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Predestined For Adoption

even as he chose us in him, before creating the world, to be holy, blameless in his presence, in love, predestined for adoption  to the extent of his own through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:4-5)

God predestined us for adoption as his own, even before he created the world he chose us through Christ. He predestined us according to his purpose, who accomplishes all according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11). According to what God purposed in Christ, we are adopted as children of God.

now, as many accepting him, to them he gives the authority to become children of God, to those who believe in his name (John 1:11-12)

How did he accomplish such a feat? To adopt us as his own? We read on, "whom are born, not from blood, nor from fleshly will, nor from a man's will, rather from God" (John 1:13). Jesus said, "I tell you the amen truth, if not one is born a new, not of the kingdom of God,.. the one born from flesh exists flesh and the one born from Spirit exists spirit. Do not be marvel because I said to you 'you must be born from above'" (John 3:3-8). 

you also in him, hearing the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, believing, were sealed of the promised Holy Spirit, the one whom exists the guarantee of our inheritance to the extent redemption of his possession, to the praise of his glory (Ephesian 1:13-13).

It is to the praise of his glory that God has done such a wonderful thing through his Son. The Don "gives the authority to become children of God, to those who believe in his name" to the one "hearing the word of truth, the good news of our salvation, believing" these are born of the Spirit, sealed as his own, his children, until he takes possession of his own. The Spirit is the guarantee of that inheritance, not only as children destined to be in his presence but also the perfecting, maturing power given to become sons.

For these brought forth by the Spirit of God these exists sons of God. For not receiving a spirit of slavery again to fear, rather  receiving a Spirit of adoption in whom we cry out Abba Father! The Spirit himself bear witness to our spirit that we exist children of God, and if children then heirs..." (Romans 8;14-17)

Who becomes a heir but a son. A child is still under a tutor though he will receive the inheritance at the appointed time. This relationship is much different than a servant, Jesus said, as a servant doesn't remain in the house forever, but a son does. Notice, the two different words, children and sons Paul uses here. A child has testimony of the Spirit, but a son, grown up into maturity, is brought forth by the Spirit. 

for I consider the sufferings at present time not worthy, compared to the glory at the point of being revealed to us (Romans 8:18)

John writes there are three that testify, spirit, blood, and water. And a child knows the Father and that his sins are forgiven, but a son is strong and overcomes the evil one. The Spirit bears witness that we are children and if children then we are heirs, we are predestined to become sons, in which we are led by the Spirit to put the deeds of the flesh to death, thus we suffer with him, so to be glorified with him.

now we know that all work together for good, to the ones loved of God, the ones called according to purpose, because those he foreknew also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be first among many brethren (Romans 8:28-29)

God predestined us for adoption through Christ, he chose us before he created the world, to be holy, blameless in his presence, in love. God so loved the world he sent his only Son, to give men the authority to enter the kingdom of God, to be born into it of God's will, of the Spirit, a Spirit of Adoption, of God's will to become children. To all those who believe in his name. 

How glorious is it that he predestined us for adoption as his own! "Now those he predestined, these he calls and these he calls these he justifies, now whom he justifies, these he also glorifies" (Romans 8:30). To those who believe in the gospel  you were predestined for adoption, you are a child of God, sealed as a pledge of your inheritance. 







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