“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

Ephesians 1:4–5 (NIV)

God has chosen you and me to be holy and blameless in His sight from the very beginning of time.

Let’s walk through God’s vision for humanity. God made Adam and Eve as His first creations, made in His own image, without blemish. But in disobedience (sin), Adam and Eve did the one thing God commanded them not to do: they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This single act of disobedience opened the door for sin to enter humanity through the lineage of the first humans.

Then something miraculous happened. God sent Himself in human form—Jesus—to start a new lineage. Not a lineage of sin, but one formed in holiness and righteousness. Jesus did what the first Adam could not do: He sacrificed His flesh to save all of humanity. That’s why in Romans, Jesus is called the “second Adam,” creating a lineage of sons and daughters made to be like Christ, no longer bound to live in sin or under the weight of sin.

 

Truth:

When we give our lives to Jesus, we are no longer part of Adam’s lineage but now belong to the lineage of Jesus.

As Christians, we are called to live holy and God-pleasing lives as Jesus did.

Through Jesus, we live in and through God’s grace—His power to help us remain in His perfect, pleasing will. God’s grace strengthens us to resist sin when we are tempted.

 

Application:

As Christians, we are made new through Christ to live a holy and pleasing life. Let go of your old lineage in the first Adam and embrace your new lineage through Jesus Christ.

If you have never given your life to Christ, check out the “Say Yes to Jesus” devotional.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for today! Thank You for sending Your Son to bring me into a new lineage so that I can have a relationship with You. I boldly come to Your throne room and ask You to empower me with Your grace to live a life that is holy and pleasing to You. Lord, I love You and I praise You. Amen.