Eph_1:5 - Redemption Of The Body At The Rapture
A. Ephesians 1:5 - Redemption Of The Body At The Rapture Let us begin with Ephesians 1:5…
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
Notice who is predestinated. It can only be one of two groups: the saved or the lost. Paul identifies the children of God as the object of being predestinated, "Having predestinated us (plural pronoun)." This is Paul and every saved person. God did not predestinate anyone to be saved, but this teaches He predestinated something for those who are already saved.
What did God predestinate for the Christian? The Scriptures are pure and simple. The Christian is predestinated unto the adoption of children (Greek, HUIOTHESIA, meaning son ship). When we trust Christ as our Savior, we become His children:
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons (Greek, TEKNON, meaning-a child.) of God, even to them that believeth on his name." - John 1:12 We are positioned in Heaven as a son now, but we do not come to the realization of our son ship until the Rapture. The Jewish Bar Mitzvah may aid in understanding adoption and son ship. Bar Mitzvah means "a son of the commandments, or the placing of a son." When a Jewish boy reaches the age of 13, he is then considered as a adult. He is expected to accept adult religious responsibilities. It is a joyful occasion accompanied by gifts from friends and family. He is no longer considered a child, but an adult son. The word "adoption" is derived from the Greek word "huiothesia," from "huios", meaning "a son" and "thesis" "a placing." Therefore, "the placing of a son." Just as a Jewish boy is placed as an adult son on the day he reaches 13, we Christians also experience our son ship when we are placed in Heaven at the day of the Rapture. This is when we have our physical bodies redeemed for a new glorified body. It could be no clearer than stated in Romans 8:23 :
"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, TO WIT, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY." In summary:
WHO: Negative: Nowhere are the lost said to be predestinated to be saved.
Positive: The saved are predestinated to receive something.
WHAT: The Adoption. Romans 8:23, "the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
WHEN: At the Rapture. 1 Thessalonians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54.