Transformed in Christ: The Marvel of Election and Adoption (Ephesians - Part 6)

Today we will delve into the rich truths that Pastor Sam Merigala unfolded in his sermon, "Chosen, Redeemed, Forgiven: God's Abounding Grace," specifically Part 12 of the "TRANSFORMED IN CHRIST" series. I hope you will find it find the depth of divine love and wisdom, particularly concerning the glorious doctrines of adoption, redemption, and the forgiveness of sins. Let us ponder these spiritual realities as Pastor Sam so wonderfully articulated them.

The Marvel of Election and Adoption: God's Eternal Purpose for Us

In Ephesians 1:5, the concept of predestination is presented. Pastor Sam begins by leading us into the heart of God's eternal plan, the nature of election, and its ultimate goal: holiness and adoption. He reminds us that God chose us, predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ. The word "predestine," as Pastor Sam explains, literally means to determine beforehand, emphasizing God's sole initiative and authority in our salvation. Before time began, before the foundation of the world, God chose a people for Himself, a people for sonship. What an astounding truth to grasp - that our belonging to God's family is not an afterthought, but part of His great, pre-ordained plan.

When we speak of "adoption," Pastor Sam illuminates its profound meaning by drawing on the Roman context, which Paul’s original audience would have readily understood. To be adopted meant "to place a son" and to receive all the rights and privileges belonging to the Father's children. It signified entry into a privileged position. This isn't merely a legal transfer; it's an intimate family bond. We learn that Paul uses this term five times in the New Testament, each time to those familiar with this Roman practice.

Pastor Sam brings this concept home to us by revealing both the vertical and horizontal aspects of our adoption. Vertically, God is now our Father, a truth so intimate that we can cry out to Him as "Abba," just as Jesus Himself did in the Garden of Gethsemane. What a privilege to know God as Father!. Horizontally, this means that all believers are now brothers and sisters in Christ; the church itself is a family of adopted kin. The unity and love within this family, Pastor Sam wisely points out, become the greatest apologetic we have to a watching world.

The "how" of adoption, Pastor Sam asserts, is "through Jesus Christ". It is only in Christ, "the Beloved," that we receive these blessings. We are, in a sense, caught up in the very love the Father has for His Son. This adoption is for a God-designed purpose: to bring us into a personal relationship with Him as His children. Before Christ, we were "sons of disobedience" and "children of wrath," but through His agency, we are brought into this incredible privilege.

Pastor Sam also highlights that while adoption into God's family is a present reality for believers who have the "firstfruits of the Spirit", there is also a future completion to this adoption. We groan inwardly, longing for the "redemption of our bodies," which is the glorious resurrection promise. Our current bodies are subject to decay, but we await new, imperishable bodies in Christ.

It's crucial, as Pastor Sam emphasizes, not to get lost in the negative connotations sometimes associated with predestination. While the Pauline doctrine does acknowledge the fearful doom of the unrepentant, it certainly does not mean we are destined to remain unrepentant. Instead, the salvation offered in Christ is universal in its availability. Our focus should be on the triumphant expression of God's love and grace - the destiny of the Christian believer is secure in the hands of a God who loved us so much He gave Himself for us.

Finally, Pastor Sam addresses the "why" of adoption: it is "according to His favor and will". God was simply delighted to adopt us, and He did it "to the praise of His glorious grace". Our very existence and blessedness are ultimately for His praise. This profound privilege of election and adoption also carries a sacred responsibility: to take on the "family business," to carry out God's mission, and to make Christ known in word and deed. We are chosen for a purpose, not just for personal benefit.

Historically, Pastor Sam reminds us that Israel was initially called God's "firstborn son" and enjoyed the privilege of adoption, along with other blessings like the glory, covenants, and the Law. However, Paul, with deep sorrow, acknowledges that many Israelites rejected the Messiah. Yet, the good news, as Pastor Sam points out, is that the promises of God are fulfilled in Christ and extended to all who believe, including those who were once considered "not my people" but are now called "sons of the living God". If we are Christ's, we are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to promise.

The Power of Redemption and the Gift of Forgiveness: Christ's Ultimate Sacrifice

Having established the eternal work of election and adoption, Pastor Sam's sermon beautifully transitions to the glorious work of the Son: redemption and the forgiveness of sins. This is the second affirmation in God's purpose for us. Redemption, as Pastor Sam explains, is a deliverance, a liberation from bondage or imprisonment, and it is a present reality for us now. We don't hope to have it; we have it.

Pastor Sam draws a clear line from this New Testament truth back to the Old Testament, recalling Israel's mighty deliverance from the bondage of Egypt at the Exodus. Just as they sang a song of salvation after being delivered from the Red Sea, so too should we. This redemption means God has delivered us from the "domain of darkness" and "transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son".

Crucially, Pastor Sam emphasizes that this redemption came at a tremendous cost: "through His blood". This signifies the sacrificial death of Jesus, who "loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood". This is not a cheap freedom; it cost Jesus His very life. He took our place, bearing our sins in His body on the tree. Pastor Sam explains that this is not a price paid to an enslaving power, but rather a deliverance wrought by an act of divine power, demonstrating the immense love of God. God Himself made the offering, God paid the price, loving us "unto the end".

Pastor Sam powerfully connects this to Calvary, explaining that nothing was more important for Paul than the Cross. It was at Calvary that sin stood condemned once and for all, revealing God's ultimate concern for sin. The Cross, in Pastor Sam's words, is the "supreme revelation of love"—that the sinless One would become "sin for us," enduring shame and agony on our behalf. Love and sacrifice are inextricably linked.

Furthermore, Pastor Sam broadens our understanding of Christ's work on the cross, quoting Paul: Jesus "made peace through the blood of His cross" to "reconcile to himself all things". This means Jesus' death was not just for individual salvation, but for the restoration of all creation. This includes human beings who accept Christ, spiritual beings, and even creation itself, which groans under the weight of sin. We are "justified by His blood" and brought near to God by it.

The depth of Christ's sacrifice, as Pastor Sam articulates, is rooted in His voluntary humility and obedience. Though fully divine, Jesus chose to live as a human, not in glory but in humble flesh. His obedience was "to the point of death - even death on a cross," the most shameful and brutal form of execution. This was a total submission to the Father's will, demonstrating a self-abandonment of love.

Finally, Pastor Sam ties redemption intimately to the "forgiveness of sins". He reminds us of Jesus' encounter with the paralytic, where Jesus declared, "Son, your sins are forgiven," showing that forgiveness was even more important than physical healing and that He, as God the Son, has the authority to forgive sins. Those who truly realize the magnitude of their forgiveness will pour out their hearts in adoration to Jesus, echoing the psalmist's cry, "Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness".

Pastor Sam clarifies that for Paul, the primary meaning of this redemption is forgiveness. While the metaphor of redemption through blood has Old Testament origins in the release of slaves by payment of a ransom, Paul was primarily concerned with God's sheer power to deliver. The focus is not on "to whom was the ransom paid," but on deliverance at a great price—the "forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace". This rescue from God’s just judgment on our trespasses is essential for restoring our relationship with the Father. God's lavish grace is the ultimate cause of our redemption and forgiveness, bestowing upon us the wisdom and insight by which to live wisely in light of His saving plan.

In conclusion, Pastor Sam's sermon paints a magnificent picture of God's abounding grace. We are chosen before time, adopted into His family, redeemed from bondage, and freely forgiven. These are not mere theological concepts but living realities that transform our lives. Let us, then, respond with overflowing praise and devotion, knowing the immense privilege and profound love that is ours in Christ Jesus!