[English Sermon 영어 설교]
Sunday, April 6, 2025 - Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn
Heavenly Spiritual Blessings 3: Adoption to Sonship (Eph 1:3-6)
2025. 4. 6. 주일예배 설교- 에베소서 강해 4
본문: 에베소서 1:3-6
제목: 하늘에 속한 신령한 복3-양자됨
설교자: 손진국 목사
Hallelujah! I’m happy to see you all. First, I would like to proclaim our faith. When I say something, please respond with "Amen." Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is the head of our church. Jesus is the Savior of all humanity. At this moment, may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ abundantly fill the hearts of all those gathered here.
As we speak about the heavenly spiritual blessings, the first blessing is God's choice before the foundation of the world, the second blessing is predestination.
Predestination—God's design, plan—predestination is not a word that brings pain to our lives, but a word of blessing.
The third blessing—Adoption.
1. The Blessing of Adoption
(Ephesians 1:5) - [Eph 1:5] He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—the blessing of sonship. God has made us His sons. He has adopted us. Do you believe it? The Greek word for "to adopt as sons" in this verse, translated as "to adopt as His children" in the King James Version, is "huiothesia." This word signifies adoption, not in terms of gender distinction, but divine adoption.
God's purpose, which He had planned for us before the foundation of the world, was to make us "huiothesia"—adopted children. "Huiothesia" refers to not just being born again and having the status of God's children, but it also includes the process of sanctification, being conformed to the image of the firstborn Son, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, it is an incredible thing that we are God's children. It includes becoming like Jesus. Isn't that amazing? But often, we think that just being saved is enough. No. God's predestination includes the process of us fully conforming to the image of Jesus. Hallelujah!
However, many believers are unaware of the incredible blessing and privilege of being adopted as children of God. Today, I want to speak about this.
To understand the blessing of adoption, we need to understand Roman law at the time. Knowing the meaning of adoption during Jesus' time will help us receive much grace, joy, and awe from this word.
During the time of Jesus, Israel was under Roman rule. Under Roman law, the family was maintained under the authority of the father. The father’s authority was immense. When the father's authority was transferred to the son, that son became a person who belonged to the father. Therefore, becoming an adopted child was not an easy thing. It was a very difficult thing because, once adopted, the person's entire life would change.
All the rights, responsibilities, and the shape of life that belonged to the previous father would lose their effect. They would now belong to the new father. Even if they had committed crimes or earned merits under their previous father, everything would disappear like the wind or fog when they became adopted by the new father. What the new father has now belongs to the adopted child.
This is what adoption means. Even if the person had committed a crime worthy of death, once adopted, everything from the past becomes irrelevant.
[2 Cor 5:17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! This is adoption.
Another thing is that, under Roman law, a biological son was not necessarily entitled to inherit the father’s estate. However, if someone was adopted, the law required the father to pass on his inheritance to that adopted child. [Rom 8:17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Apostle Paul emphasizes that we are heirs of God's inheritance. We are adopted as heirs of God's estate. This demonstrates God's determination to adopt us as His children, using legal safeguards.
[Application] Do you believe that, as God's children, you are heirs to the heavenly inheritance? What aspects of your life do not reflect your status as God's adopted child?
2. The Authority of Adoption
When you become adopted, your status changes, and you become an heir to your adoptive father's inheritance. This change in status leads to a change in authority.
There is a movie that beautifully explains what authority you gain when you become adopted: Ben-Hur. Although it is an old movie, it is a masterpiece. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. It is based on the novel by Lew Wallace. I first saw it when I was in middle school. Our school went as a group to watch it. At that time, I didn’t fully understand the plot, but I remember the chariot race scene clearly. Although our school was not a Christian school, we watched movies like The Ten Commandments and The King of Kings as a group. The story of Jesus’ restoration of life at the climax was very moving. This movie won 11 Academy Awards, and it is an outstanding work. It is a long movie, about 3.5 hours.
The historical period begins around A.D. 26 and ends with the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion. The main conflict is between Judah Ben-Hur and Messala. Judah Ben-Hur is the son of a noble family in Jerusalem, while Messala is the son of a Roman military noble. They were childhood friends, but when Messala returns to Jerusalem as the commander of the Roman garrison, their friendship falters due to differences in status. After a small mistake by Judah’s sister (a tile falling on the governor), his mother and sister are taken by the Romans, and Judah is forced into slavery, losing all his wealth. As he is being led to slavery, even drinking water is denied him due to his status as a traitor. However, a young man gives him water, and the Roman soldiers, initially shouting to prevent it, are moved and allow it. That young man is Jesus, carrying the cross.
Judah Ben-Hur becomes a slave rowing on a Roman warship. An interesting event occurs when their ship is attacked by Macedonian pirates. During the battle, the Roman admiral Quintus Arrius is thrown into the sea, and Judah saves him. Believing he had lost the battle, Arrius attempts to commit suicide, but Judah stops him. Both are rescued by another Roman ship, and they go on to defeat the pirates, winning a significant victory. In the victory parade in Rome, Arrius advocates for Judah, saying he was an innocent slave and changes Judah's status from a state-owned slave to his personal slave, adopting him as his son.
As an adopted son, Judah Ben-Hur is given the family signet ring. This father deeply loves Judah. Judah then returns to Jerusalem with the ring to save his family. When he confronts Messala, he shows the ring and says, "Release my family. If you do not, I will destroy you." He slams the table.
At first, I didn’t understand and thought, "Can he do that?" Messala is no ordinary man. He is the son of a Roman aristocrat. How can an adopted Jew go to a Roman aristocrat and say, “I will destroy you”? Do you know why? His authority is no longer his own. His authority is the authority of his adoptive father, Admiral Arrius. Once he is adopted, his previous status and authority no longer bind him. Regardless of his past as a slave, or his previous rebellion against Rome, once he is adopted, everything is new. The ring he wears signifies the authority and power of his father. Once he shows it, Messala cannot do anything.
When Judah leaves the room, Messala is enraged. He shouts, "How did this happen?" "How could he become Arrius' adopted son?" He is furious but helpless. He commands his men to find Judah’s family. Don’t you see the resemblance to Satan here? Satan is furious. "How can you become God's adopted child?" he says.
He is furious but can do nothing. Hallelujah!
Where is our authority? Our authority is in the cross. Where is our authority? Our authority is in the Holy Spirit. [2 Cor 1:21-22] Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Just as Judah Ben-Hur wears the ring, we too have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is the power of the cross of Jesus.
But remember, ordinary people do not recognize the power of the ring. They don’t know. However, Messala knows. Satan knows. He becomes angry but cannot do anything. His power cannot overcome the power of the ring. Satan’s power cannot overcome the power of God the Father. Satan continually tries to destroy our lives, but he no longer has the power. We can say, “Release my family. If not, I will destroy you.” We proclaim in the name of Jesus, “Depart from my life, Satan. Remove all your dirty schemes from my life. You will scatter, break, wither, and dry up.” Hallelujah!
We have that power. The blood of Jesus flows through us. Satan is not shocked by us, but he flees when he sees the blood of Jesus in us. He trembles. He accuses, but his power has no effect on us. Why? Because we have been chosen, we have been predestined, and we have been adopted as God’s children. Hallelujah! That is power.
But sadly, many Christians do not know they are wearing the ring. Even those who know often do not understand the power of the ring. That is why Satan rejoices. They don’t believe in the power of the ring, so they don’t use it. “I was originally a Jew/a slave…” and they don’t use the power.
Dear brothers and sisters, now believe this. We have the authority to command. We have the authority to declare. When we declare, when we pray according to God’s Word, despair will leave. That is the authority of those who have been adopted as God’s children. When we command, Satan may be angry, but he has no power. Even if the world shakes around us, even if it seems like suffering is coming, it is only temporary. He will ultimately depart forever. His power has been broken. His head has been crushed. That is the gospel. Hallelujah!
[Application] Do you believe that as an adopted child, you have the authority to command Satan? What will you declare to the deceiving Satan in your life today? (Write it down.)
3. The Power of Adoption
What’s even more amazing is that when we, as adopted children, declare with the authority of adoption, Jesus, the true Son, works. This is the power of adoption. When we declare and ask in Jesus’ name, Jesus Himself says He will act. [John 14:14] You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
(Testimony - Pastor Jang Kyu-Dae - I once went to Korea and heard the testimony of Missionary Jang Kyu-Dae at my wife’s church. He had originally pastored in the U.S., but in response to God’s calling, he became a missionary in China and Russia, establishing seminaries and doing unimaginable work in communist countries.
Then God called him to Israel, where he planted a church. He often said he had never pastored a church with fewer than 400 members, but in Israel, for six months, no one came to his church. He humbled himself and realized how precious one soul is.
He prayed earnestly, saying, “If you send me just one soul, I will cherish and pastor that soul more than anything in the world.” God answered his prayer and sent him one person, a man suffering from an incurable disease. After praising, preaching, and worshiping, before going home, he prayed for the man, using John 14:14, “Lord, I ask in Your name, please act.”
After six months of prayer, the man was healed. Then two more people came, both with incurable diseases. After worship, the pastor and the healed person each prayed for one of them, using John 14:14, “Lord, I ask in Your name, please act.”)
Dear brothers and sisters of our Heavenly Hope Church, we have the authority of adoption. Moreover, the power of the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who listens to our prayers and acts directly, is with us. No matter the situation, don’t be discouraged. Ask in Jesus’ name and defeat the power of Satan, becoming victorious children of God. I bless you all in Jesus’ name.
[Application] Are you asking for everything that happens in your life in Jesus’ name? Or are you just worrying? Have you ever experienced Jesus’ power by asking in His name? (Share with others.)
When I speak, I ask that you say "Amen" in faith as I declare the heavenly spiritual blessings that are ours:
“We were chosen before the foundation of the world.”
“We were predestined before the foundation of the world.”
“We have been adopted as God’s children through huiothesia.”
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.