Ephesians 1:3–14, Part 4
Have you heard of Berghain, the exclusive dance club in Berlin? I learned about it on this podcast. It is nearly impossible to get in, and the club doesn’t explain why. People line up waiting for hours, hoping to be admitted. Finally, they make it to the door, and the head bouncer says “Nein” and waves them off without any reasoning. So many people are disappointed. There are loads of articles online with how-to guides claiming to have the right advice that will grant you entrance to Berghain. Some estimates suggest that 50% of hopefuls are turned away every day.
While that might sound strange, even counter-productive from a business perspective, Berghain is doing fine, thriving even. Come to think of it, there are loads of places, opportunities, organizations, clubs, and teams that do not have an open door policy. You can’t buy your way in. You can’t educate your way in. You can’t talk your way in. As much as we like to say, “You can do anything you put your mind to,” the reality in life is less hopeful.
That’s why what Paul writes in Ephesians 1, verses 5 and 6, is so astounding,
“[God] predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
The word Paul uses for adoption was a legal word. One scholar defines it this way, “to formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance.” (Louw & Nida)
God adopts, not begrudgingly, but according his pleasure and will. He desires us to be adopted into his family. In verse 6 Paul mentions grace, repeating the important concept of his introduction in verse 2. We talked about adoption a bit last week here, now Paul himself features it, as the outflow of God’s grace.
God graciously adopts us in the One he loves, Jesus, who he freely gives us. Our adoption into the family of God is made possible because God wanted to make it happen, and in fact he went to extreme lengths to make it happen. Just think of all Jesus did.
Paul actually describes it. Look at verses 7–9,
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,”
But Paul says that when it comes to adoption in his family, we have redemption, forgiveness of sins, and he revealed the mystery of his will. Paul is saying, “Christians, you are part of the in group. You know the secret handshake, the passphrase. All the parts of your lives that might have kept you out, your sin, is forgiven, you are redeemed, and it is all because of God’s lavish grace in Christ.
I’ve been to four adoption proceedings in courtrooms. They are some of the most beautiful, emotional, meaningful events I’ve experienced. The joy ripples through the lives of everyone involved. Judges say adoptions are by far the best part of their jobs. Children welcomed into families.
That’s what God did for us, because of his gracious love for us. We have so much to praise God for. Think about the joy, the hope, the stability it brings us to know that in God’s eyes, we are in. We are adopted sons and daughters in his family. We hear God say, “Yes!” to us.
Photo by Danny Howe on Unsplash
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