"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children [literally, ‘sons’] by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" (Eph. 1:5). Verse 4 of this chapter mentioned the simple fact that we were chosen in Christ; verse 5 adds the further truth that God had a special destiny in view for those chosen ones. They are predestinated to the adoption of sons. This goes far beyond the mere fact of our being saved or redeemed. There were many dear saints of God in the Old Testament saved by His grace, but they were not sons of God as we are now. God specially predestinated us to that glorious position. A glance at Gal. 4 will show the meaning of this truth of the adoption of sons. Paul there contrasts the saints of the Old Testament with those of the New. In the Old Testament a believer had merely the status of a "child" in the family of God. Paul speaks of the Jewish saints when he states in Gal. 4:3 that "we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world." The Jews were under law, a law that told them, "Thou shalt" and "Thou shalt not." That is the way we talk to a child. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son. His precious Son redeemed those that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. Because of the work of Christ on the cross, believers are now no longer under the law and thus subject to ordinances, but they are given the place of sons. In our language today the word "adoption" carries the idea of a child taken into a home and given the place of a child by a couple who are not themselves its parents, but in the Bible the word "adoption" has no such meaning. Its literal translation is "the placing of a son." When Rome was in power, adoption was a ceremony in which parents would publicly present their child to society, somewhere at the age of sixteen or so. That child would thereafter take his place in society as the acknowledged son of the family. That is rather the thought presented in Scripture under the term "adoption." Upon the death of Christ believers are no longer under law_under order as a child is_but are given the place of grown-up sons and daughters of God. The passage in Gal. 4 goes on to say that because we Christians are now sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, by which we cry, "Abba, Father." "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Gal. 4:7). Thus the precious truth of adoption sets forth the fact that not only have we been redeemed through the death of Christ, but have been given the position of sons in God’s family. In Christianity we are no longer under rules and regulations, as a little child is, but we have the Christian liberty and dignity of sons of God. The Spirit of God Himself indwells us, thus enabling us to walk to God’s glory as we are led and instructed by Him. To enjoy the adoption of sons means to enjoy the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free; we should walk as intelligent, spiritually-educated, free men. And Gal. 4:7 adds, "If a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Thus this predestination to the adoption of sons in this Epistle goes far beyond the mere matter of salvation, but carries with it the thought of our being blessed with all that the heart of God could devise. It is a position that shall be ours throughout all eternity. We are sons of God already; we shall be manifested as such when Christ Himself is manifested. It may be noticed that the apostle John always speaks of the believer as a child of God_a "born-one"_ while Paul speaks much of sonship. The one speaks of our family relationship, the other of our position. He has made us sons "according to the good pleasure of His will." It pleased God to give us this glorious place of honor and privilege.

(From Ephesians.)

FRAGMENT
And here we walk as sons, through grace,
A Father’s love our present joy,
Find, in the brightness of Thy Face,
A rest no sorrows can destroy!