Ephesians 1:5

He did this by predestining us to adoption as his legal heirs through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will— 

We are introduced to the concept of predestination in this verse.

It is more than just a divine choice; it is a carefully curated life aimed at a specific end. It is according to the pleasure of God's will.

Glory comes to God in the revelation of His power, because, since before the world began, He chose you in Christ and ordained your adoption as His legal heir. This is glorious beyond measure and should make your heart palpitate with anticipation.

This brings another level of glory to God in the display of His unquantifiable, limitless love, generosity and magnanimity.

His choice of us is not a reward for something good that we did or because we obeyed all the right rules. (Think about that for a moment.) Rather, it was something He determined.

It shows that God can work through the chaos of sin to achieve His aim, and that even that chaos serves His purpose.

Sin does not handcuff Him; rather, it brings an opportunity to express His wisdom, that is, the ability to get results.

He displayed His over-the-top power, which at first looked weak, and his wisdom, which at first looked foolish, in achieving His aim.

 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25)

As God's heirs through Jesus Christ, you have no merit to claim, but that does not matter. That is why Paul called it a blessing.

He said we have been blessed with every blessing in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). If there is something that is a blessing, it is to be heirs of God. What is better than that? And what's more, you did not earn it; there is no exam to pass; it is a gift of God in Christ.

You cannot find such a reality anywhere else, except in Christ, who is God's bridge to humanity and humanity's bridge to God after sin caused a division.

That is why Peter said that "there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). Christ is God's exclamation mark for His love and the full stop of His outreach to man.

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As our Father, we are His heirs. This is something that even angels are not. So when the Bible says we are children of God (Romans 8:16), this focus verse fleshed that out.

We are not merely God's children ceremonially; we are ACTUALLY His children. That is elevation. We do not just share His essence (who He is at his core); we also share His authority (His rule, power to influence things like Him).

We share His estate, and the Bible will later say that we will reign with Christ (Revelation 20:6). Can you imagine how blessed that is?

It does not matter your earthly estate; your connection to Christ determines your state in the afterlife. That is the promise in Christ Jesus.

Also, Paul said elsewhere that we would judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). All these things communicate what it means to be a legal heir.

We are not in a state of being pitied, but rather in a high status in Christ.

So the sacrifice of Christ was a stroke of divine genius, if you will, where God achieved our union with Christ.

And this is not to extract any concession from us, just by His will. He is the one who determines the end from the beginning.

Remember what I accomplished in antiquity.
Truly I am God, I have no peer;
I am God, and there is none like me,
who announces the end from the beginning
and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred;
who says, ‘My plan will be realized,
I will accomplish what I desire;’
who summons an eagle from the east,
from a distant land, one who carries out my plan.
Yes, I have decreed,
yes, I will bring it to pass;
I have formulated a plan,
yes, I will carry it out. (Isaiah 46:9-11)

If there is something you can take away from this lesson, it is that you are not an afterthought. You are not an accident. God ordained your union with Christ before time began, that you would be His child. And that is the blessing that you have been blessed with.

You have been brought into his presence, brought into connection with Him, not because you found him, but because His grace found you. You are not an afterthought; you were planned for, you were determined, not for wrath but for glory.

For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep, we will come to life together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

To conclude, here is a list of God's actions Paul mentioned in this passage:

• 1:3: He blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.
• 1:4: He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love.
• 1:5: He predestined us for adoption as his legal heirs through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of His will (the focus verse).
• 1:6: He freely bestowed His grace on us in His dearly beloved Son in redemption and forgiveness (1:7).
• 1:9: He revealed to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, He set forth in Christ.

God's plan and purposes are wrapped up in Christ. We are truly blessed.

Rejecting Money-For-Blessings Schemes in the Church

Rejecting Money-For-Blessings Schemes in the ChurchAre you tired of the spiritual pressure to “sow a seed” for divine favor? Have you been left disillusioned by doctrines that portray God as a cosmic merchant who must be paid before He will bless you?This book, Rejecting Money-For-Blessings Schemes in the Church, offers a critical and deeply scriptural examination of modern financial doctrines that have crept into the church. It meticulously dismantles the notion that giving is a transaction meant to control God or “activate” a miracle.In this essential work, you will: Reclaim the True Picture of God: Understand God as the generous Father who gives to all—even the unrighteous—and whose nature is to give freely, not to withhold until a price is paid. Discover Biblical Giving: Uncover the true foundation for Christian giving, which begins with acknowledging that “everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours” (1 Chronicles 29:14). Expose Misinterpretation: Systematically refute the false application of biblical parables, such as the Sower, and historical accounts, like the widow of Zarephath, to money-for-blessing schemes. Embrace a Cheerful Heart: Be released from the compulsion and fear-based giving tactics and learn to give “just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Reaffirm Christ’s Supremacy: Solidify your belief that “Christ who is your life” (Colossians 3:4), not material wealth, is the center of your devotion. This is a vital resource for anyone who has felt exploited, confused, or burdened by financial demands in a spiritual context. Return to the pure, unadulterated devotion to Christ, where the access to every good gift is secured by His blood, not your money. Reclaim the joy of true giving as an act of worship, not a down payment on a blessing.