Chosen by Grace

Calling a child, placing him in their midst, and saying, 'I tell you the truth unless converted and becoming like this child, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven...'*

Jesus said to enter the kingdom of heaven one must be born of Spirit, thus converted and becoming like a child. It is an amazing picture of adoption, the Spirit testifying that we are His children, we receive a Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry out Daddy Father! Now, to the orphaned child, who has not had an earthly father and family, to be adopted is an amazing thing. Of course it should be amazing to any child of God, that we have been chosen by grace to receive such an inheritance.

by grace you have been saved and raised up and seated together in the heavenlies in Christ, so to demonstrate in the ages, the coming upon, the surpassing riches of His grace, in His kindness to us in Christ.*

How were we saved? by grace. Why? God demonstrated His kindness to us in Christ. What is grace? His undeserving favor and kindness to us in Christ. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, adoption is among the true blessings we receive in Christ, and it is from the riches of His grace. In adoption is the fulfillment of God's promise, of being many descendants and heirs, the blessed of many nations. So through the Seed of Abraham, Christ, we experience the promise of inheritance, of being an heir. Those of faith foresaw into these blessings which are from the riches of His glory and grace, more valuable than gold or silver.

So too in the present time there is born a remnant, chosen by grace.*

Now picture a child being adopted, or being chosen by grace. Grace is undeserving favor, so there is nothing the child did to receive God's favor, to be deserving of adoption. God doesn't judge by appearances, so the disfigured, the handicapped, the ugly, the worst of sinners, there is no distinction in how He adopts a child, He judges right and chooses by grace. In truth when God chooses the lowly things of this earth it greatly demonstrates the riches of His grace, thus He loves orphans especially. But someone must guide children to a heavenly Father who favors them.

For which chosen beforehand also too marked out beforehand to become the image of the one His Son, that He exists firstborn of many brethren.*

So we see a family, whom the heavenly Father has chosen by grace. He favors all His children, not based upon merit, working in them His good works for their good. All enter the kingdom like lowly children, and there are no children higher than others, they are all brethren and joint-heirs with Christ. Jesus gives gifts to the family, so as to build up the children, which builds up the family. Brothers and sisters in His family do not think themselves better because of a gift given. Instead of being a cause for stumbling those who are first become last building up the child in unity of faith and love. The family is being edified by faith active in love until all children attain to the full measure of His image, His workmanship and His glory. A true blessing from the riches of His grace and glory, that we are called children of God.   

for whoever lowers himself like this child exists the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.*

Becoming like a child speaks of new birth, but also of lowliness, like a child who is totally dependent on a father. So too in sanctification, transformation, or glorification, must we be like a child totally dependent on a heavenly Father. I never knew the love of an earthly father, never knew what it was like to have a family, and in my own renewal God has shown me His great love and what it means to be lowly, a little innocent child who trusts in a heavenly Father and who stands before Him favored. And He has taken me to a time at an orphanage in Ukraine, where I experienced His reminding presence and love, and He shows me the little boy, who is much like me, and tells me He was always there when I was a child, and how He needs some one to guide the little boy to a loving heavenly Father. 

"For from the one His fullness we all received, and grace to grace."* 

Grace To Grace

Christian Alliance for Orphans’ White Paper 

ON UNDERSTANDING ORPHAN STATISTICS

There are over 17.8 million children worldwide who have lost both parents (“double orphan”). 153 million children worldwide have lost either one parent (“single orphan”) or both parents. These statistics do not count the estimated 2 to 8+ million children living in institutions or the vast number of children who are living on the streets, exploited... Nor do these statistics include what is known as “social orphans,” these are the fatherless and/or motherless, having one or even both of their parents alive but rarely do they see their parents or experience life in a family. Some never do. Global orphan statistics shed virtually no light on the reality of the vast number of social orphans who have one or more living parents, yet experience life as if they did not.