“By Jesus Christ” – Ephesians 1:5
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5).
Adoption is another spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. Remember, our Heavenly Father has “…blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ
:” (Ephesians 1:3). Apart from Christ, none of the spiritual blessings are ours. But in Christ they are ours to the full.
This is the mercy of God. This is the grace of God. This is the kindness of God. This is the love of God. We must read Ephesians 1:5 with that understanding in order to avoid the development of wrong doctrine. And we must remember that our sovereign God has given to all human beings the free will to either believe in Christ or to reject Him in unbelief. God does not determine for us either eternal life in the glory of Heaven or eternal damnation in the torment of Hell by annihilating the free will of man with His own. When our belief is placed in Christ we are then fully endowed with and blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. It’s yours! What a wonderful time we live in. Jesus is offering eternal life and the forgiveness of sin to all who believe.
We, who believe, were predestined to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. Our adoption is not by our good deeds. Our adoption is not by our faithful attendance to church. Our adoption is not by our diligent Bible study. Our adoption is not by our living the best life we can. Our adoption is not by our obedience to His commandments. According to the scripture, our adoption is “…by Jesus Christ….”
What a great gift! Do you hear, understand, and receive this great truth, believer? By Jesus Christ you have become the child of God. This plan of redemption through belief in Christ was predetermined in eternity past. Amazing! “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6). In Christ, I am adopted. God is my Father!
February 13th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Forrest,
What a wonderful reminder of His great love for us. Boy, I sure do not deserve this adoption. Paul reminds us also in Romans 8:15 of this great truth. We are not born into bondage but into adoption.
In our prayers. We love you,
Don
Gal 6:10
February 13th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Good verse, Don. I thought I’d put a few more with it to give it more context.
Romans 8:15-17 – “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”