Weekly Devotional 5-27-19 Saved by Grace Through Faith
As we consider our position in Jesus Christ, which is our relationship with Him, there is perhaps no better passage that we could turn to in affirmation of this positional relationship than Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In this letter Paul’s talks about himself and his companions’ being predestined according to the purpose of God (1:1-12). He adds that they, his readers, could and should join in their exuberating because they, like Paul and his companions, had believed in the finished work of Jesus, their salvation (1:13). Having declared this to his readers, Paul went on and gave the reason for their exuberating. Turning to Ephesians 2:1-10 we read; “1And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Oh how wonderful it must have been for them to understand that the reason for their salvation and their exuberating rested not in themselves, but because of God Himself! Even when they were dead toward Him, walking in the lust of their fallen natures of the flesh, He regenerated them to newness of spiritual life. It was by His grace, or unmerited favor toward them, that they were saved. Verses 8 and 9 emphatically state, “8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.” By His grace, God forgave them of their sin, and as His gift to them He gave them the ability to believe and trust in Jesus.
The wonder of it all is this grace, and the ability to believe is extended to us. Wow!
Steve
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
All Scripture usage is from the NKJB