I’m Adopted!

Ephesians 1:5 -“having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”

I want to continue looking at what Paul was writing about in Ephesians 1 when he mentioned our being predestined. I have again a definition for the word predestined:

According to COBUILD Advanced Dictionary, “If you say that something was predestined, you mean that it could not have been prevented or changed because it had already been decided by a power such as God or fate.”

Again, Paul mentions us being predestined. To what? To adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself. As we are in Him, we are adopted into His family! It’s just predetermined. We don’t ask for it, but as we are born again of His Spirit, we become a part of His family. It’s just the way that it is! So, yes, this is predestination because God had already decided from before the foundation of the earth that it was so.

And then Paul says that it is according to the good pleasure of His will. It’s what He, God the Father wanted and it brings Him pleasure that we are adopted in the family. John even remarked on this truth in the first chapter of his book when he wrote, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). But the choice is mankind’s to make. And once we believe on Jesus, things just start falling into place.

The Amplified states it like this: “He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—“ This view of predestination, is a well thought out plan by a loving God and Father, for those who would be saved!

Ephesians 1:11-12 -“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”

I really love verses 11 and 12. Actually, I love the book of Ephesians. But having said that, Paul said we are predestined! To what? To fulfill God’s purpose in the earth according to the counsel of His will! This is exciting! And the Father has purposed that it is His will that our salvation is to the praise of His glory. He is glorified when we are saved and fulfill the purpose of His will.

In chapter 2 of Ephesians Paul wrote: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

The word is filled with the “good works” that God has prepared for us to walk in: love towards our neighbor, helping the orphans and widows, sharing the gospel, tithing, attending worship service…” God prepared these things for us to walk in before we accepted Him as Savior.

Jeremiah 29:11, a much beloved verse by many states: “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

God has planned great things for us, His children. Plans for us to walk in peace, plans for our well being, plans to give us a future in this earth and in eternity, plans for us to have a hope! Why would we ever think, that we are just puppets on a string and life is just happening to us because He willed it, when He emphatically tells us, “I’m not planning for your destruction, your pain, your losses, your disappointments! That’s not Me! I’m planning your victory! I have set some things in motion since the foundation of the world, I have laid out a well thought out, blood bought planned for an abundant life for you! Don’t buy that I am not interested in you or your life or what is going on around! That’s not Me!!” At least, that is what I hear in His Word when I read of all that He has promised to us and done for us.

I love it! I love that God the Father had a plan for us before the foundation of the world. I love the benefit packet that comes with salvation. Much like getting a great job and finding out that not only do you have a great salary, but you also have a nice big office, a parking space, your own laptop and tablet, 401 plan you don’t have to pay into, 6 weeks paid vacation, 2 weeks of sick days, and a bonus every anniversary. It is mind-blowing because it came with your acceptance as an employee with the company. And it was in place for “whosoever” was hired for that position.

Well, we are accepted in the beloved because of Jesus and we have all of these great benefits already listed and so much more. As we go through Ephesians I am excited to learn more about all that God has in store for us. Keep reading! Wonderful Jesus!