Skip to main content

Ephesians 1:5: According to the purpose of his will


Ephesians 1:5
[5] he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (ESV)

Have you ever tried to discern what God's will is? I hope you have. God's will should always have preeminence in our lives.  We live to accomplish what he wills.  But, I want us to consider God's perfect will in regards to our adoption as his children of God.

Paul says that we were predestined for adoption, according to God's will.  We often hear churches preach a Gospel that emphasizes us "choosing" God.  It implies a doctrinal position that we are in charge of salvation, and things hinge on our will.  But our adoption as children of God is in accordance with the purpose of God's will.

Imagine God, as a ruler of the largest kingdom, looking at potential orphan children to consider for adoption into his family.  Do you think the orphans are going to call the shots?  No, the one doing the choosing is going to be the wealthy ruler.  Our God is the wealthy ruler of all things.  There is none greater. And he predestines us for adoption, according to his will. Our God is sovereign.  We would never respond by faith in God if he had not taken the first step in choosing us to come to him.

We love our own will. We are fascinated by how clever we think we are. But it is not our own will that saves us.  Rather, it is our will that condemns us.  The great Charles Spurgeon said it this way:

"Free-will doctrine-what does it? It magnifies man into God. It declares God's purposes a nullity, since they cannot be carried out unless men are willing. It makes God's will a waiting servant to the will of man, and the whole covenant of grace dependent on human action. Denying election on the ground of injustice, it holds God to be a debtor to sinners."
- Charles Spurgeon

Friend, if you are a child of God, it is because he predestined you for adoption, according to the purpose of his will.  Take a moment today and rejoice in God's choice!  As for your will, pray that God will purify your heart and help you to submit your imperfect will to God's perfect will.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co