Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10
Made Alive in Christ
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 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 is 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 handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Observation:
Each one of us were dead in our transgressions, but because of God’s great love for us, through his great mercy made us alive in Christ. “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”” There is nothing that we can do or have done to merit our own salvation. Our very faith in Christ is a gift from God so that no one can boast about their own saving faith. Our salvation is what God does in us because we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.
Application:
Therefore, since God gives us faith in Christ to become new creations, we are then encouraged and expected to do the good works in our lives that God has prepared in advance for us to do. We then need to live into the grace that we have received and become extenders of grace to the others in our lives.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help us to be ever mindful of your all-sufficient grace that we do not deserve, but you grant to us because of your great mercy and love. Enable us then to live into the grace that you have provided and use that blessing in our lives to be a blessing in the world. Help us to be ever mindful of your love and help us to accomplish the works that you have planned for us to do in your honor and all to your glory. Amen!