2026-03-15 Our identity in Christ: Chosen for Sonship

 (Eph 1:1-5)

From this Sunday, we begin a journey through the book of Ephesians. At our church camp, Pastor Milk shared that he loves this book. I said, “Me too.” This is actually the book that changed the way I think and live about twenty years ago. I’m excited for what God might speak to us through this journey. Today, we’re going to look at v.1-5, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

1, Background explanation.

Before we look at the passage, let’s briefly consider the background. The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians around AD 60–62 while he was imprisoned in Rome. Ephesus was a wealthy city in the Roman Empire, but it was deeply influenced by idol worship and occult practices. In Acts 19, we see that many people who practised magic brought their scrolls and burned them publicly after receiving the gospel Paul preached. This helps us understand why Paul later speaks about spiritual warfare in Eph 6, yet from prison Paul proclaims Christ’s victory over all powers. Ephesians is a very foundational and theological letter.  Some of the main themes include: our identity in Christ (1:3–14), where we are chosen, adopted, redeemed, and sealed with the Holy Spirit; The victorious authority of the risen Christ (1:15–23); salvation by grace and new life (2:1–10); unity in the church, where people from all nations become one family (2:11–22); spiritual growth and maturity as leaders equip the church (4:11–16); a transforming life in holiness and love (4:17–5:21); and spiritual warfare, calling all believers to stand firm in God’s armour(6:10–18).  

2, Grace, peace and spiritual blessing.

In v.3, Paul says God has blessed us in Christ. Paul reminds us that this is not something we’re still trying to earn. We often say, “God bless me with more wisdom…”, but Paul says God has already given us not just some, or a few blessings, but every spiritual blessing we need for life with God. We only need to learn how to align ourselves with Christ. They include forgiveness, adoption, redemption, the Holy Spirit, victory over sin and evil, our inheritance in Christ. Then Paul begins to unfold the rich spiritual blessings that God has given to His people.

3, Our identity in Christ: chosen for sonship.

The first blessing is in v.4: we were chosen in Christ. Then v.5 the second blessing: we were adopted into God’s family. Some may think, “my past disqualifies me. Let me become better, then I can receive baptism.” But God says, “before you do anything, or prove anything, I have chosen you in Christ.” Our relationship with Him is not built on our performance, but on God’s plan and His grace, which we receive by faith. And God didn’t save us randomly. The Bible says He chose us before the creation of the world, He planned to bring us into His family for an eternal purpose. V.5 says, God predestined us for adoption to sonship. The word sonship comes from the Greek word huiothesia. It is made of two parts: huios, meaning a mature son with legal standing, not just a little child, thesis, meaning to place or appoint. So the word literally means “to place someone as a son”, giving inheritance and responsibility. This is different from how we usually think about adoption today. Today we often think of a child with no parents being adopted, so they can have food, protection, and a home. But in the Roman world, adoption was about a new identity, inheritance, responsibility, and authority.

For example, a wealthy Roman man might adopt someone, sometimes even an adult, and legally place him as his son. Once adopted, the person’s old family name was cancelled, and all debts were wiped away. He received the new father’s name, became the legal heir, and shared the same rights and inheritance as a natural-born son. One famous example is Octavian, who was adopted by Julius Caesar. After Caesar’s death, Octavian inherited his name and position, and later became the first emperor of Rome. In the same way, when God adopts us in Christ, He does not simply save us, He gives us sonship. He wants us to share in His kingship in the future. Psa 8:5-6 says, You made them a litter lower than the angels…You made them ruler over the works of Your hands.” This shows that from the beginning, God created humanity to rule under His authority. But before that future reign with Christ, this life is God’s training ground, where He shapes our character through testing and trials. The word sonship is not about gender but status. Just as the church is called the Bride of Christ, both men and women are included. So also, sonship means we receive a new identity, a new relationship with the Father, responsibility, an inheritance in His kingdom, and a new future.

Positionally, God already calls us sons, the Greek word huios, meaning mature sons. But in our experience, we grow step by step: from nēpioi (spiritual infants, 1 Cor 3:1), to teknon (children of the Father, 1 John 3:1), to neaniskoi (young man who have overcome the evil one 1 John 2:13–14), and eventually into mature sons (huios), who carry Christlike character and His authority to reflect the Father. However, we cannot do this on our own. God sends the Spirit to mature us. Romans 8:14 says, those who are led by the Spirit are sons (huios) of God. The Holy Spirit comes to correct us, shape our character, and lead us to become more like Christ. So adoption gives us the position of sons, and the Holy Spirit leads us into the maturity of sons.

In other words, God’s purpose in saving us is to form a house of mature sons who represent Him on earth and will one day reign with Him forever. This purpose appears at the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:26–28 and at the end in Rev 21:7. God’s original purpose in creation was not ruined by the fall of Adam. Christ came and died on the cross not only to save us, but also to restore God’s purpose for why we were created. You were created for a purpose. For this reason, we need to grow and learn to carry responsibility in God’s family. At home, as we grow, we don’t just sit at the table and say, “Mum, where’s dinner?” or “Dad, where are my socks?” It doesn’t work like that. The adopted Octavian could not become emperor without taking responsibility. I remember in 2014, when God first brought me to OTBC. I didn’t understand why I was here. I felt like a guest, coming to church, going home, wondering what I was doing here. But one night God gave me a dream. In the dream He corrected me: “You see yourself as a guest, but you are not a guest. You are a co-heir in my house.” Then He showed me some people I had never met who needed deliverance. Two weeks later, the dream came true. I started to take responsibility and function as one of the members of the body of Christ in OTBC. You might wonder, “Why am I here?” You are not a guest. You are not here by accident. You are chosen, adopted, and called into God’s family. You are a co-heir with Christ. You carry a heavenly calling. You have a promised sonship in Christ to fulfil. The fulfilment of your glorious future requires action in faith, to take responsibility now in this life: to reject lies, not give in to spiritual laziness, guard your heart, live in God’s truth, love others, pray for your family and pray for others, and bring them back to God’s Kingdom. The Bible says, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Abba means Daddy, a very close, loving Father.

Today, the Father is calling you to Himself. If you have already believed in Him, or today, we wanna receive Him as your Saviour, would you open your heart and call Him, “Abba, Father”? Shall we call out to Him together: “Abba, Father… Abba, Daddy.”

Shall we declare the truth together? Father, I come to You today. I am not an orphan anymore. Because Your one and only Son, Christ Jesus, died in my place, I am accepted as Your child and a co-heir in Your family. Today I renounce lies, rejection, fear, and shame. I renounce comparison, pride, and striving. I receive Your love today. I receive my identity as Your child, a member of Your family. Holy Spirit, teach me to take responsibility to align my thoughts and attitudes with Your truth, despite the circumstances. Guide me to pray, love, serve, and grow into the maturity of Christ, and to fulfil my life’s purpose on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Small Groups Discussion:

1.     In Ephesians 1:3–5, Paul says God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. What are some of the blessings mentioned in this passage?

2.     The Bible says God chose us before the creation of the world.
How does it make you feel to know that God chose you even before you were born?

3.     Paul says we are adopted into God’s family.
What does it mean to you personally to be a child of God?

4.     Sometimes people still live with an orphan mindset, feeling rejected, comparing with others, or trying to prove themselves.
Have you ever experienced these feelings? How does the truth of God’s adoption change the way we see ourselves?

5.     We talked about growing spiritually from infants to mature sons and daughters in Christ.
What do you think helps believers grow into maturity in their faith?

6.     In a family, everyone shares responsibility.
How can we serve and contribute in God’s family, the church?

7.     After hearing today’s message about sonship and identity in Christ:
What is one thing the Holy Spirit may be inviting you to change, believe, or step into this week?