Ephesians 1:3-14
Adoption is an interesting legal process where someone takes on parental responsibilities and rights for a child. It’s almost always one who is not biological. The rules in Florida are interesting that it really focuses on making the child as “biological” as possible with things like having the adoptive parents re-sign the birth certificate, making the adoptions closed, and heavily recommending that the adopted children be named in the inheritance. That happened to us with both adoptions and set the stage that in both of them, these kids are Stalnakers as much as any natural born child would be.
When the girls were adopted, our family was changed, and they changed too. Their names changed, their birth certificates changed, and their futures changed. All at once. They don’t go back to back to their original surnames when they turn 18, they won’t be cut off from our family at adulthood; no – these changes are permanent changes that affect every nook of who they are. Their identity is as Stalnakers – despite the fact that that’s not how they started, it is who they are and who they always will be – even if they change their names for their weddings. And this is expressly the point Paul was pushing as he introduced the Ephesians to the idea of our new identity as believers in Christ.
When a person is adopted, they are changed. Everything changes – their current situations and all future potential. And here’s the good news: if you believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, YOU ARE ADOPTED. That means you are included in the family of God and this is a guaranteed spot. Your destiny is sealed in Him and your value is infinite.
We are Included
As Paul explains how we are to understand adoption, he does use some specific language – he says that we are adopted as SONS (v5). Don’t automatically skip over that, it’s an important note. At that time, tradition held that daughters would have been excluded from standard family activities, especially the working of the father. Females were protected, left out of the difficult discussions of life and the home. They were treated more like dolls than like contributing members of society. This is not Paul saying that’s the way it SHOULD be – he is in fact saying the opposite. In God’s Kingdom, all believers (all of God’s children) are treated as sons under this idea of adoption. We know he’s talking about all races, genders, and class situations because of he covers each different classification of a person throughout this letter. All that to say that both males and females, when we believe in Christ, are adopted as SONS.
Why is this important? Mulan would have done anything to be included in the family; in fact she did! She disguised herself as a male for exactly that reason. What it means, as a son, according to the tradition I mentioned earlier, that you are included – included in family decisions, included in family work, and included in the family inheritance. This is what Paul is saying in the first half of this passage. You – regardless of your gender, your life situation, your race, or even your choice of favorite sport; you are included and valuable to the family of God. God wants you to participate and contribute to His purpose.
We are Guaranteed
And this inclusion comes with a guarantee. As in earthly adoption, there is a now and later piece to understand. Back to the kids: when they were initially adopted, their names and status immediately changed. This set their futures on a new path that is still being discovered and will be fulfilled with an inheritance and generational inclusion. This is the same with God’s family. At that first moment of belief, some incredible things happen – we are forgiven, given a new life in Christ, and even have our names written in the Book of Life (Rev 21:27)! This is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit being given to us as a deposit (v14), meaning we get a whole lot now, but later it will be indescribably more! We can know we have this deposit if there is spiritual fruit in our life. John 15 shows us that if we are abising in God through Christ, fruit will grow. Galatians 5 shows us that if the Spirit is active in our life, spiritual fruits will appear. That means that if you are showing spiritual fruit in your life, then the Holy Spirit is in you and you are guaranteed the inheritance God promises!
Next Steps
In Christ, your destiny is sealed and your value is infinite! This is because YOU ARE A SON OF GOD! Join in with the family today and take your rightful place as an inheritor with the King of Kings!
- Have confidence in your value – you are important to the King and included in His plans – John 15:15 (no longer do I call you servants…)
- Break barriers that might be keeping you from experiencing the power of the HS in you – sin, anger, etc… how intently are you depending on God for your life?
- Participate in the building of the Kingdom of God (make disciples who make disciples who make disciples…) by living your faith in front of others and telling them about God when the Holy Spirit leads you
Because you are a son of God, your destiny is sealed and your value is infinite. He did for you because He wants to include you. What might be holding you back? Jump into the family/Kingdom of God today!
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