Ephesians 1:4
"According as he hath chosen us in him"
"before the foundation of the world"
Long before the world was created, according to verse 4, God chose us to be "holy and without blame before him." And, of course, this standing depends upon our being "in him"---that is, in Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, we have no righteousness and no blamelessness. So what we are now we owe to Divine providence. It seems best to link the phrase "in love" (verse 4) with the words which follow in verse 5. In love God marked us out for receiving "the adoption of children". No one dictated this to God; it is entirely the product of "the good pleasure of his will". But what does this adoption refer to?
Adoption refers to our standing before God as His mature sons and rightful heirs. As such, we enjoy wide-ranging privileges and responsibilities. Our adoption occurred the moment we turned from sin and received the Saviour. At that precise moment the Holy Spirit took up residence in our hearts, teaching us to call God "Father."
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
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