We have said throughout this series that knowing who God has made us to be is a key point to living the life we are intended to live. As we look to the Bible, we can see that God does not leave us clueless about our identity in Christ. He tells us clearly what the identity markers of a Christ-follower are in His Word. We are focusing on the New Testament letter of Ephesians to help with this task. Ephesians 1 is a great place to turn to for seeing what some of these identity markers are in the life of a Christ-follower. Paul wrote this letter to a group of Christians in the first century that lived in a city called Ephesus. While this was written so long ago, the truths that this letter shares are just as true today as they were then.

He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

Ephesians 1:5–6 CSB

We are adopted

The identity marker that we are looking at today is the fact that we are adopted. When we think about adoption, our minds can quickly go to the thought of a child that is in desperate need of a home. The practice of adoption has been around for much of recorded history. The first modern adoption law in the United States goes all the way back to the 1850s. The family is the first institution that God created. It is an important part of our society. I have not met any person who has not thought that every child should have a loving home to call his/her own. Sadly, there are many who have been abandoned due to various reasons and cannot say that they have that.

Some of you may have been adopted yourselves. Others of you have opened your family and home to those who were needing one. What many people may not understand is that adoption is a form of ministry. I really believe that as we look at this text, we will see that God may be giving some of us the opportunity not only to just experience spiritual adoption by our Creator but to extend the gift of a loving family to others in a more physical manner.

While what is being spoken about in Ephesians 1 has a somewhat different thought from what we may think about adoption, many of the same components are present in this text. We are going to focus on three key areas: the need for spiritual adoption, the means of spiritual adoption, and the results of spiritual adoption.

The Need of Adoption

Since Paul brings up the topic of how we have been adopted in verse 5, it first points to the fact that there was a need for this to happen. God does not do anything without a reason. He is not like the boy who is asked why he did something only to answer, “I don’t know!”

God is a purposeful Being. We may not always understand those reasons, but you can be sure that there is a reason present. Why do we need this adoption? We could spend all day answering this question, but for the sake of time, I will sum it up with this statement:

We were in great need

The Bible is very clear in the fact that every human being that has lived on the earth (except Jesus) is sinful from birth. ​

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:23 CSB

There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.

Romans 3:10–12 CSB

While most people are quick to point out that they are not perfect, I am not sure that they understand the weight of that statement. It is true that none of us are perfect. We have all sinned. We have all broken God’s laws. The weight of that statement is that because we have sinned, we are all equally condemned before God.​

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 CSB

The only thing that our sin does for us is put an unpassable barrier between us and God. There is no amount of good that we can do to cross that barrier. If we are to have any hope, it is not going to come from ourselves. It cannot come from any other person because they have sinned also and are in the same predicament that we are. Our hope would only come from God Himself willfully choosing to cross the barrier that sin has made and make a way – and that is what He did!

I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love Lifted Me

Each one of us was born with a desperate need. We are like the child who has no family or home to call his/her own, nor the power in themselves to remedy it.

The Means of Adoption

Paul shows us what the means of adoption were. It was through the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. It was not because we made a few good decisions. It was not because we were inherently good. It was solely because the sinless One Himself stepped out of heaven, came to earth, lived the life that we have to along with its struggles and temptations, paid our sin penalty on the cross, and rose victoriously from the grave. Because Jesus chose to do that, the path for our adoption was set in place. Since that happened, we are no longer left with only the option to follow sin and condemnation. The way of a new life was paved with a cross and an empty tomb.

Not just anyone could have done this. It is much like when a child is adopted, not just any family will do. There are measures that are taken and hoops that have to be jumped through to make sure that the proper place is there for the precious child. Jesus proved Himself completely worthy. Not only was He worthy, but He was willing.

The Results of Adoption

We can see the need and means for spiritual adoption, but many times we want to know is it worth it? I think that is a good question. From my time of working with children with the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Home, I have seen that question in the eyes of children. When a family says that they want to bring them in and make them one of their own, when you have experienced nothing but disappointment, it is an understandable question.

Many people today have had promises broken by people that they have trusted. They have grown calloused because of what life has thrown at them. They wonder, “what could this possibly do for me?”

The spiritual adoption that takes place when a person turns from his or her sin to following Christ gives us many things:

A new name

We receive a new name when we come to Christ. We may be recognized or called many things in our lives because of the mistakes that we have made. God gives us a new name and with it a new identity.​

I will give them, in my house and within my walls, a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give each of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off.

Isaiah 56:5 CSB

A new home

He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

Colossians 1:13 CSB

A new reason to praise God

There are many reasons that are present before us to praise God. The fact that He woke us up and has put breath in our lungs is one. The fact that He provided the way to redemption is another. We could go on and on and on. What we see here in Ephesians 1:6 is that because of this adoption that God does with us, He gives us a new reason to praise Him and in a new way.​

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

Romans 8:15 CSB

This way of praise is reserved only for those who are part of the family.

Conclusion

There has been a time when each of us has felt lonely and maybe even abandoned. This world has a way of robbing us of our self-worth. Thankfully, we have a God that created us in His image, rescued us from the pit of despair, and brought us into His kingdom as His own children.

Today, you may be feeling the abandonment that life sometimes brings to us. You may feel like you’re all alone to face the troubles of this world. I hope that you have seen from God’s Word that that doesn’t have to be the case. You can come to Christ, and He will make you His own forever.