21 January 2024 AM – Text: Ephesians 1:5 – Topic: Marvels
Introduction: Adoption is a wonderful thing. It allows a parentless or unwanted child to become the legal child of a couple. Adoption does not take place without a sincere desire on the part of the new parents.
Read Ephesians 1:5. God has adopted believers into His family. As special as physical adoption is to an abandoned child, that adoption is nothing compared to our spiritual adoption. We were children of the devil, and God purchased our adoption and made us his children.
Transition: As we look at this topic of spiritual adoption, we will break it down into four sections to aid our understanding.
1. The Plan for Our Adoption, Ephesians 1:5
a. The plan was predetermined by God.
1) Originally, God created Adam in His image, and Adam enjoyed intimate fellowship with God, his creator. When Adam sinned, that close relationship was severed.
2) In God’s infinite knowledge, He knew that would happen, and he devised the plan of salvation that included the adoption of repentant sinners.
3) In Ephesians 1:5, the word “predestinated” has confused many Christians. It simply means “to determine or decree beforehand.” CWSD The confusion is not usually in the definition, but in the application.
4) Here in Ephesians, Paul said he was addressing the saints at Ephesus (the sanctified, set-apart, holy ones). He was speaking of the true believers in that congregation. Now, look carefully at verse five. What did Paul say God predestinated? He predetermined us untothe adoption of children. He also determined that it would be by Jesus Christ, and to himself.
5) In eternity past, God planned that he would adopt every human who would repent of his sin and trust Christ for salvation.
b. The plan is for God’s good pleasure.
1) The intent of God’s pre-determined plan to adopt believers as his children was for His good pleasure.
2) Adopting believers into His family brings pleasure to the Lord God. It gives him satisfaction and delight.
3) It also brings pleasure to those who are adopted. We become part of God’s family. That is amazing!
2. The Purchase of Our Adoption, Galatians 4:4-7
a. In God’s perfect time, Christ came to earth.
1) He came in the fullness of God’s time.
2) He was made of a woman, becoming the God/Man.
3) He was made under the law – born a Jew.
4) He came to earth to redeem sinners.
5) Through His redemption, we might receive the adoption of sons, and become part of God’s family. Do you see the word “might”? It describes a possibility or potential if the conditions are met. Christ died on the cross for everyone (1Ti 2:6); however, only those who repent and believe can receive this adoption.
b. Believers have a new relationship with God.
1) Believers now have the Spirit of God’s Son, that is the Holy Spirit, in their hearts (Gal. 4:6).
2) He enables those believers to cry to the Father in heaven, calling him Abba, Father. Abba has an Aramaic origin. It seems to express a sort of affectionate fondness. Wuest. The claim that it parallels our word “Daddy” is a possibility.
3) Of this word Abba, the TDNT states, “It denotes childlike intimacy and trust, not disrespect… It undoubtedly expresses the new relationship with God proclaimed and lived out by Jesus and then experienced by believers in him.”
4) Being a child of God, we become an heir of God through Christ (Gal. 4:7). We will examine this more in a few minutes.
3. The Process of Our Adoption, Romans 8:23
a. We become God’s children at salvation.
1) John tells us in (John 1:12-13) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.“
2) Yes, we become children of God at salvation. However, though God’s children, we do not yet live with Him. This limits some of our privileges as sons.
b. We are still waiting for the completion of adoption.
1) Note what Paul records in Romans 8:23. He said that we, himself included, have the firstfruits of the Spirit, yet we groan within ourselves as we wait for the adoption. He then says it will take place at the same time as, “the redemption of our body.”
2) Every true believer has the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is a firstfruit of our salvation. We read the same thing in (Ephesians 1:13-14) “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.“
3) When Christ returns to take us to heaven, then our adoption will be complete. We will be able to enjoy the pleasure of being in God’s presence as part of His family.
4. The Privilege of Our Adoption, Romans 8:15-17
a. We have the Holy Spirit as a down payment.
1) We just saw this in Ephesians 1:13-14.
2) His presence in us allows us to cry Abba, Father.
3) The indwelling Holy Spirit bears with our human spirit that we are the children of God. That is, his presence, his conviction, his guidance, and his fruit produced in our lives are all evidence that we are truly children of God. If these are missing in your life, there is serious reason to question your salvation.
b. As God’s adopted children, we are His heirs.
1) According to one website, Elon Musk, with $251.3 billion dollars, is the richest man on earth at the moment. If you were his heir, you would be rich. However, Musk’s billions are not even equal to a drop of water in the ocean of God’s possessions.
2) As children of God, we are heirs of God. That is mind-boggling. God, the only being who has always existed, the Creator of all that exists, the owner of everything, now offers to share it all with those who repent of their sin and trust His Son for cleansing and eternal life. That is truly amazing! It is staggering!
3) We noted this briefly in (Galatians 4:7) “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” John repeated this in (Revelation 21:7) “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.“
4) Evidently, part of our inheritance will be glorification. Glorification includes recognition, honour, and praise. Paul reminds us that since Christ suffered to purchase our redemption and adoption, enabling us to be his joint-heirs, we must expect to suffer with him in this life so that we might be glorified together. If we compromise and live worldly in this life to avoid shame and persecution, we cannot expect glory, praise, and honour at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Conclusion: If you are truly a child of God through faith in Christ Jesus, God has adopted you into His family. Review the main points above.
Being a child of God is an amazing privilege. It fills us with hope and assurance. Whether your family in this life was rich or poor, happy or sad, well-known or unknown, as a believer, you are now a child of God Almighty, the KING of kings, and LORD of lords, the Sovereign of the universe. If you are hurting, you can cry to Him as your Abba, Father. You are now an heir of God. You are a child of the King. Are you living a clean, pure, godly life that honours your Father in heaven? If you are not, humble yourself and with God’s help, make the needed changes.
If you are not yet a child of the King, He invites you to come to Him today through faith in Christ.
