God’s Sovereignty Part 7

Subject – Children of God
Text - Ephesians 1:5b

This is the very thought that ought to put every single believer in the third heavens mentally, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself…” God, before anything was ever created foreknew you, elected you, predestinated you to be His child for all eternity in His own Son Jesus Christ. God, as Holy and Just in His very being is, chose a remnant of people that are sinners in every action, who could never do any good, unprofitable in every deed, who their on own would never have chosen to understand God, and would never seek God on our own, were chosen of God to be His children. But Why? That is the great question we will never be able to answer while in this flesh, why of all the people on this earth did God chose me? But, God did not just elect you to be His child, God also  “…predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself…” Remember that the word “predestinated” it means - to limit in advance, that is to determine before, or to ordain – However, the Greek word “proorizō” comes from two other Greek word “pro” and “horizō” and separate these two words means – to mark out before or to ordain. So together it all means that before the foundation of the world God limited in advance, marked out a remnant of the worlds population that He ordained to be His “adopted children, by His own Son Jesus the Christ”. Now, the words “adoption of children” means - the placing as a child, that is, as a Christian adoption means - sonship in respect to God – We would liken this relationship to what we call “adopted children” which we would liken to our own blood child. In other words, there would be no difference between our own blood child and an adopted child as far as our relationship to our parents. This relationship between us, Jesus, and the Father is defined our Father this way, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:16 – 17 The words “joint-heirs” means - participant in common: heir together, heir with – this means as adopted children of God, we will be as much a child as Jesus the Son of man Himself is. Not in deity, but as children, we are God’s very own children. We are not ranked with the angels, nor are we ranked with any other being in heaven, except Jesus the Christ. We should not think of ourselves as “adopted children, but children of the King”. How blessed are we who are loved, elected, and predestinated to be God’s dear children?

Now look at this blessing, Paul told in Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” This means that God has transferred us from Satan’s child of wickedness and Satan’s power to hold us, into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. It would be impossible for a person to do this on their own. On our own we drink sin like water, we do not understand God or righteousness, nor do me even seek God or righteousness. Therefore, God concluded that we were “…delivered us from the power of darkness…” and it was not an action of any kind on our part. Salvation a gift it is not a prize we earn, how could we ever earn a prize that we wanted no part in, ever! Our salvation is an honor, privilege, and a blessing from God Himself thru His own Son Jesus Christ, therefore as God’s children we have the responsibility to do our Fathers will in this world. We need to honor our Father who has honored us in Jesus Christ.

“…unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself…” This is a fact; mankind just cannot get over themselves. They truly think of salvation as a prize instead of a gift, But God has said without question, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 But the humanistic thinking of the lost heart is that they must control everything. Their destiny is in their hands and they are the captain of their actions which means that they are the captain of their own salvation, but God says different. “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 Folks, this is clear and plain, God saves sinners thru His Eternal Son Jesus Christ the Son of man. We are the captain of nothing but the recipients of God’s love, grace, mercy, and His dear Son Jesus Christ. Salvation is in Him and nothing else, but to the lost person, to the ones in control of their own destiny, to those who think they chose Christ, made their own decisions, to them that are working, to those who was baptized to be saved, and to those who proudly say “God can’t change mans will” because man has a right to chose their own destiny, Hell will be their eternal home when they die. Why, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 To the believer, to the child of God, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (which is part of the gospel message) and the blood spilt, that means eternal life to the believer. We praise the actions on the cross, we do not worship a cross. But to those self-destined souls who believe in themselves and the prize they think they have earned and call the actions on the cross foolishness and irrelevant, Hell will be their eternal home. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 However, we who “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself…” say thank you Father for electing us to eternal LIFE by your dear Son Jesus the Christ.