The Messenger 11
Introduction
In Phil 2:12 Paul writes: “Continue to work out your salvation….”
When we realise who Jesus is, what God has given us in our union with Christ and why we were given those blessings, working out our salvation is not an option. It must be the single most important challenge any Christian faces in this life.
Early in our study of Ephesians 1 we identified nine specific things with which the Father blessed us in our union with Christ. Together, as we are beginning to see, those nine blessings provide us with an in-depth insight into the meaning and implication of salvation. Together they impart everything necessary for our life to be lived out in this world to the praise of God’s glory. They are ours in Christ already, but they need to be worked out if we are to fulfil God’s calling upon our life.
Over the last few sessions of our study we have spent some time examining the first treasure we extracted from that wonderful treasure-chest of salvation – “chosen in Christ before the creation of the world.” Our focus today is on our adoption into God’s family.
Adopted:
We turn now to the 5th verse in chapter 1:
In love he predestined (determined or decreed beforehand) us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (1:5)
There are three things I want briefly to touch on here because I think it will help to give us a better understanding of this treasure.
Firstly, we need to be clear that love was behind all that God purposed or determined beforehand. Love is always the motivating force behind God’s actions towards us in Christ. And it was, as we learn from the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, an incredibly costly love. Take care, therefore, how you unwrap and embrace each treasure that God has made available to you in Christ. Those treasures come to you through the sacrificial love of God for you in Christ.
What does this treasure mean for my life? What was God’s intention in giving this to me? How can I show my appreciation to Him for what He has given me? How can it impact the way I live in the world? These are some of the questions I trust these treasures will provoke in us.
Secondly, don’t get stuck on this word ‘predestined’ in verse 5 simply because you cannot understand its implications or grasp its depths. There is always a mystery about God and His ways. There is nothing wrong with having our minds stretched by our trying to understand the mysteries of God. Just make sure, however, that you don’t miss out on the real point behind Paul’s use of the word ‘predestined.’
Cremer puts it in perspective when he writes:
The matter to be considered when the word ‘predestined’ is used is not who are the objects of this predestination, but what are they predestined to.
Keep that in mind as you reflect on that verse 5.
Thirdly, the thought of adoption implies that we have been brought into something of which formerly we were not a part (Eph 2:11-13). The nature we had inherited from birth excluded us from belonging to God’s family (cf. Is 59:2 and Rom 3:23).
Our adoption into God’s family is a very special and wonderful treasure God wants us to enjoy. In Christ we are bonded into this great family of God with God as our Father. What an amazing blessing.
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received a spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ (Rom 8:15).
Having a sense of belonging and purpose in life is written very deeply into the human psyche. It not only gives us an identity but a reason to face and overcome the challenges of life. Our having been adopted into the family of God answers a deep longing in all of us. I am home. This is where I belong. But while our primary connection in this world is now with the family of God, keep this in mind: belonging to God’s family does not preclude us from the joys and responsibilities of those natural relationships and connections we had before. It simply rises above them.
The natural ties of earthly family, of race, culture, nationality, ethnicity, language, denomination, etc. are still part of our life as Christians. What our adoption into God’s family does, however, is it helps us to put all these earthly connections into their proper perspective. We can still enjoy the good things about them without their dominating and controlling our life to the point where they polarise us from others who come from a different background.
Adopted into the family of God. What an amazing treasure God imparts to those who are in Christ.
Privileges and responsibilities:
In this life privileges and responsibilities always belong together. So many problems in this world can be traced back to the human tendency to want privileges without responsibility. Our adoption emphasises the inseparable connection between the two.
In Rom 8:17 Paul speaks of those in Christ as heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Privilege. But he goes on to speak of our need to share in the sufferings of Christ. Responsibility. In the family of God we are able to call God our Father. Privilege. But Paul also speaks of our being “God’s fellow-workers” (1 Cor. 3:9). Responsibility. In Christ “God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6). Privilege. But he goes on to say “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10). Responsibility.
Adopted into the family of God. Co-heirs with Jesus, co-workers with God! Privilege plus responsibility. Now, with the help of the Holy Spirit, let us seek to work out our salvation.
Thank you Father for blessing me beyond anything that I could ever have imagined when you adopted me into your family. In enjoying that privilege may I live out the responsibilities that you have entrusted to me as a member of your family.
If you have a question or a comment about this series please feel free to write to me, Brian, at
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