Ephesians 1:5-6 (ESV)
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.
The Bible does record that all those who receive Christ and believe in His name become children of God (John 1:12). Obviously, we do not become God’s children through the natural means by which children are born, thus leading us to the question how then? The answer that the Bible gives to is that we are adopted into God’s family as sons. In other words, God chose us, cast His love upon us, and made us legally His own. In the culture of the time, sons had the greatest honour in the household after the parents, and this is the same idea that the Scriptures aim to communicate. This means, then, that it is not a gender issue but a status issue (See also Galatians 3:28). All of us, male and female, have been adopted as sons in the household of God if we have believed.
The significance of this truth cannot be strained enough. To remember that you were loved, chosen, and adopted as a son in the Kingdom is a cause for rejoicing. By virtue of our sonship, we are entitled to the inheritance that is stored up for us in heaven. And on top of all this, Jesus has now become our elder brother. Let us therefore rejoice on account of this and always be reminded, as someone aptly put it, that God punished His obedient Son for the sake of us who are rebellious sons. Praise the Lord!
Reflections
1. In a natural setting, do you think biological children have more value than adopted children?
2. How does the reminder that you have been adopted as a son encourage you in your Christian walk?
