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Celebrating Our Adoption Ephesians 1: 3-14

Celebrating Our Adoption Ephesians 1: 3-14. Paul reminds us about the incredible blessings we have because of our identity in Christ. Did you take time this week to reflect on these blessings? Are you ready to join together – as brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Celebrating Our Adoption Ephesians 1: 3-14

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  1. Celebrating Our AdoptionEphesians 1: 3-14 • Paul reminds us about the incredible blessings we have because of our identity in Christ. • Did you take time this week to reflect on these blessings? • Are you ready to join together – as brothers and sisters in Christ • His Church: United in Passionate Service • One body…One Spirit…One Lord…One faith Ephesians 4:4,5

  2. Paul provides a wonderful summary of God’s Salvation Plan • From eternity past to eternity future and everything in between • Over the next few weeks: • Celebrating Our Adoption • Celebrating Our Redemption • Celebrating Our Inheritance • Today: • The Fact of Our Adoption • The Purpose of Our Adoption

  3. 1. The Fact of Our Adoption • Opening verses are a wonderful doxology of praise and worship to God. • Paul reminds us that our salvation is solely and act of God’s grace. • Ephesians 1: 4-6 [NIV] – “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace.”

  4. Paul is talking about the doctrine of election and predestination. • Election: Before the creation of the world, God chose those who would be saved. • The emphasis of this doctrine is that salvation is solely an act of God’s sovereign grace. • There is nothing that you or I can do to earn our salvation.

  5. Two distinct theological positions: • Calvinism and Arminianism • Calvinists  God is sovereign over all things including the choices that you and I make so that even our decision to accept Christ is controlled by God. • Arminians God is sovereign but He limits His control to give people freedom to make choices of their own will and the freedom to choose to follow Christ.

  6. The Bible teaches both principles: • God chooses those who become part of His family • Scripture also teaches that we have a responsibility: to obey God’s Word • to respond to the gospel by faith • Romans 10:13 [ESV] – “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” A.W. Tozer : “Knowledge of the Holy”

  7. Ephesians 1:5,6 [NIV] – “In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” • A great blessing to celebrate! • The churches in and around Ephesus were part of a society that was used to abandonment. • Paul is telling those who have put their faith and trust in Christ that God Himself has picked them

  8. God has chosen us for Himself and adopted us into His family. • Why? • v.4 - because of His great LOVE for us. • The doctrine of election and our adoption is an expression of the great VALUE God has put on us. • Our adoption is a privilege but it also comes with great responsibility.

  9. 2. The Purpose of Our Adoption • Paul is celebrating the blessing we have because of our identity in Christ • The purpose of our adoption: • v.4 – “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world… • … to be holy and blameless in his sight.” • When we have been adopted into God’s family, we are called to live by the “family rules.”

  10. a. Holiness • Holy  “set apart” as God’s people. • As adopted children of God, we are called to emulated God’s character of holiness and purity. • 1 Peter 1: 14-16 [ESV] – “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

  11. This is what being “in Christ” is all about. • How we live must be determined by the character of Christ whose name we are now identified with. • It makes no sense for us to say: “I know I am in Christ and part of God’s family, but I’m going to do the opposite of what Christ expects of me.” • Not about “keeping the rules”  it about an inner transformation that compels us to want to be just like the one who saved us.

  12. b. Blameless • Blameless  being “found without fault” • Our hearts must be constantly striving to live how God wants us to live. • 2 Peter 3:11-14 [NIV] – “Since everything [in this world] will be destroyed, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming… So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”

  13. Philippians 2: 15-16 [NIV] – “…that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,” • The goal of living a blameless life? • … in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” • The reason we are called to live holy, blameless lives is that our behavior speaks loudly to our lost community and point to the family we belong to.

  14. We must show love, respect, grace to one another. • Ephesians 4:31-32 [NIV] – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. • Paul tells us to… • Ephesians 5:1,2 [NIV] – “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love.”

  15. If you have put your trust in Christ as you Saviour, you are a child of God. • As children of God, we are now called to imitate our heavenly Father. • Living a life of love: • Love for God • Love for each other • Love for the lost • What makes a church contagious is the PEOPLE.

  16. “It’s more than just a curiosity at the numbers of people. It’s their passion. It’s their Spirit-directed enthusiasm. It’s the obvious work of God engaging the lives of believers in a meaningful connection, a genuine compassion, and an electric excitement about reaching out into a community and investing themselves wholeheartedly into places of ministry.” • (Chuck Swindoll) • UNITED in • PASSIONATE • SERVICE

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