Chosen for Adoption: Embracing God's Unchanging Love

Paul’s opening words in Ephesians 1 are a breathtaking outpouring of praise, a single, unbroken sentence that soars with the wonder of God’s blessings. From a Roman prison cell, Paul is swept up in the Spirit, dictating a doxology that reveals the heart of the gospel: God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. The passage is a kaleidoscope of dazzling lights, a golden chain of truths, each link revealing the richness of God’s grace and the unity of the Trinity in our salvation. The Father is the source and planner of all blessing, the Son is the sphere and means by which these blessings come, and the Spirit is the one who applies and secures them in our lives.

At the center of this praise is the reality that God has chosen us before the foundation of the world, not because of anything we have done, but out of His own love and purpose. This doctrine of election is not meant to be a source of controversy or pride, but a fortress for the soul—a humbling assurance that God’s affection for us is rooted in His unchanging character, not our worthiness. Election is not a cold, impersonal decree, but a loving act that results in adoption: God has chosen to make us His children, giving us the same privileged access to the Father that Jesus Himself enjoys.

This adoption is not a mere legal transaction; it is the generous, relational heart of God on display. In Christ, we are not just forgiven or redeemed, but welcomed into the family of God as sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ. The privileges and security of this new status are irrevocable, based on God’s wisdom and insight, not our performance. Even when we struggle or feel unworthy, God’s love does not waver. He does not regret choosing us; He invites us to draw near, to experience the confidence and transformation that come from knowing we are beloved children.

Far from leading to arrogance or complacency, this truth calls us to gratitude, holiness, and mission. We are not chosen to sit idly, but to pursue holiness, to become more like Jesus, and to be living witnesses of God’s love to the world. The evidence of God’s choosing is seen in a life transformed by His grace—a heart warmed with affection for Him, a life marked by praise, and a growing likeness to Christ.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Blessing Is Rooted in His Character, Not Our Worthiness The foundation of our spiritual blessing is God’s eternal plan and unchanging love, not our merit or performance. Before we ever set our affections on God, He set His affections on us, choosing us in Christ before the world began. This humbles us, removing any grounds for pride, and fills us with gratitude for a love that is steadfast and undeserved. [05:10]
• 2. Election Is a Fortress for the Soul, Not a Weapon for Division The doctrine of election is presented in Scripture as a fact, not a puzzle to be unraveled or a club to wield. It is meant to assure us of God’s sovereign love and to anchor our identity in His purposes, not to foster arrogance or exclusion. When rightly understood, election leads to humility, worship, and a deep sense of security in God’s unchanging commitment to us. [17:15]
• 3. Adoption Means Full Privilege and Access as God’s Children God’s choice to adopt us is not a reluctant or impersonal act, but a lavish, relational embrace. In Christ, we are given the same status and access to the Father as Jesus Himself, with all the rights and privileges of firstborn sons in the ancient world. This new identity is irrevocable, based on God’s wisdom and insight, and it invites us to live with confidence and intimacy before God. [26:57]
• 4. The Evidence of God’s Choosing Is a Life Transformed by Grace The true mark of being chosen by God is not theological precision, but the visible effects of grace: a heart that loves God, a life that pursues holiness, and a growing resemblance to Jesus. Election is not a license for complacency, but a call to become holy and blameless, to set our affections on God, and to live out the reality of our new identity as His children. [22:31]
• 5. God’s Love Is Lavish, Thoughtful, and Unwavering God’s love for us is not reckless or needy, but abundant, wise, and enduring. He knew everything about us—past, present, and future—when He chose to adopt us, and He does not regret His decision. Even in our struggles and failures, God’s posture is one of invitation: “Come here, my child, and talk to me about your day.” This is the confidence and security of adoption, a love that never fails or runs out. [32:04]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:35] - Paul’s Setting and the Outpouring of Praise
• [01:51] - Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ
• [03:53] - The Trinitarian Shape of God’s Blessing
• [05:10] - The Father’s Eternal Plan and Love
• [06:25] - The Sphere of Blessing: In Christ
• [07:41] - The Spirit’s Role: Sealing and Empowering
• [10:14] - Chosen for Adoption: The Heart of Election
• [12:46] - Election Rooted in God’s Character
• [14:42] - Election in Scripture: Old and New Testament
• [16:38] - Election and Human Responsibility
• [17:15] - The Assurance and Humility of Being Chosen
• [19:56] - Election and the Call to Mission
• [21:52] - Election and the Pursuit of Holiness
• [24:26] - Adoption: Becoming God’s Children
• [26:57] - The Privileges of Sonship
• [28:14] - God’s Posture Toward His Children
• [30:46] - The Lavishness of God’s Grace
• [32:04] - The Security and Confidence of Adoption
• [34:02] - Closing Prayer and Praise

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Ephesians 1 – Chosen, Adopted, and Blessed in Christ

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### Bible Reading

Ephesians 1:3-14 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (ESV)
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Romans 8:29-30 (ESV)
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. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 1:3-14, what are some of the specific spiritual blessings that Paul says we have received in Christ?
2. In Deuteronomy 7:6-8, what reason does God give for choosing Israel as his people?
3. How does Paul describe the role of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in our salvation in Ephesians 1? ([03:53])
4. What does Paul say is the purpose of God choosing us before the foundation of the world? ([21:11])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon describes election as a “fortress for the soul” and not a “weapon for division.” What does it mean for election to be a source of assurance and humility rather than pride or controversy? ([17:15])
2. How does understanding adoption as more than a legal transaction, but as a relational embrace, change the way someone might relate to God? ([26:57])
3. The sermon says that the evidence of being chosen by God is a life transformed by grace, not just theological knowledge. What are some practical signs of this transformation? ([22:31])
4. The preacher mentions that God’s love is “lavish, thoughtful, and unwavering.” How does this view of God’s love challenge common misconceptions about God’s attitude toward us, especially when we struggle? ([32:04])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says that God’s blessing is rooted in his character, not our worthiness. When you feel unworthy or like you’ve failed, how does remembering this truth affect your relationship with God? ([05:10])
2. If election is meant to humble us and lead to gratitude, what are some ways you can practice gratitude this week for God’s undeserved love? ([18:36])
3. The preacher says adoption means we have the same access to the Father as Jesus does. What would it look like for you to approach God with that kind of confidence and intimacy in your daily life? ([26:57])
4. The sermon warns against using election as an excuse for complacency. In what areas of your life do you need to pursue holiness more intentionally, knowing that God has chosen you for this purpose? ([21:52])
5. The evidence of God’s choosing is a life transformed by grace. Can you identify a specific way God’s grace has changed your priorities, desires, or actions in the past year? ([22:31])
6. The preacher describes God’s love as unwavering, even when we struggle. Is there a struggle or failure in your life where you need to hear God’s invitation to “come here, my child, and talk to me about your day”? How can you respond to that invitation this week? ([32:04])
7. The sermon says we are chosen not to sit idly, but to be living witnesses of God’s love. Who in your life needs to see or hear about God’s love through you, and what is one step you can take to show or share that love this week? ([19:56])

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