Daily Bread 2011 - Ephesians 2
Daily Bread 2011 – Ephesians 2
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What Does This Mean?
In chapter 1, Paul gives us a glimpse of all of the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. Now, in chapter 2, he explains how we have been made alive through God’s great love and grace in the person of Jesus Christ. There is probably no clearer explanation of how we are saved by God’s great love, grace and mercy than this passage in Ephesians 2. Someone has given us the simple acrostic for the word G.R.A.C.E. which is: “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense”.
Importantly, we see the work of salvation is God’s work from start to finish; to show us the incomparable riches of His grace and kindness. God’s grace is a free gift and there is nothing we did to deserve it, other than being God’s beloved child, the crown of His creation. Clearly Paul stipulates we are saved by grace and not by works, so that no one can boast. Meaning everyone who realizes that they are saved by grace can never be prideful in that they did nothing to deserve this grace. As we have said before, if we could do anything to save ourselves, than Christ died for nothing.
Finally, let us not forget verse 10, which reminds us that being saved does not mean we don’t do good works. In fact, we are created in Christ to do good works that show God’s workmanship, which He created in advance for us to do. The key distinction is that these good works are evidence of God’s saving work, not the reason for it. To say my good works earned my salvation is to rob God of the joy of giving us His grace purely out of His love, mercy and grace; which define His very Person!
What Does This Mean For Us?
The Christian life starts, continues and ends with God’s amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. The better we understand the finality and sufficiency of God’s work on the cross through His Son for us, the sooner we will get about doing the good works He has purposed in us from the beginning of time. The things we do for God flow out of an understanding of God’s deep and unconditional love for us and are a natural response to His goodness and mercy. If we get this mixed up, we will always be doing good works to earn some kind of earthly or heavenly reward and miss out on the joy of serving!
Take a moment (we don’t do this enough) to meditate and ruminate on God’s unconditional love for you. Then give thanks for the all-sufficient work Christ has accomplished on the cross and when He was raised from the dead. You will be moved to praise and thanksgiving and will be naturally motivated to want to give God your worship. You will be moved to want to please Him and offer your life back in response to Him in view of His great mercy. Paul calls this offering your life as a “living sacrifice, which is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Jesus, thank you for Your great love which showed us the Father’s love and purpose for our lives. As we accept this indescribable gift of grace, may Your Spirit lead us to live our lives in response to all You have done for us until You call us home through that same grace! Amen.
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What Does This Mean?
In chapter 1, Paul gives us a glimpse of all of the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. Now, in chapter 2, he explains how we have been made alive through God’s great love and grace in the person of Jesus Christ. There is probably no clearer explanation of how we are saved by God’s great love, grace and mercy than this passage in Ephesians 2. Someone has given us the simple acrostic for the word G.R.A.C.E. which is: “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense”.
Importantly, we see the work of salvation is God’s work from start to finish; to show us the incomparable riches of His grace and kindness. God’s grace is a free gift and there is nothing we did to deserve it, other than being God’s beloved child, the crown of His creation. Clearly Paul stipulates we are saved by grace and not by works, so that no one can boast. Meaning everyone who realizes that they are saved by grace can never be prideful in that they did nothing to deserve this grace. As we have said before, if we could do anything to save ourselves, than Christ died for nothing.
Finally, let us not forget verse 10, which reminds us that being saved does not mean we don’t do good works. In fact, we are created in Christ to do good works that show God’s workmanship, which He created in advance for us to do. The key distinction is that these good works are evidence of God’s saving work, not the reason for it. To say my good works earned my salvation is to rob God of the joy of giving us His grace purely out of His love, mercy and grace; which define His very Person!
What Does This Mean For Us?
The Christian life starts, continues and ends with God’s amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. The better we understand the finality and sufficiency of God’s work on the cross through His Son for us, the sooner we will get about doing the good works He has purposed in us from the beginning of time. The things we do for God flow out of an understanding of God’s deep and unconditional love for us and are a natural response to His goodness and mercy. If we get this mixed up, we will always be doing good works to earn some kind of earthly or heavenly reward and miss out on the joy of serving!
Take a moment (we don’t do this enough) to meditate and ruminate on God’s unconditional love for you. Then give thanks for the all-sufficient work Christ has accomplished on the cross and when He was raised from the dead. You will be moved to praise and thanksgiving and will be naturally motivated to want to give God your worship. You will be moved to want to please Him and offer your life back in response to Him in view of His great mercy. Paul calls this offering your life as a “living sacrifice, which is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Jesus, thank you for Your great love which showed us the Father’s love and purpose for our lives. As we accept this indescribable gift of grace, may Your Spirit lead us to live our lives in response to all You have done for us until You call us home through that same grace! Amen.
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