Friday, Dec. 29 am

Ken Fong

God chooses to keep loving us and seeks to restore us.
Ephesians 1:1-23

Ken Fong began his teaching this morning by insisting that as believers in Jesus we need never feel like "virtual spiritual orphans." Some of us find such a notion hard to believe. We feel alone, helpless, or unlovable, even when surrounded by believers or when worshiping God. However, borrowing words from author Tim Keller, Ken submitted that while "you are worse off than you ever dared to imagine," God "loves you more than you ever dared to hope."

As Ken explained in his previous exposition, God chose to breathe into each of us the breath of life, "a holy kiss," an act of unconditional love. Now, we have the privilege of kissing him back. In fact, "we need to be blessing God as an act of gratitude."

In the book of Ephesians, Paul writes to believers who are known for being, in Ken’s words, "pretty hot Christians." "I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints . . ." states Paul (Ephesians 1:15). The disciples in Ephesus were able to love deeply only because of their immense gratitude toward God. They understood and believed they were "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 1:3) In contrast, Ken noted, we often wonder, "Me? Blessed? More like messed!"

Ephesians 1:4 tells us that God chose us before our birth, designed us to know him intimately, without blame. We were "preloved," a term defined as "embracing something ahead of time so that it arrives already well cared for and well-wrapped in appreciation." (1999 Encarta World English Dictionary.) Theologically speaking, we are "elected." Verse five expands on this idea by describing how we are adopted as God's children through Jesus Christ.

Ken shared a very personal story about adoption. He and his wife, "Snoopy," after several years of trying to begin a family without success, decided to adopt. For over four years they waited, as five or six potential adoptions fell through. The disappointment was profound. Finally, one day they received a completely unexpected phone call, and within two days they had little Janessa. Ken and Snoopy were elated and ready to shower their new child with love. They had been waiting and ready for years. "Long before this little girl was even conceived," Ken said, "we loved her.

In the same way, God preloved us and adopted us as his children.

Paul was a lawyer and an educated Pharisee. Though a Jew by birth, he was a Roman citizen. In Roman law, certain rules applied to adoptions. Families were highly valued and keeping alive the memory of family members was sacred. Adoption was therefore initiated solely by the family patriarch, the father. Moreover, families assumed and paid all of the adoptee’s prior debts. The adopted child became a true family member and even shared in the family inheritance.

The analogies with our adoption by the Father are evident. In verse five Paul writes that it was "God's will" that we be adopted; it was by his own initiative. Further, it's an adoption "freely bestowed on us" (v. 6). As in Roman law, all of our debts--in this case sins—have been paid in full (v. 7). We are completely welcomed into the family of God, and made privy to the richness and mysteries reserved only for family members. (v. 8-10)

Still, like sheep we've gone astray (Isaiah 53:6) and feel unwanted—we feel like spiritual orphans. "Sin," Ken said, "enters the picture and makes us forget that we had ever been kissed [by God]." We live without the family God provided for us and are burdened by a debt we cannot pay.

But God stays with us. "The father is not dissuaded by our sin and brokenness. He keeps pursuing us."

According to Ken, we have clear proof of this. This is the second great kiss of Christian theology, given to all believers at Pentecost in the Holy Spirit. Here is the evidence that we will forever be a part of the family of God (v. 13-14). Many of us need to grab hold of the assurance found in Jesus that "you are one of God’s chosen children and that is a forever thing."

Because of the Holy Spirit, Ken added, we are able to "prelove other people"--before we know them, even before we've seen them. Many missionaries know this "transforming power of God's Spirit." They are able to (pre)love people to whom God leads them even before they've met.

Finally, Ken emphasized that we must each be committed to a local church community, one that honors God in truth and spirit, for it's in the church that we experience the power of God (v. 22-23). He added that for individuals serving as missionaries, whether in their own community or around the world, being supported and sent by a local church is essential: "you cannot send yourself."

To close, Ken brought his wife and adopted daughter up on stage. As a proud father he cuddled Janessa in his arms. He looked into her eyes, and told her, "there’s something we want you to know: you are a preloved child! "

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