Sometimes I need to read, read, and re-read Scripture to even begin to grasp its meaning.
Ephesians 1:3-6 fit in to that category.
It can be helpful to take verses packed with extraordinary impact line by line to see what truths they explain.
Chosen and Loved
Ephesians 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…”
[amazon_link id=”1598562754″ target=”_blank” ]Matthew Henry’s Commentary[/amazon_link] says, “Spiritual blessings are the best blessings with which God blesses us.” This adoption blesses. He blesses us, and so we are to bless Him with praise, obedience, and love.
Ephesians 1:4 – “…even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love…”
God chose us before the foundation of world. Does that baffle anyone else’s mind? He chose us. Us. You. Me. Them. Not only did He choose – in love – but He chose us for the purpose of becoming holy before Him
I love how [amazon_link id=”1598562754″ target=”_blank” ]Matthew Henry’s Commentary[/amazon_link] explains this original choosing: “…not because he foresaw they would be holy, but because he determined to make them so. All who are chosen to happiness as the end are chosen to holiness as the means. Their sanctification, as well as their salvation, is the result of the counsels of divine love.”
Our adoption results from God, and happiness abounds from that holy adoption.
Ephesians 1:5 – “…he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…”
We fulfill His purposes in part because we are His adopted. Since it is by God’s infallible will, this adoption is not at all a mistake. He chose us for a purpose.
Ephesians 1:6 – “…to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
We are adopted in grace. Undeserved, unmerited, amazing grace. I shake my head in awe as I ponder this love. We are chosen by grace, and so we praise.
Gifts of Adoption
A loving, responsible adoptive family offers a home, safety, provision, and love. What do we receive in our adoption from God?
- Redemption through His blood (Ephesians 1:7)
- Forgiveness of our trespasses (Ephesians 1:7)
- Grace lavished upon us (Ephesians 1:7-8)
- A plan set forth in Christ to unite all things to Him (Ephesians 1:9-10)
We are chosen, adopted. We are loved. And He offers us this life to praise Him for it and share that love with others.
What is your response from knowing you are specifically and purposefully chosen?
I am baffled along with you, Caroline. :) I am also so thankful for those adoption gifts. We are so blessed.
Blessed, indeed! I was very thankful for the reminders I read in these passages. Thanks, Julie!
Our Abba Father is so amazing to do so very much to be in an intentional and purposeful relationship with each of us. God created us for connection with him and others and he gave us a beautiful example of how we should be in intentional relationship with others. I am blessed and therefore want to be a blessing as a conduit of His love.
Great way to explain it, Tara. I continue to be amazed at how I see over the years that God created us for community and connection, especially with Him.