In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.1
In this verse let us consider three of God’s motives: God’s love, God’s will, and God’s way.
God is love.2 It is his nature to love. To be precise the Greeks have distinguished four types of love–eros,3 philia,4 storge,5 and agape.6 When we speak of God’s love, we refer not only to eros, philia, storge but agape. It is an unconditional and covenantal love, which he cannot turn against. Even if we are faithless, he remains faithful.7 For God is love. We can trust that he has our best interest in mind.
God wills it that we be saved. He created us in his image and likeness.8 The problem is that the first man chose to sin; thus, we are morally separated from God—a holy, righteous God. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.9 Apart from God all men are spiritually dead.10 We cannot work our way to salvation. All our good works are like a menstrual cloth.11 In all wisdom and insight God initiates our salvation. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.12 This message of the cross is a stumbling to the wise.13
Truth, there is only one acceptable way for our adoption—through Jesus Christ. He is the sacrifice for our sins, an unblemished sacrifice. He is our atonement and substitute, the only one who can redeem us. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.14 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.15 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ.16
Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.17
Notes:
1. Ephesians 1:5
2. 1 John 4:8, 16
3. Eros is romantic love
4. Philia is love between friends and equals
5. Storge is the paternal kind of love
6. Agape is a love that is unconditional
7. 2 Timothy 2:13
8. Genesis 1:27
9. Romans 3:22b-23
10. Ephesians 2:1-3
11. Isaiah 64:6
12. Ephesians 2:8-9
13. 1 Corinthians 1:18-24
14. John 3:16
15. John 3:18
16. Ephesians 1:7-9
17. Isaiah 1:18
