I N D E X
we find true of each sphere, is the grant of pre-eminence over other companies
in the same sphere:
`The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those
nations shall be utterly wasted' (Isa. 60:12).
`Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien
shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.  But ye shall be named the
Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God' (Isa.
61:5,6).
We shall find that the following features are inseparable from adoption as
used in the Scriptures.
(1)
The appointing of the heir.
(2)
The dignity of the first born.
(3)
The close association of a citizenship.
(4)
Some special pre-eminence over other companies in the same sphere.
In marked contrast with Romans 9, where `the adoption' is the exclusive
prerogative of `Israel according to the flesh', we have `the adoption' of
Galatians 4 which pertains to the seed of Abraham who are not considered `after
the flesh' (Gal. 4:23), who are associated with `Jerusalem which is above' (Gal.
4:26), which will descend from heaven (Rev. 21:2,10), and which is composed of
both Jew and Greek made one in Christ, and consequently heirs according to the
promise.  Yet further, those to whom the adoption pertains according to the
teaching of Ephesians, have no relationship with Israel at all, they have no
connection with the promises made unto the fathers; they were aliens and
strangers, without hope, and without God.  These were chosen before the
foundation of the world, and in Christ are raised and seated far above all
principality and power.  Consequently the logical result of admitting the con-
textual teaching of Paul's epistles regarding `adoption', is to admit three
distinct spheres of blessing.
A man can only have three first born sons if he has had three families.
This application of the teaching concerning adoption will be found to be an
irrefutable proof of the existence of three spheres of blessing.  There have
been many adverse criticisms of our contention that there are three spheres of
blessing, and this criticism has been based on a number of Scripture passages;
but no one has ever dealt with the proof that there are three spheres based upon
the fact of a threefold adoption, and until they do, they are but wasting words.
The Threefold Charter of the Church
`Highly Favoured'
The section before us, Ephesians 1:3-6, we have called `The Will of the
Father', for it is occupied with choosing, predestinating, placing and with
sphere and purpose.
The choice of the Father before the overthrow of the world, is revealed to
have been `in love'.  Or, if, with some commentators, we refer this to the next
clause, then `in love He hath predestinated us', sounds the same note.  This
reference to predestination is followed by the words `according to the good
pleasure of His will' (Eph. 1:5), or as it is extended in verse 9 to `His good
pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself'.
The words `good pleasure' are a translation of the Greek eudokia.  This
word occurs nine times in the New Testament.  How are we to understand this term
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