“In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:4b-6 ESV
Reflection: what is the difference between an adopted and a biological child?
An estimated 2% of the US population, or about 5 million people, have been adopted by parents they were not born by. There are many reasons why children are given up for adoption, mostly tied to various hardships of the parents. And, likewise there are also many reasons why some families decide to adopt a child, perhaps the most common is not being able to have children of their own. Regardless of reasons why, adopting a child means that the child is “legally made the son or daughter of someone other than a biological parent”, according to Webster’s dictionary. While adoption is a wonderful solution for so many, and even if the adopted child is taken fully in and loved as any biological child, the child sometimes has lingering questions of why. And, as a result, some do pursue a search for the biological parents, to try to find some answers. We read in today’s focus verses that God has adopted us as sons through Jesus Christ. What “adoption” is Paul referring to here? Is this even correct?
While adoption is a wonderful solution to problems in our natural world, helping so many children and parents, it may lead us down a thought pattern in the spiritual world that is not correct. In fact, it is only a few Bible translations which apply the word “adopted” here, where others just state that, through Jesus we are children of God. And, that aligns much closer with other scriptures, such as what John states in the beginning of his gospel account, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 ESV. Born of God, NOT adopted by God, but given a natural birth. In fact, Jesus explained this to Nicodemus who was a Pharisee, a true Israelite, who was also a teacher of the law, “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:3-6 ESV.
Some might argue that Paul is highlighting a difference here between the Israelites of the Old Testament and Gentiles, that this points to the Gentiles being adopted into the family of God. But in addition to what Jesus stated to Nicodemus, Paul states to the Ephesians from the beginning of his letter to them. “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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV. While Paul was writing to the early church in Ephesus, notice that he is including himself here, actually writing to all saints.. So the concept of how we use the word “adoption” doesn’t really apply here, as all need to be born again regardless of background, to become a child of God; through Christ. With God, we are either born of God through faith in Christ, or we are not children of God. There is no other path to God. No race or religion can do that.
So if we read Ephesians 1:5 again, but remove the reference to being adopted, it reads “In love he predestined us to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” which makes us fully sons (and daughters) through Christ. We don’t have to question where we came from, nor that we are any less than anyone else in God’s family. And, this leads us to Paul stating purpose again. Why did God want to give us this right as His children? Paul states “to the praise of his glorious grace,” Wow. That is just so amazing to really think about. That we, through receiving Christ, are born again as full sons and daughters of God, in Christ, for His praise; praising His glorious grace. That there is praise sang in heaven, to God, praising God for us! And in that we certainly understand that this is nothing we deserve or have done, but only Jesus Christ.
