Ephesians 1:5-6 ~ Adopted

What does it mean to be adopted? WordNet by Princeton University defines adoption as a legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit).

Ephesians 1:5-6 talks about how we have been predestined for adoption through Jesus Christ. If we are the "child", who then is the "parent"? And into whose "family" are we adopted into? John 8 illustrates the example that if God is not our Father, then the devil is. It also says in Ephesians 2:3 that we were by nature children of wrath. But we also know that Jesus is the Son of God. Tying all these concepts together, we can deduce that while we once belonged to the devil, we are now adopted into God's family. He loves yet disciplines us as how a father should.

This new adoption now creates 3 main relationships: God as our Father, Christ as our brother, and other Christians as our brothers and sisters. The entry into such a family is only made possible because of Christ. As Ephesians 2:5 points out, even when we were dead in our trespasses, we have been saved by grace and made alive together with Christ.

How then are we to respond now that we have been adopted? To answer this question, we need to first understand the purpose of this adoption. Paul clarified this when he wrote to the Ephesians, telling them that they must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds (Ephesians 4:17). Instead, they are to be imitators of God, as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1).

How blessed are we then to be adopted and now belong to God's family! Let's live the new life we've been given by obeying Him as our Father and follow His ways...