Focus Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10
One of my favorite passages among the Paul’s letters is his letter to the churches in Ephesus. I became a Christian at 33 years old and can recall my hopeless life prior to coming to know Jesus. I love this focus text because Paul summarily describes the impoverished spiritual condition of mankind and the necessity of God’s intervention if man is to be saved from it. He puts to rest the notion that any version of works-based salvation that man can conjure up from his own vain imaginations has salvific merit before God. Here are couple of observations I have gleaned from this text that I would like to share with you:
Verses 1-3, highlights the natural state of all human beings that leads to eternal condemnation (cf. Rom 3). In our fallen condition, we (a) stood as children of wrath before God, (b) were “active” in our rebellion against God, thus Paul statement, “….in which you once walked following the course of this world…”, and (c) were enslaved by Satan whose power was at work in us (Gal 4:3). Our depraved nature blinded us from seeing the light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor 4:3-4). Without God, our heart disposition was not only indifferent to God, but also hostile (Rom 8:5-8) to him, as we rejected God, His Word, and his salvation.
A excellent illustration of our condition is seen in the story of Lazarus (John 11). We are spiritually in tomb of darkness and bound to sin unable to free ourselves nor make ourselves alive. Much like Lazarus, God must intervene, by his own power, to make us who are dead, alive if we are to be free and live in HIM!
Verse 4-10, reveals the good news for us starting with the words, “BUT GOD!…” Salvation is by God alone through Christ alone as a gift to us; therefore, we can praise Him for the following:
His Mercy Saves, Not our Merit
We have no saving merit before God and offer him nothing but our sin. Our human righteousness has the value of a filthy rags in the presence of God. It is out of love, God shows mercy to us is what the text reveals. While we were hopelessly lost to sin, with no redeeming works we could offer, God sent his Son to die for sinners (Rom 5:8). There will be no one standing before Jesus Christ in the final judgment boasting about self-righteousness.
His Resurrection is a Fountain of Endless Grace
Jesus resurrection from the dead and his enthronement at the right hand of the Father has (a) made us alive in Christ and thus given us union with God (Jn 17:20-21, Col 3:1-4) and (b) given us access and enabled us to experience what Paul calls, “…the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us…”
His Gift of Faith Saves Us
We are saved by faith, not by works. Such faith destroys the power of Satan over our lives (Heb 2:14-15), removes the shackles of sin, and opens our eyes to the light of the Gospel and the Glory of Jesus Christ!! Like the old saints often sang, “I was once blind, but now I see!!!” Salvation is given to us as an inheritance through adoption (Eph 1:5). If salvation is by works, then it is no longer a gift and therefore, there is no place for grace. Without such grace, all that remains is our feeble attempts at boasting in justifying self-righteousness before God that earns us only eternal condemnation.
Remember, God owes us nothing! We do not want what we have earned (Rom 6:23), but rather we cry out for grace and mercy which is what we do not deserve. From this gift flows eternal life in Christ Jesus to us. Further, we do not want to be measured against God’s standard for salivic righteousness which requires PERFECTION…..but we rather look upon our perfect Savior (1 Pt 1:18-21, cf.Jn 3:14) as our righteousness where the mercy of God reigns!
He Saved Us for a Purpose
Paul states that we are God’s, “…workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for God works,…” Such works isn’t saving, but a reflection of the change that God has done in our hearts, and the evidence of the in-dwelling Spirit gifted to all believers. Further, such works reveals the glory of God.
We should take comfort to know God has moved from heaven to save us in-spite of ourselves. I am reassured to know that God has loved rebels……he died for his enemies. Reading and reflecting on this text often provides nourishment and healing to my heart. Why? Because , like many, I can be beaten down by not only the trials and troubles of this life; but also the spiritual battle that wages within between the old man and the new nature that God has gifted believers in Christ Jesus. I am reassured that during great darkness in the world, God shines through his believer. Through God’s sanctification process he fashions us (i.e. purifies our affections, prepares our hearts for good works) conforming us daily to his character. We once lived in darkness, BUT because of God, we are now his sons and daughters that (by faith) live in our new identify in Christ.
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com