This article was originally published in the June 2024 issue of Mature Living magazine.
When I consider the movies of my childhood, it’s somewhat surprising how many stories come to mind involving orphans. Literature is full of orphans, and orphans are everywhere in children’s stories, along with the hope of adoption.
When we open the book of Ephesians, we learn that adoption isn’t just a theme in children’s books. It’s an important concept for us to understand as believers. Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by reminding them that, before the foundation of the world, they were chosen “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” (Eph. 1:5-6). Just a few sentences later, he concludes, “So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household” (Eph. 2:19).
Paul faithfully reminds us of who we are before he instructs us on how to live. Our adoption isn’t based on our actions but on God’s loving pursuit. As adopted children and fellow citizens, we have three new privileges: access, affection, and attachment.
Access
My husband serves as president of a seminary. For some students, it’s intimidating to walk into his office and ask a question. However, when our children were young, they would bound into his office without a care in the world. They ran into the room, played with all the items on his desk, tried on his robe, and squealed with delight as they spun around in his chair. They knew they had full access to his office because he was their dad.
Paul tells the Ephesians that through Jesus we have “access in one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:18). Often we are hesitant to approach God. We live as if God only wants our presence if we’ve perfectly obeyed — as though our actions give us access. However, as adopted children, we can confidently draw near to God as a loving Father, knowing He has abundant mercy and grace to help us in time of need. (See Heb. 4:16.)
Affection
In addition to access, we are blessed with God’s fatherly affection. He doesn’t just tolerate our
presence; God delights in His children! Even the best of earthly fathers will love imperfectly, but God’s love is so deep and wide that Paul prays the Ephesians would “comprehend with all the
saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge” (Eph. 3:18-19).
Too often we live as though we’re one mistake away from losing God’s love. However, God’s love is higher and longer and deeper than we can fathom. His fatherly love pursues us and protects us, always seeking our good.
Attachment
As believers, we’re not simply saved and left on our own. We’re attached to every other believer as fellow citizens and members of God’s household. Paul uses both the imagery of a body and the imagery of the temple to describe how our union with Christ unites us to one another. (See Eph. 1:23; 2:21.) A finger is of no use without the rest of the body. A nail doesn’t offer shelter without the rest of building. However, in Christ we come alive as we are connected with one another. Through the church we experience the beauty of belonging.
Our most beloved fictional tales are mere shadows of a better story, the true one we read on the pages of Scripture. And our story has a happy ending — God’s loving pursuit provides access, affection, and attachment. In Christ we are no longer orphans but safely secure and adopted in our forever home.
Ephesians: A Study of Faith and Practice
Walk through the book of Ephesians with Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger to examine the invaluable truths Paul’s letter holds for us today. Over 7 sessions, you’ll come to understand the riches of our inheritance as daughters of our heavenly Father and what it means to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.
Learn more at lifeway.com/ephesiansstudy.
ABOUT MELISSA KRUGER
Melissa Kruger is the author of multiple books and serves as vice president of discipleship programming for The Gospel Coalition (TGC). Her husband, Mike, is the president of Reformed Theological Seminary, and they have three children.
