NIV Lesson 05-03-2009

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Christ and CreationUnit 3: The Fruits of New Life

(Lessons 10-14)

N EW FAMILY IN CHRIST~ - - _ f - - - - - ~

INTRODUCTIONA. THE CHOSEN ONES

A friend ofours once gave her adopted daughter a plaque with the inscription, "You grew in my heart, not in my womb." This sentiment reflects the.-act that couples who cannot have children biologicallyoften pursue adoption. Raisingchildren is perceived to be an important life experience and (intheory at least) a source of joy, thus the desirability of adoption.

The ancient Romans also practiced adoption, but usually for a very different reason. According to Roman law, a father's property could pass onlyto his legitimate heir, who was expected to continue the household and thefamily name. Men who had no children would therefore often adopt a son,sometimes a liberated slave, to stand as their heirs. The adopted son may already have reached adulthood by the time of the adoption.

Those adopted for this purpose severed ties with their former families inorder to be able to receive their new father's name and property upon hisdeath. Of course, theywere also expected to submit to their new father andlive in a way that would honor him. Being chosen to be an heir and elevatedfrom slavery thus carried both privilegesand responsibilities. In our passagetoday, Paul uses the legal principles behind the concepts of adoption and re-demption to illustrate our experience of God's grace.

B. LESSONBACKGROUNDPaul's letter to the church at Ephesus is known for its teachings on unity

in the church (Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:1-6), spiritual gifts (4:7-16), Christianliving (4: 17-5:21), marriage and family relationships (5:22-6:9), and thearmor of God (6: 10-18). Many readers prefer to focus on these more practical passages, while avoiding the difficult and controversial teachings on grace,works, and predestination in the first two chapters.

Yet Paul's ethical instructions are based on the principle stated at 5: 1:"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children." Christians, in otherwords, are to act a certain way because we have been adopted into God'shousehold; we must live in a way that protects the family name. Followingthis logic, Paul opens Ephesians with an extended theoretical discussion ofour adoption as God's heirs. In so doing, Paul emphasizes God's grace andour need to respond to that grace through lives of service.

I. BEING CHOSEN, PART 1 (EPHESIANS 1:3-1 0)A. GOD'S ACTION(w.3-6)3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessedus in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

In the original Greek text, Ephesians 1:3-14 is one long sentence, a seriesof phrases that are stacked up to emphasize the wonder of God's gracious

DEVOTIONALREADING:ExODUS 19:1-8BACKGROUNDSCRIPTUREEPHESIANS 1:3-14PRINTED TEXT:EPHESIANS 1:3-14

LESSONAIMSAfterparticipating in thi

lesson, each student will beable to:

1. Summarize Paul's de-scription ofpredestination iEphesians 1.

2. Contrast the biblicalview ofpredestination withpopular but unbiblical view

3. Express corifidence inhis or her salvation becauseGod' " sea. "

KEY VERSE[God] predestined us to b

adopted as his sons throughJesus Christ, in accordancewith his pleasure and will.

-Ephesians 1

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_ _AY 3, 2009 _ 0_ _ 332,_ _ NE W FAMILY I ~ LHRISTLESSON 10 NOTES love for his people. Because of this love, God is to be praised. The idea here

! the praise that is due to God because of his mercy and goodness.: Verse 3 is particularly important to the larger argument of Ephesians beI cause it clarifies the concept that Christians are to be in this world but notI of this world. Paul uses the term heavenly realms elsewhere in this book toI refer to the spiritual area beyond our day-to-day, earthly experiences. Christ

is seated at God's right hand "in the heavenly realms" (1:20); these sameheavenly places are the abode of angels and demons and the battleground fotheir spiritual warfare (3: 10; 6: 12). As Paul will stress at 2:6, Christians areraised up to this realm with Christ when God saves us from a life of sin.

Thus, we engage two worlds at once: the earthly realm of sin, darkness,and temptation, and the supernatural realm, where God and Christ abide

I eternally. Throughout this letter; Paul will seek to persuade us to act like citizens of the heavenly placeswhile we live our lives in this fallen world. Godhas blessed us to do so.4. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blamless in his sight. In love

The word translated for connects the thought of these verses to the blessings mentioned in verse 3. The Christian's current citizenship in the heavenrealms with God was, in fact, secured before the creation of the world.

Paul borrows the notion of being chosen or "elect" from the story offaithful Abraham. Before the coming of Christ, "election" into God's chosenpeople was grounded in physical descent from Abraham. Now, however; we

I are chosen on the basis offaith in Christ, regardless of our ethnic or religiOU! background (Galatians 3:28, 29). The phrase before the creation of the worldWHAT Do You THINK?

naturally makes us think of the time before Genesis 1: 1; the general idea isWhat images spring to I: that of "always." God always has planned for us to come to him throughmind when you thinh of theI Christ, a plan that the Ephesians (and we) have seen fulfilled personally.terms holy and blameless?i 5. . . . he predestined us to be adopted as his sons throughJesus Christ, in ac-How do you pursue holiness? i cordance with his pleasure and wi l l -i Of course, the Ephesian Christians, many of whom have come from a sin: ful, pagan background (see 2:2, 3), are well aware that they are not born intoj the family of faith. Paul therefore compares their experience with an adop-I tion. According to Roman law, adopted children enjoy the same legal rightsI and privileges as other members of the family. Similarly, anyone who acceptsI Christ becomes one of his elect children, regardless of background or previ-I ous lifestyle.! Verses 4, 5 raise two further points that will become important later in th: letter. First, verse 4 emphasizes the implications of our status as adopted chi

i dren: we are to be holy and blameless, like our heavenly Father. Our lifestyle! must reflect the fact that we are now members of God's household. Second,WHAT Do You THINK?i verse 5 indicates that God did not choose and adopt us because we deserveifyou were adopted intoI it, but rather because it pleased him to do so. We cannot earn the right toa family, what did it feelli1u:I become members of God's family. All the credit belongs to him; indeed, thewhen you found out? ifyou : credit can fall only to God, since our salvation was worked out before thewere not adopted, how did , foundation of the world, long before we were even born.you react to the idea of adop- i

tion when you first found outabout it?

ADOPTED

Tmkerbell is a black and white cat with six babies in her litters. Yes, litters. Yousee, she has three kittens to which she gave birth, but she also has adopted three

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LESSON 10 33 3 _ . . . MAY 3,200

puppies whose mother rejected them. Two years earlier, the Mason family in Mur DAILY BIBLE READINGS rieta, Califomia,had found Tinkerbell as a stray and adopted her. Then she did Monday, Apr. 2 7 - Athe same thing for the puppies. Ptiestly Kingdom (Exodus

We may wonderwhat inner drive makesa member of one speciesaccept respon 19:1-8)sibilityfor the youngofanother. Apparendy,Tinkerbell's action is not unique. Typ Tuesday, Apr. 2 8 - A ning "mother cat adopts puppies" into an Intemet search engine will result in Inheritance Promisedseveral

such storiesin

which catshave

offeredlife

to babies not their own(dogs

(Galatians 3:15-18)do it too). Wednesday, Apr. 2 9 -As heartwarmingas these stories are, we realize that these cats are responding Children of God Throughunthinkingly to some matemal urge when presented with the orphaned pup

I

Faith (Galatians 3:23-29)pies. By contrast, God's adoption of his children is highly intentional. OurlesThursday, Apr. 3D-Adopson text speaks of his willingpurpose in giving us an etemal inheritance-an

tion as God's Children (Galinheritancegiven only to his children.As part of God's adopted family, our proptians 4:1-7)er response is to praise him for giving us life. -co R. B.

Friday, May 1 -Inheriting Eternal Life

6. . . . to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely givenus in the (Matthew 19:23-30)One he loves. Saturday, May 2 -

The word to at the beginning of this verse indicates the result or, perhaps Guided by the Spiritbetter, the intended purpose of our adoption. Ultimately, our salvation brings I (Galatians 5:16-25)praise and glory to God; it does so because it demonstrates how very gracious Sunday, May 3-God'she is. For Paul, the word grace summarizes God's unmerited love for sinners, Own People (Ephesians 1:especially as revealed by jesus' death on the cross. The phrase translated freely 3-14)given us is actually based on the verb form of the word for grace. The originalGreek text literally says, "the glory of his grace with which he graced us." Thelast part of the verse stresses the source of this gracious blessing: jesus Christ.

The phrase in the One he loves builds on the reference to adoption in verse5. jesus, as God's beloved Son, bears full rights to his father's estate. As theheir of all things, jesus secures our relationship with God under the umbrella

of his own rights and privileges.

B. OU R STATUS (w. 7, 8)7. In him we have redemption through his blood, theforgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

Paul has been using the idea of adoption into a family to illustrate our newrelationship with God through Christ. Because trusted slaves in Paul's dayare sometimes freed and adopted as heirs, Paul switches to the metaphor ofredemption.

In the Greco-Roman world, redemption is an economic term, with similarities to the way we refer to redeeming stocks, bonds, or coupons today.Redemption is the process of making payment for the freedom of a slave; thecash paid is referred to as a ransom, similar to the way we refer to the ransommoney that kidnappers require for the lives of their victims.

Before accepting Christ, the Ephesians were enslaved to sin. God, however,paid the price to set them free: the blood oEjesus. Paul uses another economicterm to describe the benefits of this gracious act: forgiveness. just as a creditormight forgive a debt, God does not require repayment for what Christ did onour behalf. Indeed, we could never pay him back, even if we tried. How TO SAY IT

In many ways, this verse sums up Paul's thinking about salvation. Previ Abraham. AY-bruh-ham.ously, we were slaves to sin, unable to free ourselves. God, however, paid Ephesus. EF-uh-sus.the ransom for our liberty by giving his Son's life on the cross. But God does Gentiles. lEN-tiles.

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WHAT Do You THINK?Is being in debt monetarily

a good thing, a bad thing, a"necessary evil," a morallyneutral tool, or somethingelse? Which label, if any, il-lustrates the idea of spiritualindebtedness? Why?

WHAT Do You THINK?What are some areas in

life that are particularly sen-sitive to thefullness of timeconcept? Which of these, ifany, can we use to illustrateEphesians 1:1O?

not demand that we pay him back. He expects us neither to pay for our ownsin debt nor to pay for the work Christ did to pay our sin debt. Rather, Godforgave any debt we may owe him. He adopts us into his family and makesus heirs of his wealth. Recognition of this fact should motivate us to trust hisjudgment and to serve him with all our strength.8. . . . that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Paul frequently uses words like abound and lavish when speaking of God'sgrace. These terms evoke the image of a bubbling fountain that overflows itsbasin and, building on verse 7, emphasizes that God has more than enoughgrace to cover our sins.

The terms wisdom and understanding probably refer not so much to thequality of God's actions as they do to the effect of his grace in our lives. Wis-dom is spiritual insight, the new understanding of God that we gain when weexperience his grace and come to know him as our liberator and adopted Fa-ther. If wisdom refers to the content of our knowledge of God, understandingmeans that God has given us the ability to put that information into practice.Thus, God's grace is not simply something we know about-not just a doc-

trine that can be described and discussed-but is rather a fact of our experi-ence that should be evident in the way we live.

C. GOD'S PLAN (w. 9, 10)9. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good plea-sure, which he purposed in Christ,

Our wisdom comes from the fact that God has revealed his will and eternalplan to us. Paul often uses the word mystery to refer to the gospel, God's eter-nal plan for salvation (examples: Romans 11:25; Ephesians 6:19; Colossians2:2). This plan was mysterious in the sense that it was hidden throughoutthe Old Testament period, when God's people expected to receive salvation

by being born into the Jewish nation, keeping the Law of Moses, and offeringanimal sacrifices.

No one in that era could have predicted that God was planning all alongto send his Son as the ultimate sacrifice. Now, however, the fullness of thestory has been made public by the death ofJesus on the cross and by Paul'smiraculous call to preach the gospel to Gentiles.10. . . . to be put into effect when the times will have reached their

! fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under onehead, even Christ.

The phrase put into effect translates the Greek word for stewardship, whatwe today call "management." From a human point of view, God waited a verylong time to reveal his plan for salvation in Christ. Paul stresses, however, thatGod has been "managing the time," meaning that everything is working outaccording to his master plan.

Even now, however, that plan is not yet complete. One day God willbring all things in heaven and on earth under Christ's authOrity ( l Corinthians15:25). He has already begun to do this by bringing us into God's family.

II. BEING CHOSEN, PART 2 (EPHESIANS 1:11-14)A. PLAN (v. 11)

I 11. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan; of him who works out everything in confonnitywith the purpose of his will,

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LESSON 10 335 MAY 3, 20

Paul picks up the theme of our adoption again. As God brings all thingsunder Christ's authority, at the same time he makes us heirs and beneficiariesof his estate. These benefits are certain. When we reflect on our sinfulnessand the fact that we can do nothing to repay our debt to God, we may fearthat he will give up on us and throw us out of the family. This verse offers tworesponses to that concern.

First, as noted earlier in this passage, God didn't choose us on the basis ofour inherent goodness; he chose us when we were slaves to sin. His choosingis on the basis of a plan that he had worked out long before we were b o r n -the word predestined stresses that our inheritance is not, and never was,contingent on our own worthiness. Second, God doesn't make mistakes: hedoes what he does because it fits into his larger plan. We are not redeemedaccidentally. Of course, this emphasis on God's act and plan does not relieveus of responsibility. Although we are saved by his grace (as opposed to works;Ephesians 2:8, 9) and for his purposes, he expects us to live in a way thatwill honor him. Paul will describe many significant aspects of that lifestylethrough the remainder of this letter.

B. PRAISE (v. 12)12. . . . in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for thepraise of his glory.

The word we refers to jewish people who, like Paul, were thefirst to hope inChrist. These jews first had hope in the sense that, historically, jesus' disciplesand the first Christians werejewish. For example, Paul-the-jew became a Chris-tian before the Gentile Ephesians ("you also" in v. 13, below) heard the gospel.In a more general sense, this verse reminds all believers that God sent his Sonand offered us salvation to bring glory to himself. The focus is always on God.

C. PROMISE (v. 13)13. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth,the gospel ofyour salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with aseal, the promised Holy Spirit,

In Paul's time, the idea that Gentiles can be saved is a radical notion, onethat many jews do not accept. Even the Gentile Ephesians, who have beenraised in a variety of pagan religions, may wonder at times whether they reallyare equal in God's eyes to jewish Christians. A similar problem may plagueChristians today who reflect on their past sinfulness: how can we know forcertain that God has accepted us into his family?

Paul answers this question by using the image of a seal or signet ring. In

the ancient world, official documents are signed by pressing into melted waxa ring that bears the family crest. This seal guarantees that the contents of theletter or contract are valid (see 1 Kings 21:8; Esther 8:8).

Of course, God doesn't literally write his name on people; instead, hegives them his Holy Spirit, proof positive that he accepts us as his own. Fol-lowing the earlier theme, Paul may be thinking of a father's signature on theadoption papers that make a slave to be his legal son and heir.

D. POSSESSION (v. 14)14. . . . who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption ofthose who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory.

~Visual for Lesson 10.

Point to this visual as youask, "How will we make rofor the next person to acceChrist?"

WHAT Do You THINK?

What are some modernways ofcreating seals as thancient signet rings did?Which of these methods, iany, can be used to illustrathe seal of the Holy Spiritour lives?

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PRAYER

God, help us remembertwo things: the price you paidfor us and what you expect inreturn. We know that we cando nothing to save ourselves.Give us the strength to liveas redeemed people. As youdo this for us, please extendyour grace to others who donot knowyou, and help us tospread the message ofyourlove. In]esus' name, amen.

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In verse 13, Paul refers to the Holy Spirit as "promised." This could mthat we receive the Spirit when we become believers just as God promisewould (see Acts 2:38, 39). Verse 14, however, suggests that Paul is thinkthe Spirit as a promise of better things to come. This is clearer in other trlations of verse 13 that have "Spirit of promise" rather than "promised H

Spirit."Here we see two sets of images that Paul has used throughout the pa(adoption and redemption) come together. The word deposit means "dowpayment": our experience of the Holy Spirit is God's deposit on the eternalife we will enjoy. At the same time, we are God's purchased possession,for with the blood of his Son.

The timing of redemption may refer to our death or to the second comof Christ; either way, Paul is thinking of the time when God's investmentpayoff in eternal fellowship with his children. Meanwhile, we should preourselves to be in his presence by living pure and holy lives that will brinpraise to him.

'f\LWAYS"In 1953, Roy Stem sent his Navy buddy Dick Rewalt a Christmas card.

joke the following year, Rewalt sent the card back with his signature on it. Eyear since then, Stem and Rewalt and their families have exchanged the card.card is filled with signatures and dates have added through the years.

The card is wearing out. Now it is held togetherwith tape on the creases,whave given way to time. However, the friendship has endured for more thanyears, and the Stem and Rewalt familiesare probably thinking, "We've alwaysthis Christmas card back and forth between us."

Half-a-century is a long time, but for God it is nothing. His "Christmas cto us is the incarnation. Our salvation that results from it had "always" bplanned. The lifelong, lovingrelationships many of us have had with friendsfamily is only a shadow of the intentional and complete love and goodwillhas "always" had for the children he has chosen to save. ---C. R

CONCLUSION

My wife and I met in high school. After dating for two years I decidedbuy her a hope chest in anticipation of our engagement. After looking ateral stores, I found one that I thought she would like. I wanted to get ither for Christmas. But back then I had only a part-time job, making lessfour dollars an hour, so I had to put the chest on layaway. (This was befhigh schoolers had credit cards!) I made the initial deposit, then returnedthe store every month with another payment until, come December, myvestment was paid off. My initial deposit was, of course, a promise thatmoney would be forthcoming.

In another sense, the hope chest itself was a sort of down payment inanticipation of the engagement ring that my wife-to-be receiveda year laUntil the ring came, she could look at the hope chest any time she wantreassurance of my commitment, just as the engagement ring would servpromise that the wedding day would come.

As Christians we know that he has brought us into his family. We alshope to live with him in Heaven someday. But in the meantime, we facetemptations and periods of doubt. In such times the promise may seemvery far away. For this reason, God gives us his Spiritboth as proof that b

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LESSON 10 _ _ _ 3,-,-7__ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ -------"M'-""-Ay3, 2009things are coming and for the strength to finish the course. Ifwe do, we will THOUGHT TO REMEMBERone day learn that our most profound spiritual experiences in this life were Christians are God's chil-only a down payment on something much, much greater. dren, heirs to all that he own

Discovery LearningThe following is an alternative lesson plan emphasizing learning activities.Classes desiring such student involvement will find these suggestions helpful. At the

back of this book are reproducible student pages to further enhance activity learning.

INTO THE LESSON

Place in chairs copies of the reproducible activity"Rich Assurances and Wonderful Grace" from page380 for students to work on as they arrive. Beginclass with a brief interview ofa class member or aguest who has adopted a child. Ifsomeone in yourchurch is not available, use this opportunity toreach into the community Tell that person that youwill ask the three questions below. Remind the per-son to be brief, keeping the interview to about fiveminutes. Therefore, the questions will require somethought and preparation before class begins.

Begin the interview by introducing the guest.Then ask the following questions: 1. Where andhow did you locate the child you chose to adopt?2. Each child in a home, whether born to it or ad-

opted into it, has a unique place. What gives anadopted child uniqueness? 3. What are some of thejoys and challenges ofparenting an adopted child?

After thanking your interviewee, make the transition to Bible smdy by telling the class that adoptioncan be a wonderful blessing to a child. Say, "Godchose to use the concept of adoption as a picture ofhis grace and our relationship with him. Today wewill celebrate our adoption as God's children. How-ever, before the celebration, we must also examinethe implications of adoption for Christian living."

INTO THE WORD

Before beginning the next activity, read today'sprinted text aloud. After reading it, tell the classthat there are concepts and words in this text thatyou will look at in order to understand the newlife a believer has as a child of God. Study groupswill examine these words and concepts. Make fourgroup-study assignments by distributing copies ofthe following instructions and photocopies of theappropriate passages from the lesson commentary.

Slaves and Servants: Your task is to give the classa snapshot of the practice and purpose of adoptionin the Roman world. Repon the expectations thataccompanied the adoption. The photocopies of thlesson's introduction and background will be helpful.

The Predestined: Your task is to define the con-cept of predestination as Paul applies it to beingadopted as children of God. Be ready to share yourdefinitions with the class. Focus on EpheSians 1:46, 10, 11. The photocopy of the lesson commentary will be helpful.

The AdoptionAgency:Your task is to help theclass understand the blessings and responsibilitiesthat are ours as adopted children of God. Focuson Ephesians 1:7,8. The photocopy of the lesson

commentary will be helpful.The Realtors: Paul uses two terms that realtorsunderstand: deposit (v. 14) and seal (v. 13). ReadEphesians 1:13, 14 and the photocopy of the les-son commentary Then be ready to explain theseconcepts and applications to the rest of the class.

INTO LIFE

Ask the following discussion questions: 1. Howdoes knowing you are adopted change your viewof yourself? 2. What does the concept of adoption

imply about your inheritance? 3. We may not naturally think of the Holy Spirit in terms of a "seal" ora "deposit." How does this snapshot of the HolySpirit affect your view of your relationship withGod?

Now ask the panicipants to work in groups onemore time and help make today's lesson personal.Describe (or, better yet, distribute on a handout)the following situation involving "Susan." Allow thgroups to develop an answer to the young woman'squestions.

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Susan's situation: Susan ha d been a faithfulChristian, active in her local church throughouther childhood and teenage years. However, aftershe left for college, she chose friends who werenot Christian. They drew her into an unchristianlifestyle. As a result, she drifted away from theLord and into unholy behaviors, behaviors thatshe knew would offend him. Now Susan is dat-ing a Christian man. She is wondering if God can

still love and accept her. What are some ways thyoung ma n can respond to her by using the con-cepts of adoption, a seal, and a deposit?

If time is running short, the groups need noshare their answers with the rest of the class.Conclude with a reminder and prayer thankingGod for the possibility of becoming an adoptechild of God. Ask for strength to live up to thaobligation.