Ephesians 1:5 (NKJV) Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
Adoption as sons literally means “to place one as a son”. The Greek word huiothesia thus speaks of adoption or being placed in a position and rights as one’s own child. It means to formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance.
John 1:12 (NKJV) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
We approach God as His children whom He has chosen in His good pleasure in accordance to His will. He declared us as His children and we have the legal right to come before Him. We are in a new family, God’s family!
We need to have the right picture of the Father. He is someone who protects, provides, rescues and looks after us at all cost. There is no fear in this unconditional love and it helps us to have complete faith and trust in the Father.
The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the inheritance. We are bought by Jesus’ blood and sealed with the Holy Spirit in our hearts. It is the Spirit who assures believers of their relationship with God and causes them to cry “Abba, Father”. And not only this, the Spirit assures believers of their freedom from the bondage of the law and frees them from fear. God has already planned to restore us to Himself.
Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV) And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
We are able to feast at the Father’s table in the presence of our enemies. This is the revelational truth that we are seated together with Christ in the heavenly places, far above principalities, powers, and dominions! This is the position that has graciously been given to us. We reign with Christ and the evil one cannot touch us. He is below us. This truth helps us to fully comprehend the length, depth, breadth and the height of God’s love because this is something that is not attainable based on our own strength! We have a new position! This truth when it is reminded by the Holy Spirit strengthens our inner man. This is who we are in Christ. Therefore, we can boldly come into the presence of God.
Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV) To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Grace is not merely favor and position, but it also reveals God’s divine character. He made us accepted in the Beloved. This truth will completely uproot the root of rejection in mankind. It is a terrible feeling when one is rejected. And the greatest rejection is spiritual when Adam and Eve were chased out of the garden of Eden. Praise be to God that this verse tells us that we are accepted in the Beloved! It speaks of love as based on God’s evaluation and choice, a matter of will and action. The Beloved is Christ, the One the Father loves. In the Beloved, by grace through faith and because of our position, we are now acceptable to God because we are in Christ! We are His children!
Sermon series: Inner man
作神的儿女
以弗所书 1:5 又因爱我们，就按着自己意旨所喜悦的，预定我们，藉着耶稣基督得儿子的名分
领养儿子意即把他放在儿子的地位上。因此，希腊语中的“huiothesia”指的是被收养或被放置于作为自己孩子的地位和权利。 这意味着正式和合法地宣布，不是自己孩子的人今后将被作为自己的孩子对待和照顾，包括完整的继承权。
约翰福音 1:12 凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄，作神的儿女。
我们作为他的儿女来到神的面前，神按着祂的旨意用祂的美意来拣选了我们。祂宣称我们是祂的孩子，我们有合法权利来到祂面前。 我们在一个新的家庭，神的家庭！
我们需要有正确的父神形象。祂是那位不惜一切代价来保护、供应、救助和看顾我们的。在祂无条件的爱中没有恐惧，让我们对天父有完全的信任和信心。
圣灵是我们得产业的保证。耶稣的宝血将我们赎回，圣灵在我们的心中封上印记。是圣灵让信徒确信与神的关系，使他们呼叫“阿爸，父”。不仅如此，圣灵还向信徒保证使他们从律法的捆绑中得以自由，使他们脱离恐惧。神早已计划使我们回归于他。
在敌人面前，我们可以在父神的餐桌上举行宴席。这是一个启示的真理，我们在天堂与基督同坐一席，远高于君王，有权的和统治者。这是蛮有恩慈的神给予我们的位置。我们与基督一同统治，是仇敌不能触及的，祂在我们以下。真理使我们充分理解神爱的长阔高深，因为这不是靠我们的力量可以得到的。我们有一个全新的地位！当圣灵提醒我们的时候，这真理使我们里面的更加坚强。这就是我们在基督里的身份。因此，我们可以坦然无惧地来到神面前。
以弗所书 2:6 他又叫我们与基督耶稣一同复活，一同坐在天上。
以弗所书 1:6 使他荣耀的恩典得着称赞。这恩典是他在爱子里所赐给我们的。
恩典不仅仅是关爱和地位，同时也显示出神圣洁的性格。他使我们在他的爱子中被接纳。这个真理将彻底除去人类被拒绝的根源。一个人被拒绝是一种可怕的感觉。当亚当和夏娃被赶出伊甸园时，最大的拒绝来是来自于灵里的。赞美神！这节经文告诉我们，我们在爱子里被接纳！这里述说的爱是以神的评价和选择，意志和行动为基础。基督是神所爱的，在爱子中，靠着恩典，藉着信，因着我们的地位，我们被神接纳，因为我们在基督里！我们是祂的孩子！
讲章系列：内在人
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