identified as a "son of God"; Israel is God's "first-born son"; the covenant with king David is cast in father-son terms; Christians are children of God, "adopted as sons"; and the same designation brings Scripture to a triumphant conclusion: "He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son" (Revelation 21:7). The story line of the Bible makes clear that God is making for himself a family of sons and daughters who will serve him and reign with him in his kingdom forever--and this purpose is achieved through Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.In his warm-hearted, edifying exposition of this theme, Trevor Burke shows how "sonship" is the focus of creation, is a metaphor for salvation, carries moral obligation and is the goal of restoration of broken, suffering humanity. For those whom God the Father adopts into his household as sons and daughters, the family bonds that begin in this life will last for all eternity.As a companion to the Bible Speaks Today commentaries, the Bible Speaks Today Bible Themes Series focuses on the message of key biblical texts supporting differing facets of Christian doctrine in conversation with the history of Christian tradition. Rooted in Christian heritage and interactive with contemporary culture, the series provides a rich resource for preaching, teaching and spiritual growth.

Genres: Christianity

248 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2011

Reviews

[Mark Loughridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good solid overview of sonship. Sets the doctrine of adoption into its place in the arc of the bigger theme of sonship.

Excels in bringing a lot of material together and showing how it fits intot he theme. Perhaps stretches the point a little in places - pushing sonship where it isn't as obvious. But a great pulling together of the material nonetheless.

Safe hands for sonship and adoption - less sure of his forays into immutability and impassibility. Burke endorses (briefly) Wolterstorff's view of the suffering father in a couple of places. That aside, the book is a good read.

PS - Remember a 3 star means "I liked it" and that I did!

[Richard Myerscough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent study of the theme of sonship throughout the Bible. It's marginally spoilt by some rather poor proof-reading but the content itself is clear and compelling, heart-warming and humbling. It's a work that is both academic and applied - when it plunges into deep waters, the waves it makes roll onto your shore. Thoroughly recommended. A bonus for me, having been taught New Testament by the author, was being able to 'hear' his voice as I read.

[Michael Kinch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fascinating read to me. I read this book in preparation for a sermon that I will be preaching in a couple of weeks. I had not read Trevor Burke previously and was surprised at the quality of his writing. His research is solid and well documented. The book is divided in 12 chapters and a study guide at the end. In each chapter Trevor adequately covers his chosen topic and section of scripture. His study guide is more extensive than what I had expected and exceeds what I have seen in other theological books. I read this book over a period of 4 days and I honestly could not get enough of it. Now that I have read it, my plan is to go back over it, chapter by chapter and study it at a slower rate using the study guide as a reference. I have rated this book with 5 stars because I feel the author has hit the mark in achieving his goals in writing this book. The only thing that I would change is to make it longer with more chapters covering other sections of scripture.

[Emma Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clear, encouraging message of the truth of sonship. Brings the metaphor of sonship in the Bible from the beginning to the end. Filled with scripture. A little repetitive which is why I gave it a lower rating.

[David Cowpar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, so amazing to know about the history of God wanting mankind to be His child.

Not just the history, but also the present about how Christians today are called to be God's children and what it means for us and how we are to live.

Three of the big themes that came out were love, acceptance and obedience. The family is a place of both love and acceptance, as is God's family. The family, and the relationship between a son and a father in biblical days would have been one based on the son training to become like the father, and living in obedience to the father, so not to bring dishonour on the family name.
In a sense living in God's family is like that, the author comments, as we are to become the image of God and grow in Christlikeness through obedience.
(For me this explained how the Bible can call us sons of God and slaves of God).

The reason I took off a star isn't anything to do with the content of the book, it has to do with the series the book is published in.

BST is a series of expositional books on Bible books and topics. This book had a much more thematic feel to it than others I have read in the series.

However, if you want to learn more about the history of God's relationship to mankind; Adam, Israel, David, Jesus and Christians as sons (and daughters in the second and last case) of God and what that reality means for you and the effects it should have on your life, this book is great.