Pre-approved

 

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. (Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV).

 

All of us, especially in this day have seen our mailbox, whether physical or electronic, filled with notices of our “pre-approval” for some kind of offer. It may have been a bank offering its newest line of credit, or some real estate development offering the first prime locations in a new housing location. We share a mailbox with our oldest son and his family. Since our oldest grandchildren are both entering their last year of high school, we have noticed a deluge of offers from various colleges and universities. And, of course, a week does not pass that one of us gets a notice of our approval for a new credit card.

 

In our reading today the Apostle Paul is not talking about “pre-approval” by God. Pre-approval means we have met some of the qualifications necessary to receive a benefit. As we know all of these offers we receive are based on some act of our own. We still have something that must be accomplished on our part to be approved. Paul is talking about “predestined,” or chosen. We have nothing to contribute or accomplish to receive the blessing of our adoption to children of God.

 

In the first-century Roman world of the Ephesians, being adopted meant receiving a new identify and a new name. No matter what had happened in your past, you were given a clean slate on adoption day. It was irrevocable. There was no going back to the way it was before. It was once and for all—a permanent arrangement. When the apostle Paul compares our life in God to adoption, he is saying, “You are part of the family now.” It’s an invitation to get comfortable and to settle into this new relationship. We need not live in fear anymore because we belong to the Father. He has claimed us as his own. God invites us to relate to him as his cherished children.

 

No matter what has happened in your past, God sees the person you are becoming. So don’t live like an orphan. Recognize who you are in Christ. You have been preapproved by God. He has adopted you and blessed you, and he is ready for you to join in the work and livelihood of his kingdom. You have been redeemed and forgiven. Your sin is paid for. That’s the heart of the Gospel!