June 12 By Grace

 Ephesians 2:1-10 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 sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects 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 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. 
 
OVER the past 14 months, we have looked at what I originally called the “Five E’s”. These “E’s” are the book of Ezekiel, the ministries of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, from 1 & 2 Kings, the book of Esther and Paul’s epistle, Ephesians. How could we summarize all of these teachings? In wondrous worship, we can say, “They teach us the remarkable truth that “by grace you have been saved through faith”.
    Ezekiel showed us this truth beginning with God’s great judgment against Judah’s sin. God sent his people into exile because they were “gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.”  The Jews in Jerusalem and Judah lived, “dead in (their) transgressions and sins.” But by grace, God acted into their sins to promise he would save them from exile and return them to their homeland. Ezekiel moves from judgment to God’s promise of restoration and salvation.
    Elijah and Elisha ministered to Israel’s kings such as Ahab, who led their people to “follow the ways of the world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient”. The prophets proclaimed God’s judgment on Israel’s transgressions. But by grace, God also used them to demonstrate his sovereign power to heal, redeem, restore and resurrect. Elijah’s and Elisha’s “miracle ministries” clearly pointed to the day God would come to make “us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.”  
    In Esther we saw the evil men Haman and King Ahasuerus, who “were dead in transgressions” Their evil plot to exterminate the Jews represented Satan’s desire to destroy God’s people. But by grace, God used Esther and her cousin Mordecai to be saviors for their people. Esther is a preview of how “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.” These faithful servants who seemed to possess no great knowledge of God also surely taught us that their faith was “not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” By grace, God saved his people’s lives to make you alive.
    Do you see, then, the wonder of the Bible? Here then, is Ephesians, in which Paul summarizes God’s plan and promise of salvation. He points us to the great problem: Mankind’s sin nature. Then Paul powerfully twice proclaims God’s solution to the sin, “By grace you have been saved.” By grace, you have become “God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Jesus has taken on the Father’s judgment against evil.
    Are you saved to eternal life in Christ? Be thankful for the entire Bible to demonstrate how God has been rich in mercy to save your eternal soul. Be in awe our Lord has acted through the ages to make you alive in Christ. You couldn’t and you can’t do this outside of the Holy Spirit’s power. All is from him. All is toward him. His promise for you is forever.
    Go and live in joy! By grace, he has made you one with God.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. By your grace I am saved. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.