Kaleo San Diego Church > Sermons > Predestined for Adoption

Predestined for Adoption

David Fairchild
Feb 14, 2010
Series: Ephesians

Ephesians 1:4c-6: “4…In love 5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

I grew up in a small town in Washington State called Port Orchard. It was about a 60 minute ferry ride into Seattle and we would go there fairly often. I had been to Seattle several times as a kid and thought I knew the city pretty well. But one day my parents took me to the Seattle Center where we went up the Space Needle that overlooked the city. When we arrived at the top I went out on the deck and was given a breathtaking view of the city. It opened up a whole new understanding of the reality of Seattle to me because I now had a bird’s eye view of everything. Even though I was young, I still remember how stunned I was at how small everything looked and how it all fit together. The city was the same but my perspective of the city changed. I’ve been up to the top of the Space Needle several times now and that view is burned in my memory. I can’t think of Seattle without thinking of it from both the street level and also from above.

One of the reasons it’s so difficult to communicate biblical reality to the average person, whether they are Christian or non-Christian, is because of their starting perspective. The biblical reality and our view of reality have very different starting points.

When I say our perspective of reality is different than the biblical one, I’m not necessarily saying that our starting point doesn’t include believing that the bible is true or that Jesus is God’s Son and our only true Savior. What I’m talking about is the difference between a God-centered view of reality versus a man-centered view of reality. You can have a man-centered perspective and still believe in God, in the Bible, and affirm many biblical truths. With a man-centered perspective you begin with man as the center of the universe and you move out from there. Your wants, your goals, your needs, and your desires are the ultimate starting point. Your view is only at a street level.

What the man-centered view sees as the greatest problem in the universe is how our rights, goals, needs, and desires are going to be realized, and if possible, still include God in our life. Our starting point is our own rights and happiness and if it’s possible to include righteousness and holiness in there, we’ll, we’ll take that, too. It is our default perspective and we don’t have to try to develop it, we’re born with it. Paul calls this the “mind of the flesh” in Romans 8:6-7, and Paul says this view is “hostile to God.”

A God-centered perspective isn’t simply a belief in God, Jesus, the bible, sin and salvation. Instead, a God-centered vision is one that begins with the assumption that God is the center of reality. God’s goals, rights, desires and plans are the starting point and everything else is interpreted through that understanding. If God is God, then by definition He has to be the only true reality and the only right perspective.

What a God-centered mind-set sees as the greatest problem in the universe is how a holy, powerful, wise, righteous, infinitely just God, who is worthy of worship from every living creature, can display and retain all of His glorious attributes and still include man in His plan.

If you start with man and his goals at the center, you will arrive at very different conclusions about the biblical teaching of election and predestination than if you start with God and His goals. Our starting points, our foundational perspective and vision affects everything we learn.

Our two perspectives are on the same track heading towards one another and when we come to passages in the bible that take us up to God’s perspective, they crash into one another. Salvation is not only the removal of our sin so that we can have God, salvation is also freeing us so that we can truly see the God we have.

Let’s remind ourselves that Paul is teaching us the Gospel from eternity to eternity—from before the foundation of the world to the consummation and uniting of everything together when Jesus returns. Paul wrote this so that we would so enjoy the view that we would worship God. So let’s jump in.

In this passage God is telling us how he solved this problem.

God’s Heart in Predestination

Verse 4c:-“…In love…” (His heart)

This is God’s emotional disposition. No matter how much we argue and fight against God’s choice to save some and not others, no matter how much we think it is unfair, unjust, and unloving, God tells us that the disposition of His heart was love.

God’s love expressed itself in giving us a destination beforehand.

Verse 5- “…he predestined us…” (His plan)

What the Bible teaches about predestination:

Psalms 139:13-18: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.”

Acts 13:48: “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed (ordained) to eternal life believed.”

2 Timothy 1:9: “…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began”

Romans 8:28-30: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

He loves us and wants us to glorify Him, which is the very thing our souls have always longed for.

Paul isn’t using the language of predestination to gloat over others but to assure believers who struggle with their security that God has loved them and does love them apart from anything they have done or will do. It is meant to bless us and cause our hearts to rest in grace. It isn’t intended for endless arguments.

In fact, it would have been received as a declaration of freedom for the Ephesians who assumed they were at the mercy of capricious fates. They were in bondage to fear of manipulative spiritual powers. They would have felt their destiny was in the hands of competing spirits. Instead, Paul says the one that holds their destiny is Himself and He isn’t cruel or capricious but instead is a kind Father who lovingly picked out their destiny.

Predestination is the shout of our Father’s eternal love that echoes through our thankful lives. When this doctrine is properly taught and understood, it accomplishes exactly what Paul intended: humility, assurance, comfort, and most importantly praise to God for his glory in grace. It is a doctrine of peace that declares that you are free from the forces and powers that tempt your allegiance. You are destined for something greater than you could imagine. You are predestined for Him!

“…for adoption…” (Our Identity)

Orphans vs. Sons and Daughters

Orphans have no family- This is why we want to isolate ourselves from one another (either physically or emotionally). We still think we’re orphans and don’t have a family. A son or daughter, however, knows their family and loves them.

Orphans have no home- This is the cause of our spiritual insecurity. We don’t believe we have a home where we are known and loved, a place of safety and warmth. Some of us manifest an orphan mentality in our relationships with our spouses or close friends. We don’t feel secure and safe so we protect and guard. We’re unable to get close so we either remain distant or dominate as a way of controlling. We control because we don’t want to let someone in, much in the same way an orphan has a great difficulty getting attached to their adoptive parents. Psychologists and counselors have given this a name: reactive attachment disorder. It causes a failure to find attachment in healthy ways. A child either attaches inappropriately to anyone that gives them attention, or they detach themselves emotionally from anyone, especially those closest to them. They seem more distant to their adoptive parents than they do casual friends or acquaintances. It is caused by being rejected or neglected by those who are supposed to love and care for them the most. The coping response then, is to reject and detach from new relationships, even if those relationships are loving and healthy. They essentially protect themselves from ever getting hurt again by never settling into a home.

The same is true for all of us. In subtle and varied ways, we all have to deal with the rejection and neglect we’ve received from those who are supposed to love us most. The temptation is to protect and guard so that we never get “too close.” The reason is simple, we don’t want to be hurt again by conditional love that may not last. So we continue to believe we are orphans that have no true home and no true identity.

When we think of how these symptoms manifest themselves in our relationship to our Father who has adopted us, we can see that most of our difficulties with believing we’re loved by Him or wanting to be with Him are the result of our being rejected and neglected by those we tried to love who didn’t love us the way we needed to be loved and nurtured.

If any of you have ever been a stepchild, you know what a detached and neglected love looks like. It’s a weak kind of love that puts a roof over your head and food in your stomach. But for all the nights in a warm house, you still felt a chill. For all the meals that filled your stomach, you still felt hungry. For all the clothes that covered you, you still felt naked and alone. That is a counterfeit love. It masks itself as love by its dutiful action, but has no heart to pump living love through your veins.

We bring our views of parents and love into our relationship with God. If your parent was disinterested in you and didn’t desire to spend any time with you, you will see God as distant and disinterested. You might pray, but your prayers lack the confidence that God really hears them and cares.

If your parent was a good provider but lacked providing for your emotional needs as a child, you’ll see God as someone who is big, can protect and provide for your needs, but doesn’t really want to be with you. Sure, you might think, He’s a good God in the way He takes care of me, but in all His protection and provision, I still feel distant from Him as if He doesn’t really love me. I’m just a responsibility to Him and not a delight and joy to be around. This is why the idea of the closeness of God might feel strange because all you’ve experienced is distance from your parents.

A son or daughter, however, may find themselves straying at times, but always hear the call of their Father to come home, and they do. The voice of their Father is a reminder that they are safe and secure, that there is warmth and love.

Orphans have no name- This is the cause for our need to find our identity in other things. We don’t feel we’ve been given our identity by God’s grace, so we’re all out trying to make our own by working for it. We strive and labor to get something permanent, something lasting, when all the while we forget that we bear the name of our Father, a name that isn’t worked for but gifted, and a name that is exalted above every other name, a name that will never be taken away from us. Jesus says in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 3:12: “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God…”

There is something powerful in receiving a new name. It means you are now part of a new family with a new inheritance and a new identity that has all the rights and privileges of that family name. It transfers your identity.

With Roman adoption, the adoptive father would take on any and all debt for the sake of the adopted son. The adopted son would be given all the inheritance that would have been given to a firstborn son.

Ephesians 1:11: “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will”

The only way we can receive an inheritance is if a will is made and the one who wrote the will dies. Until the death, the riches of the inheritance stay with the Father.

“…through Jesus Christ…” (His accomplishment)

God took His greatest treasure, what He values the most, and gave Him as a sacrifice so that through the death of Jesus Christ, we might become adopted into God’s family and receive the full rights of our sonship AND the full riches of our inheritance.

“…according to the purpose of his will…” (His pleasure)

Actually reads: according to the good pleasure of his will

Verse 6- “…to the praise of his glorious grace…” (His purpose)

Actually reads: to the praise of the glory of his grace

Why does He want us to praise and glorify Him?

We look at the need for someone to be praised and adored as a negative character defect. So, when we think of God creating the world, making us, saving us, giving us His Son, judging mankind, and restoring everything so that we would glorify Him, it seems as if that would be a character flaw.

But if God really is the most glorious, beautiful and admirable being in the universe, wouldn’t we be angry if He kept Himself from us? If coming to Him means finding home and finding what our souls have longed for, wouldn’t we want Him to draw us to Himself?

You see, God’s demand for praise is also his demand for our supreme happiness. Deep in our souls we know we are made to make much of something great. The best and most lasting joys come from standing in awe of something and letting it take our breath away as we’re consumed with its majesty. It isn’t when we make much of ourselves.

When we go to the Grand Canyon, we’re not going to make much of ourselves but to stand in awe of something greater than us. It brings us joy to praise something great.

We praise great music and great food. We praise our lovers. We praise an amazing achievement in sports. We praise a film or work of art. We love to praise. We share that praise with others by telling them how great it was and how much they should experience it, too. We can’t help ourselves; the entire universe is a concert of praise for something great.

But God is the only thing that is infinitely worthy of praise. We will never get tired of praising God, never want to listen to his “B” side, never want to see part 2, never want to exchange Him for another lover when we’ve finally seen Him for who He really is.

God knows we’re made for Him and if He were to send us to anything other than Himself, He’d be an idolater. If He is what we’ve always wanted, then calling us to come to Him is the most loving thing He can do. God is God-centered because He is the most valuable being in the universe.

“God seeks our praise not because He won’t be happy until He gets it. He’s seeking our praise because we won’t be happy until we give it. This is not arrogance. It is love." -John Piper

Some Objections:

1) Fatalism

Are we determined robots? Are we subject to fate?

The difference between fatalism and predestination is massive. In fact, the Ephesian Christians would have listened to these two verses and leapt for joy! The Ephesians grew up with a view that their lives were subjected to and held captive by the fear of their fate. They were taught that they were under the power of magic and astrological beliefs, the fate of the stars, or the fate of the goddess Artemis.

Instead, Paul brings them the most profound comfort by making them aware that they were not at the mercy of mystery and blind fate. They were known before they were born and loved before the foundation of the world. There was no need for them to be afraid. Their fate didn’t rest in the hostile spiritual “powers.” Their future was secured by a personal God who set His love on them and knew them.

You see, with fate there is no room for a personal God. Predestination is beautiful because we learn we now have a true destiny and our lives are not meaningless. We no longer have to try and determine our own futures or give up in hopelessness because it’s all meaningless. Instead, our wise, infinitely powerful, and holy God has made us for Himself. He’s not some blind, unintelligent, impersonal force.

God has, from eternity, had one unified plan or purpose in which He is bringing everything and all events to that end, that goal. And that goal in creation is the glory of God and the good of His people.

Fatalism makes man a machine but predestination for adoption makes us children of the living God. We are not robots; we are image bearers of God who by grace are given back our sanity. Being held under the power of Satan is robotic because it leads to an impersonal end of destruction. But God brings freedom to finally have ourselves back and to become what we were created to be, His sons and daughters. He’s making us into free beings.

“God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man. It is not like teaching a horse to jump better and better, but like turning a horse into a winged creature.” -CS Lewis

God is making us, by grace, winged creatures that can fly, not simply more efficient robots.

2) Is God the author of sin?

Or in other words, “why does God still find fault?”

Romans 9:14-23: “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, ‘Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?’ 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory”

God does everything for His own glory. EVERYTHING. Even when we don’t understand why He’s doing what He’s doing, we can know for sure He’s doing all things for His glory.

God has fixed a destiny for mankind, not in a vacuum, but out of 1) His loving affections, 2) With a purpose in mind (praise for His glory), 3) With a plan to accomplish His purpose (adoptions as sons through Jesus).

He isn’t making blind, detached decisions for our future. Everything has an ultimate purpose: for the glory of God’s grace.

When we struggle with one truth, like God’s sovereignty in predestination, we need to remember his other attributes that accompany that truth. God isn’t only sovereign, He’s good. He isn’t only good, He’s just. He isn’t only just, He’s loving. He isn’t only loving, He’s righteous. He isn’t only righteous, He’s merciful, etc. You see, we come to odds with these truths because we separate God’s attributes and then dissect them and question them one by one. But God is whole. He isn’t to be dissected. His sovereignty is always in the context of goodness, justice, love and grace. No matter how hard it is for us to forget how he can be good, sovereign and gracious all together, He nevertheless is.

What this is really touching on is the problem of evil. How can God be both sovereign and good? If He’s sovereign, and yet evil exists, then He can’t be good. If He’s good, yet evil exists, he can’t be sovereign. But this is nothing more than a wannabe logical problem.

First off, if God is sovereign and good AT THE SAME TIME, then he could, in His goodness and sovereignty, have a plan and reason for why He lets evil exist that we just don’t understand. If He’s big enough to be mad at, then He’s certainly big enough to have a reason we don’t get.

But here’s a bigger problem that should keep us up at night if we have a God-centered perspective.

If God is sovereign and good, how can He possibly allow so much happiness? I find this far more difficult to answer than how God can allow evil. Because, to say something is evil is to say you know there is something good to compare it to, and the ultimate good is God. But to have abounding happiness and joy in a universe created by a sovereign, good, holy, just, and righteous God is stunning.

How can God allow so much joy when He is who He is? He is under no obligation to give rebels anything other than despair for their treason. Yet He allows the rain to fall upon the righteous and unrighteous alike. He gives man the joy of having children, falling in love, and enjoying what He’s made. And all the while man is taking the gifts and enjoying them, he’s despising the very one who gave him anything good there is.

For all other questions left remaining about election and predestination:

For all other questions that we believe we’ll ask God when we meet Him, let me offer you this perspective.

Revelation 19:

Revelation 19:1-4: “After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.’ 3 Once more they cried out, ‘Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.’ 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’”

There are no arguments and questions, they are marveling at his holiness, grace and power. We want to put God on the stand as we play the prosecuting attorney that cross-examines Him. The fact remains, when you come to fully see God, these questions melt away.

It’s ok to have questions now, but not to be questioning. In other words, our questions should always be motivated by love and faith. He doesn’t mind us humbly asking, “God, I don’t understand this, please help me.” However, we’re not to assume that we can question Him as if He’s a child that answers to us. He is God. He is good. He is wise and sovereign, Holy and righteous, just and merciful, loving and gracious, powerful and gentle. He is the Creator of the Universe and we are creatures that owe our lives to Him. We are in no position to doubt Him, question His character, or make Him accountable to us.

A questioning attitude is a man-centered attitude and it’s prideful. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Ask Him, but do so with humility, realizing you are approaching a consuming fire who is also your loving Father. He knows that we won’t fully understand everything He’s doing. In fact, He says as much in His word. He is a self-donating God who has poured out Himself to us so that we can no longer be His enemy but instead be His friend.

“….with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (His blessing)

God’s greatest blessing is blessing us in His Beloved Son. He gives His Son so He can have us. Beauty for ashes. In giving what is best He shows us His heart for us. If ever we question whether or not God truly loves us, we should look to the cross where His love shouted from Calvary. We should stare in wonder and remind ourselves at that cross our failure was finally removed and His grace was fully given.

We no longer have to be slaves to our feelings. We no longer have to worry about whether or not God is really for us because “In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ…”