Ephesians 1 5 6 Safe in Gods Family

Ephesians 1: 5 -6 Safe in God’s Family by Bob De. Waay April 8, 2018

God’s Love in Adoption Ephesians 1: 5, 6 (NASB) [In love] He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 1

What God Has Done for Us Seven Prepositional Phrases All modify “He predestined” 1) In love 2) Into adoption 3) Through Jesus Christ 4) Into Himself 5) According to the good pleasure of His will 6) Into the praise of His glory 7) In the Beloved Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 2

Predestined for Adoption Ephesians 1: 5 a (NASB) In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself. . . § Lit. “having predestined” aorist participle § God chose us to be in relationship with Himself and has done so out of love § The term for adoption (huiothesía) implies full legal status in the family who adopted Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 3

God’s Good Purpose Ephesians 1: 5 b (NASB) according to the kind intention of His will, § “Kind intention” is eudokia which is also in verse 9 of this section § We were adopted according to God’s good pleasure and will ‘thele_ma’ § God’s eudokia is also used in passages that refer to salvation in Lk 2: 14; 10: 21 Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 4

The Praise of His Glory Ephesians 1: 6 (NASB) to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. § The “praise of His glory” is found 3 X in this Berakah (vss 6, 12, 14) § Grace is emphasized: Lit. “grace with which He graced us” (see Lk. 1: 28) § “Beloved” is Christ as it is singular; this is like “Son of His love” in Colossians 1: 13 Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 5

Implications and Applications § God lovingly made believers part of His family § As those God adopted, though still flawed, we are promised future glory § God adopted us according to His good pleasure § Christ’s universal call is valid even as believers are safe in God’s family Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 6

An Elect People Shown Mercy 1 Peter 2: 9, 10 (HCSB) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 7

Adopted With a Glorious Future Romans 8: 23 (HCSB) And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits— we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. § See vss 24, 25 = already/not yet § All who are born of the Spirit are adopted and have the pledge of future glory § Fullness is realized at the resurrection Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 8

God’s Good Pleasure in Salvation Matthew 11: 25, 26 (NASB) At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. ” § “Well-pleasing” is eudokia as in Eph. 1: 5 § The “wise and intelligent” had rejected Christ despite many miracles He did Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 9

The Universal Call Matthew 11: 28 -30 (HCSB) “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. ” § Religious works cannot save (Matt. 23: 4) § Come to Christ who alone saves! Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 10