Ephesians 1:5-6. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Adoption follows predestination. We were chosen of God ere time began; and the result of that choice is, that he puts us into his family. In the fifth verse, the apostle declares that the only reason for our adoption, or for our election, rests in the good pleasure of God Almighty. There is nothing in man which can merit God’s regard; and when we enter heaven, we shall even there sing,-
"What was there in me that could merit esteem,
Or give the Creator delight ?
Twas even so, Father,’ I ever must sing,
‘Because it seemed good in thy sight."
Mark here the channel through which all God’s mercies run. Jesus Christ is the channel through which grace flows to us; we are chosen in him; we are adopted by Jesus Christ to himself; and we are "accepted in the Beloved." It is said of that eminently holy man, Harington Evans, that, when near death, he asked his friends to give this message to his church. "Tell them," said he, "I am accepted in the Beloved." Can we say, my brethren, that we are accepted in the Beloved? Can we put our hand upon our heart, and each one say, "I may not be accepted by my fellow-creatures, I may not be acknowledged by them; and, certainly, before my God, I can never be accepted in myself; but in the Beloved, clothed with his righteousness, and standing in his person, as a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones, I am ‘accepted in the Beloved’"?
Ephesians 1:5-6. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Adoption follows predestination. We were chosen of God ere time began; and the result of that choice is, that he puts us into his family. In the fifth verse, the apostle declares that the only reason for our adoption, or for our election, rests in the good pleasure of God Almighty. There is nothing in man which can merit God’s regard; and when we enter heaven, we shall even there sing,-
"What was there in me that could merit esteem,
Or give the Creator delight ?
Twas even so, Father,’ I ever must sing,
‘Because it seemed good in thy sight."
Mark here the channel through which all God’s mercies run. Jesus Christ is the channel through which grace flows to us; we are chosen in him; we are adopted by Jesus Christ to himself; and we are "accepted in the Beloved." It is said of that eminently holy man, Harington Evans, that, when near death, he asked his friends to give this message to his church. "Tell them," said he, "I am accepted in the Beloved." Can we say, my brethren, that we are accepted in the Beloved? Can we put our hand upon our heart, and each one say, "I may not be accepted by my fellow-creatures, I may not be acknowledged by them; and, certainly, before my God, I can never be accepted in myself; but in the Beloved, clothed with his righteousness, and standing in his person, as a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones, I am ‘accepted in the Beloved’"?