“Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of [sons] by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:5). Verse 4 of this chapter
mentions 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.

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.”

A glance at
Galatians 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 fullness of the time was come, God sent
forth His Son. His precious Son redeemed those who 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.

Upon the death
of Christ, believers are no longer under law—under rules and regulations as a
child is—but are given the dignity and liberty of grown-up sons and daughters
of God. Does this mean that we are now free to do whatever we please?
No, but rather we are now free to carry out the full extent of God’s
will for us instead of confining ourselves to the do’s and don’ts of the law.
The Spirit of God Himself indwells us, thus enabling us to walk to God’s glory
as we are led and instructed by Him (Rom. 8:4). To enjoy the adoption of sons
means to enjoy the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free; thus we walk as
intelligent, spiritually-educated men and women.

Gal. 4:7 adds,
“If a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Thus this predestination to the
adoption of sons in Ephesians 1 carries with it the thought of our being
blessed with all that the heart of God could devise. It is a position that will
be ours throughout all eternity. We are sons of God already; we shall be
manifested as such when Christ Himself is manifested (Rom. 8:19).

(From Ephesians,
published by Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune, New Jersey.)