5 In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:5-6)
Adoption is one of the most enduring realities ever. It was before God created. And, it will outlast this world. It is greater than the universe and is founded in God’s nature. It is and goes beyond this world.
In Ephesians 1:5, we read, “In love he predestined us for adoption.” Adoption was God's idea. Predestination happened before the foundation of the world, "that we should be holy and blameless before Him." Before we existed, God looked on us in our need, and He decided His Son would be crucified and would rise from the dead in order to make atonement for the sin of the believer.
Our adoption has never been based on our performance, our worth, or any goodness we could produce. Our adoption is based upon the character of God. From the beginning, He knew we would choose to be unworthy and unfit. So, seeing our need, He chose us and predestined us for adoption. He is by nature love and it was His love that caused Him to make salvation a possibility for the believing soul.
In v.5, we read, “he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.” We are adopted only through Jesus Christ, which means God had to atone for our sinfulness if we were going to spend an eternity in heaven and not in hell. He did this, knowing that we would be enemies in rebellion against Him.
In ancient Rome, when a child was born, the parents had the option of disowning the child for a variety of reasons. The relationship, therefore, was not necessarily desired by the parent, nor permanent. Not so, however, if a child was adopted. In Rome, adopting a child meant the child was freely chosen by the parents, and desired by the parents.
That child would be a permanent part of the family; parents couldn’t disown a child they adopted.
An adopted child received a new identity. Any prior commitments, responsibilities and debts were erased. New rights and responsibilities were realized. In the ancient Roman world, the concept of inheritance was part of life, not something that began at death. Being adopted made someone an heir, a joint-heir to all the father's possessions.
This teaching is a constant reminder that we are fully desired, and fully loved. In addition, we have taken on a new identity through Jesus Christ and are “co-heirs with Christ” (see Romans 8:17).
According to v.6 of our text, we were adopted for the praise of the glory of God's grace. We were made to enjoy for all eternity with God. Nothing else will satisfy our souls. Therefore, if God did not exalt Himself for us to enjoy, we would be eternally incomplete. We were adopted by God so that we would enjoy making much of Him and His grace forever. This is the meaning of adoption.
"Happiness is neither without us nor within us. It is in God, both without us and within us."
Baise Pascal
