By Grace – you have been saved!
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!”
Wow – God is rich – well I guess we all know that – He does own the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:10), but here Paul says, “God is rich – IN MERCY!”
Now that should arrest us. God posture toward us is merciful. This doesn’t mean He is not the judge, but it reminds us that the nature of His judgments are merciful.
Here Paul reminds us, when we were incapable, when we were dead in our sin – He was at work with mercy. God is a redeemer – turning broken people into whole people, restoring people and situations because He wants relationship with us!
God in His unmerited favour and supernatural power saved us – that is raised us up into right standing with Him, as His children.
For me this is too hard to comprehend – I know my brokenness, just as you know yours! We are frail, broken, sin-filled – and God loves us so much He – rich in mercy – steps into our lives to save us to restore and redeem us – Praise God. So now I have the privilege of walking to fulfill His design and desire for my life – to fulfill what HE placed me on the plant for!
Father, may the enormity of Your grace and power in salvation by grace ever dawn on my mind. May rich revelation fill me, and may I walk worthy of the salvation You bought through Jesus’ death on the cross.
Written by Ps. Richard Botta