Scripture:
Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, [5] even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), [6] and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Observation:
The word grace has been heavy on my heart. Maybe it’s because I need it, or maybe it’s GOD’S way of saying that someone who takes the time to read this needs to hear what’s going to be brought out by the Holy Spirit this morning. Either way this is the scripture I believe that GOD has brought us to this morning. I hope what we read is received. The letter that Paul wrote to the church is Ephesus is very powerful; it deals with spiritual warfare, something the church needs to pay close attention to as you rapidly approach the return of Christ. The last thing we need to do is be deceived. In my opinion the best way to avoid that is to build a relationship with GOD’S word. Knowing what the LORD has already told us. As I was reading over this a few other scriptures were brought to my heart. So let’s see what GOD has in-store for us this morning,the first word that stuck out to me was mercy the way it was used is what caught my attention, “But GOD, who is rich in mercy, because of HIS great love with which HE loved us. Paul wants to identify right out of the gate that this is not about those to whom he is writing. I believe that’s something that we need to pay attention to. It’s HIS mercy, HIS love. It takes it out of our hands and creates a moment where surrender is the requirement. The reason the word mercy caught my attention is the meaning of it. The definition is: the compassionate treatment or forgiveness shown to someone whom you have the power to punish, or withholding a deserved penalty. Paul wanted the church in Ephesus to know that what was deserved was not what they had received. Inside GOD’S love for them HE chose to show mercy, even though as he continues to teach, Paul talks about the condition they were in when mercy was shown. Still caught in sin. I keep thinking over that moment when they had Jesus Christ standing in front of Pilot, one question was asked to the crowd that truly exposed the condition of their hearts. It was the pass over and the tradition of the Passover was to release one prisoner, Pilot asked which one they wanted to release: a guilty insurrectionist or an innocent man. The response was overwhelming and in a sense what was being said is give us our sin. Continuing in what Paul is teaching here in Ephesians chapter 2. That moment says so much, “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, GOD made us alive in Christ (by grace you have been saved). The word grace is the next word that was really brought to my attention. As it made its way through my ears and into my heart I wanted to know the depth of it, so I looked it up. What it means is: unearned, freely given, unconditional love and favor of GOD towards humanity. So looking at the 2 words that we need to zero in on, mercy is not getting what is deserved and grace is getting what you don’t deserve. Paul was saying it’s not up to you, it’s something GOD did because HE loves you, salvation is a gift. He wants to plant this idea in the mind of those in Ephesus so that they know it’s not something that they had done. GOD’S grace raised them up and seated them in heavenly places even though what was deserved was death, HE gave HIS favor instead. Driving that point home in verses 7 through 9, I can’t help but zero in on verse 9, its short and to the point, “Not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Paul is saying your salvation has nothing to do with anything you have done. It’s all about what HE has done. HIS mercy, HIS grace, HIS workmanship, for HIS purpose, created in Christ Jesus for good works which GOD prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. That statement is one that can get confused, and honestly it tends to. What Paul is saying is the works we do will not save us. Grace has already done that. However salvation will produce a desire to do good things. But even that is something that GOD prepared beforehand. Not one bit of it is about you.
Application:
GOD’S plan is perfect, It’s something that even I can mess up. I can’t tell you how many mistakes I have made since my salvation experience, but I know it’s a lot. More than I can count. All I can hope for is that I don’t make any more. But honestly I can’t say that I won’t. I know this much when I mess up, I feel it deep in my spirit. The conviction of the Hoy Spirit doesn’t just let me slide. Conviction and condemnation are two different things and we need to know how to distinguish between the two. It’s easy to think that GOD will withdraw HIS love from us if we mess up. But that’s just not who HE is. HE does not give up on us. HE does not withdraw HIS favor from us because we make a mistake. It’s not something you earn, its something that has been freely given. The reason it’s so easy to believe we have to earn it is because that’s what the world teaches us. I’m sure you have heard it said, “anything worth having is worth working for.” Well salvation can not be worked for. GOD’S love is unconditional, as humans we tend to put conditions on our love. I will love you as long as you do this. That’s how we love as humans. GOD doesn’t stop loving you because you did something that HE knew you would do before you did it. Now that being said, I believe that the transformation that takes place ones you truly understand the price that has been paid for the gift you have been given produces a desire to live differently. I mean it did for me, I don’t want to stay where HE found me one of the phrases that Paul says rings through my ears often. Its found in Philippines chapter 2 and verse 12, “Therefore, my beloved as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Notice it says work out, not for. You can’t earn a gift. Allow GOD to change you. HE wants to use you and it’s the difference in you that draws people to HIM. Salvation is a gift to be received not to be earned. Thank you Jesus for the price you paid for us.
Prayer:
Father, we know the price you paid so that we could be in your presence. All we can do is thank you. I pray this morning that you see our gratitude for what you have done. You found a way that we could not mess up. What an amazing Father you are. You never withdraw your love from us. You will never leave us or forget about us. You supply all our needs according to your riches in glory. You never leave us without us because we mess up. Your unmerited favor has been given to us regardless of how many times we mess up. Sanctify us through the grace you have given us. Even in all our efforts to be righteous we are but filthy rags. The last words your SON said on the cross held all the power. “It is finished” all the work had been done and our debt was paid. Thank you for the gift of salvation. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.