Ephesians 1:5 (ESV)
5 [in love] he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
>>> The key thrust of this section is on the implications of being IN JESUS, and good THROUGH JESUS.
1. “In love”: was it
(A) in love of his Son (see beloved, verse eph 1:6), or
(B) love of us,
(C) in his nature which is love
that led God to do this?
— Ephesians 5:1-2 — Jesus’s example of giving himself up for us as a fragrant aroma and sacrifice is our standard for walking in love.
— 1 John 4:16-22. God is love; God loved us first; thus we are compelled to love others.
>> Ephesians 1:6 Identifies the Beloved (ἀγαπάω agapao), Yeshua Messiah
1.1 What would love of the Father for Jesus have to do with predestining us for adoption?
— John 17:24. *Because* God loved Jesus before the foundation of the world, Jesus asks for those given to Jesus to be with Jesus where Jesus is.
>> Adoption through Jesus is the way God answers Jesus’s prayer.
1.2 Does this verse provide any information about those who do not believe currently, or about those who do seem to believe but don’t endure in belief (Philippians 2:16, Romans 8:17, Hebrews 10:35-36, Philippians 3:11, Luke 8:13)?
… Does John 12:32 “I will draw all men to myself” mean that those who reject the Gospel are acting against God’s “purpose of His will”?
2. From the perspective of double election: Was it like, “Son, Jesus, you know I love you, and that’s why I have to punish you [by condemning some to die by blinding some from belief]?”
— 2 Corinthians 4:4 Gods of this age have done the blinding
— Luke 10:21 God is delighted to have revealed his message to children, and hidden from the wise and understanding
— How does it delight God to make some vessels for dishonor? Romans 9:21
— How can it be God’s pleasure to hide it from anybody?
????
2.1 Is this predestination for adoption (a) something that applies to a class of all who believe (“us”) and not applied easily to individuals, or (b) something applied to individuals at some time in history, prior to their lives?
— all of the nearby descriptions of the elect are of a group: “chose us”, “that we should live”, “predestined us for adoption”
— Ephesians 1:4 refers to this happening before the earth began
— 2 Timothy 1:9 refers to these things happened before the ages began
>>> This happened before or outside of what we call “history” or “time”
2.2 What does “predestine” (προορίζω proorizō) mean?
— The common definition is to limit or define in advance
— The component word “pro” can mean “from above” as well as “in advance”, so I don’t know why it’s always taken to have a temporal idea rather than a spatial or authority idea. But it certainly is taken that way.
— Titus 1:2 and 2 Timothy 1:9 refer to things that happened before the ages began; before time
— If προορίζω meant “determine from above” or “determined from a place of priority,” it might subtly shift views on election.
>>> It probably has the conventionally-applied definition.
2.3 How does adoption change things — e.g., affect our relationship with God?
— Romans 8:15-17: we are children for our heavenly Abba; confirmed in our spirit by suffering with Jesus
— fatherhood is an unending, faithful promise that expects faithfulness from both. Jeremiah 3:4,19
— being a child of God is the opposite of not even being a nation, a people. Hosea 1:10
— being a child of God is not a right granted to all, but is granted to those who believe Jesus and receive him, and comes about by God’s will. John 1:12-13.
— being a child is being led by God’s spirit, and having an affectionate, non-fearing relationship with God the Father. Romans 8:14 and Galatians 4:6-7
— being a child of God makes us heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17 and Galatians 4:7
— and makes us able to suffer with Christ. Romans 8:17
— being a child of God means we have a glory now and awaiting us as our full adoption is completed. Romans 8:21-23
— being a child of God means we are expected to live in holiness. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
— God trains, tutors, educates, corrects us as sons to be holy, and the training isn’t pleasant in the short term. Hebrews 12:5-11
— being a child of God is to be loved with an unimaginable love, and we cannot even see all its implications yet. 1 John 3:1-2.
— being a child means thirsting for God, and conquering. Revelation 21:6-7.
>>> Being God’s child means I am amazingly loved with my brothers and sisters, have free-flowing conversation with a Father I trust and adore, have responsibilities he has given me, and that I should expect difficulty.
3. “Adoption as sons through Jesus Christ” What does it mean we were adopted THROUGH Jesus?
…Jesus wasn’t adopted himself. Jesus was begotten.
>> All of the New Testament teaches that being IN Christ is trusting and believing in him, and living by him and through him.
4. “According to the purpose of his will”: why not just “according to his will” or “according to his purpose”? The phrase “purpose of his will” seems long and complex, almost evasive. What does it mean?
— see also Ephesians 1:12 &n where a different word for “purpose” (πρόθεσις) and the same word translated “will” (θέλημα) are discussed
— here, “purpose” is rendering of εὐδοκία eudokia, also used elsewhere as “good will”, “delight” or “desire” or “pleasure”
—- eudokia aligns with agape ἀγάπη: (A) love, affection was the basis, of the predestination, while (B) the predestining worked to accomplish good pleasure, delight, and happy purpose.
—- It is God’s gracious will (eudokia) to reveal things to little children hidden from the wise. Luke 10:22
—- It Pleased God (eudokio)through the folly of preaching to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21
—- God wills and works his good pleasure (eudokia) in us. Philippians 2:13.
— here, “will” is rendering of θέλημα thelema, general objective and desires.
—- in Matthew 26:42, Jesus chose to follow God’s will rather than avoid the pain of the cross
—- see Romans 12:2 — God’s will is (a) not obvious to everybody, and in alignment with it we do what (b) is good, (c) is acceptable and (d) is perfect.
>>> God’s great plan had a delightful manifestation: predestining us for adoption through Christ. The predestination isn’t the great plan, but a happy part of it.
5. Does the sense of delight in “purpose (eudokia) of his will” refer to the way God does not delight in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23), but at the same time this verse refers to adoption as sons?
… God does not delight in (חָפֵץ, ḥâp̱êṣ) anyone’s death, while this predestining was his delight (εὐδοκία eudokia)
6. Does this verse tell us whether anybody on earth was not predestined for adoption? I.e., is there a way to reject God’s predestination or adoptions?
>>> Surely the “us” includes believers in Christ; and some do not believe.
6.1 Does this verse tell us whether any named person on earth, yet to be born, was predestined for adoption? I.e., could someone potentially opt in to this role, not through the their own merit (Ephesians 2:8-9)?
>>> 2 Corinthians 5:20 Be reconciled to God! That’s how you opt in.
7. The whole idea of “predestination for adoption” is not obvious. Is it anything like a couple who decides they will adopt, and buys a house and a baby bed and clothes, but only actually adopts several years later?
Mark Lindsey > 