“Purposefully Adopted”
The identity, privilege and responsibility of the Church
I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-4
A. Paul blessed God for blessing us with every spiritual blessing 1:3-14
1. Specially Chosen 1:4
2. Purposefully Adopted 1:5-6
3. Freely Redeemed and Forgiven 1:7-8
Introduction
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:5-6
The basic truth of this passages has to do with God’s intention not only to chose us but to adopt as into His family as His beloved child.
J.I. Packer explains the importance of this truth.
If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God's child, and having God as his father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all. For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new, and better than the Old, everything that is distinctively Christian as opposed to Jewish, is summed up in the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God. "Father" is the Christian name for God.
We sent nearly a year on the wonder of the Fatherhood of God and the glory of being a child of the King of the universe so this will be a brief review.
The Concepts from the passage
Import terms and truths. “Predestined” “adoption” “good pleasure of His will” “grace”
Predestination
The grammar of this passage, which is one paragraph in the original” seems to indicate an order of events. The original reads, He (God) chose (elected) us from the foundation of the world having (at some point in time before time) predestined us to adoption as sons.
I am not sure the practical difference between election and predestination to adoption.
This passage indicates that election followed predestination. The term “predestined” has to do with determining, ordaining or declaring in advance. Some apply this action of God to every detail of our life. Whatever happens has been decided in advance before it happens.
Like the guy who fell down the stairs; brushed himself off and proclaimed, “Whew! I’m sure glad that’s over.”
There is no indication of such broad application in this verse. This verse limits the predestination to the blessing of adoption. That is why I chose to label this blessing as adoption rather than predestination. The point is what we were predestined to. The passage is clear that our predestination is “to adoption as sons”. The other occurrence of this term in relation to believers has a similar focus. In fact, the Romans passage reveals a process.
For those whom He foreknew, (chose to establish a relationship with) He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son (determined the ultimate outcome), so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called (moved in their heart at a point in time); and these whom He called, He also justified (justified at the moment of trust in Jesus); and these whom He justified, He also glorified (brought about an actual spiritual transformation.) Romans 8:29-30
The point made by Paul here is that God chose to adopt humans into His family and community at some time in eternity past and as sons not just in name (sons) but in nature (conformed to the image of His Son). God predetermined Sonship or adoption. Romans expands on the fact that not only the name but the nature was predestined. The following illustration helps me reconcile the interrelationship between God’s determination and my decisions.
God offers free passage on the "Good Ship Grace" whose ultimate destination (destiny) is Christlikeness. Passage is provided and paid for by God through Christ purely on the basis of grace and acceptance in time by us as we responded to the call. What we do and how we respond to God and others on the ship along the way is, for the most part, up to us. We can hunker down in our stateroom the whole way. We can refuse to explore any of the other amenities provided for the ship. We can refuse to use the dining facilities. We can even doubt the destination of the ship and worry where we will end up. We can choose to believe the enemies lies and fear getting thrown overboard or that the ship will sink because there may be a few storms along the way. The point is, the ship’s destiny was set before it left and it will arrive at Christlikeness at the appointed time whether we enjoy the security and utter ecstasy of all that God has provided along the way or not.
The Father adopted us to Himself as His special "sons."
Adoption
Paul does not use an unfamiliar of complicated term. It simply means, "the placing of a son".
It is the embracing of the son of another to be one’s own son, so that the adopted son has the same position and all the advantages of a son by birth. This was a Greek and Roman concept not Jewish. Jews were big on bloodline as was most of European history. Adoption became more common in the United States. Our salvation is so deep and marvelous that no one term or concept can adequately picture what has been done to us and for us. We are joined to God's family both by rebirth and adoption. Rebirth emphasizes the likeness aspect.
We are children of the heavenly father; partakers of the divine nature. (2 Pet 1)
We have His “seed”, His DNA, His likeness. John (1 John 3:9)
Adoption emphasizes our legal standing, our position, our status, our privileges and inheritance as adult children. Adoption implies a birth parent. We were all born into Adam’s line. Being children of Adam we inherited a great deal of debt.
knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
1 Peter 1:18
Adoption into God’s family implies that we no longer have ties to the old and that all legal responsibility to the old life is severed. Jesus Christ redeemed us from a hostile, condemning parent so that we might enjoy the blessing of a life of Grace though Jesus Christ in God’s loving family. Paul refer to that glorious inheritance later in the list of spiritual blessings in Christ.
The Means of adoption
“Through Christ”
This adoption into God’s family can only be realized through the work of Jesus. Jesus was the adoption agency making the whole thing possible. Paul makes that point twice in this verse.
“Through Christ” and “freely given in the Beloved One (Jesus). There is nothing on our part that inspired this blessing.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. GAL 4:4
Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. GAL 3:24
The Basis of adoption
Paul makes the basis of this blessing abundantly clear.
His Will
“according to the good pleasure of HIS will” not ours.
The motivation for this most gracious act of God lies entirely within Him. It was what pleased Him to do.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. JOH 1:12
Grace
“grace which He bestowed on us in the Beloved”
The Point of Adoption
• Our adoption was “to Himself”.
We must always maintain a God-centered theology. If I am going to error in my interpretation of Scripture, I would rather it lean to the God side rather than the human side.
God adopted people for Himself.
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. 1 Corinthians 8:6
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36
Again, this is a God-centered theology. God is the point. We exist FOR HIM. Many today teach a theology that God exists for man’s comfort and pleasure. I know it may seem degrading but it is like adopting a little puppy. We adopt a pet for our good pleasure. We take care of them.
We feed them but the ultimate purpose is for companionship and relationship. We can live without them. They are not essential to our existence or even our well-being. We enjoy them and related to them because we want to.
• Our adoption was to inspire praise of His gracious blessing toward undeserving people
to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6
The face that God would even give rebellious creatures the time of day is a tribute to His grace. The fact that God would freely offer us a place in His family apart from any ounce of personal merit only magnifies the wonder of His grace. His grace is not only amazing; it is glorious and deserves our most enthusiastic praise. To get all tangled up in the controversial theological issues involved with these terms would be to lose the wonder of the fact of adoption. That God would bring unworthy rebels into His holy family is beyond our comprehension. To transform those rebels into the likeness of His very own Son is even more amazing.
The Benefits of Adoption
Which brings us to consider the benefits of such an adoption. We explored twelve factors of a perfect father which God completely fulfills.
? The Likeness Factor
We inherited Dad’s impeccable genes. We are of inestimable worth.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. 1JO 3:1
? The Unconditional Love & Acceptance factor
We relish Dad's incomprehensible love. We are deeply loved. We belong.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" ROM 8:15
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" GAL 4:6
The Holy Spirit affects changes in our heart that cause us to embrace God as our loving Father.
In spite of what kind of father you may have had, God is not like your earthly father. He is what God intended a father to illustrate. Allow Scripture to formulate the concept of fatherhood, not experience.
? The Protection and Security Factor
We stand secure in Dad's impervious protection. We are protected
? The Presence Factor
We anticipate Dad's intimate presence. We are never alone.
? The Wisdom Factor
We access Dad's infallible counsel. We have the thinking of Christ.
? The Provision or inheritance Factor
We enjoy Dad's inexhaustible provision. We have a legacy and inheritance beyond imagination.
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. GAL 4:7
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with {Him} in order that we may also be glorified with {Him.} ROM 8:16
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1PE 1:3
? The Affirmation, Encouragement and Acknowledgement Factor
We find courage from Dad's inspiring affirmation, encouragement and acknowledgment.
You are special. You can do it. Your sacrifice and contribution is acknowledged and rewarded.
? The Discipline and Training Factor
We benefit from dad’s impartial discipline and training. Someone is looking out for us.
Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He {disciplines us} for {our} good, that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. HEB 12:9
? The Faithfulness Factor
We entrust our souls to Dad’s immeasurable faithfulness. He will complete what He stared and bring us to glory. We have someone who will not let us down.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:3-4
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. ROM 8:21
• Perfect Father who shares His impeccable genes
• Loving Father who shows His incomprehensible love
• Powerful Protector who offers His impervious protection
• Omnipresent Father who promises His intimate presence
• All Knowing Counselor who conveys His infallible wisdom
• Great Provider who provides His unlimited resources
• Caring Encourager who expresses His inspiring affirmation, encouragement and acknowledgment
• Able trainer who implements His impartial discipline
• Faithful Father who proves His insistent faithfulness
• Rewarder who guarantees His inexhaustible riches/reward
The Assurance of Adoption
How do I know I am adopted?
• The external witness of the Word
JOH 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, {even} to those who believe in His name,
1JO 5:12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 1JO 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.
• The internal witness of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ROM 8:16
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" GAL 4:6
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. ROM 8:14
• The loving discipline of the Father
For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. HEB 12:6
Out of all of the designation given to Christians in Scripture -- soldiers, saints, disciples, friends, servants, ambassadors -- the most meaningful and significant is the fact that out of God unconditional love He has called us "sons" and such we are. We are heirs to a rich and full inheritance that will last throughout all eternity.
ILLUSTRATION
A young mother wrote: I stayed with my parents for several days after the birth of our first child. One afternoon, I remarked to my mother that it was surprising our baby had dark hair, since both my husband and I are fair. She said, "Well your daddy has black hair." "But Mama, that doesn't matter because I'm adopted." With an embarrassed smile, she said the most wonderful words I've ever heard: "I always forget."
The Holy God of the universe purposefully adopts sinful creatures into His family.
The Response to Adoption
The most logical response to such lofty truth is the response called for in this very book.
• Express grateful praise to the glory of His grace. Eph 1:6
• Live worthy of the calling with which we have been called. Eph 4:1
• Reflect the character of our adoptive father. Eph 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
John adds a logical implication of being God’s children.
• Love your siblings 1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 1 John 5:1
