But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)
This was right after the lead up of the verses talking about the hold that sin and temptation have on us. I think it just describes it so well putting it that he is rich in mercy and his great love because we are dead in our trespasses. We are in no way deserving because all of the sin in our lives and all of the times that we fall short, but he loves us and is merciful even when we reject him in our sin.
In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22 ESV)
I think that this is a great reminder that we are a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit and Acts provides many examples of the power that the Holy Spirit can work in us when we are faithful and put our trust completely in God. It also makes me thing about the passages that refer to our bodies as a temple and how we should treat it as such and prize and take care of ourselves. As well as treat ourselves as a dwelling place of God. That in and of itself is enough to convict us in our actions but also provide us with boldness in the reassurance that the Holy Spirit is present within us.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
ReplyDelete(Ephesians 2:10 ESV)
This is an incredible promise of God! God says that he made us and that he has a plan for us! First of all if God made us, then we have no reason to be ashamed of who we are. We are sons and daughters of God. He is proud of us. Our insecurities are deemed meaningless by this one statement. Secondly, he has created a purpose for us! He has created works for us to do, and they are good! I know that I've wondered where my life is going, but God has made it so that I can rest in the fact that he has prepared a path for me. I just have to choose to follow it. I really like this verse!
For Day 32 of 365 of my BRP brings us to Luke 22: 40-42 (ESV)
ReplyDelete[40. And when he came to place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,42 saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."]
I like how this ties in with God's make us alive in Christ. Because Jesus allowed the Will of His Father to be done - no matter the great cost to his physical body - each of us have a chance for eternal salvation with our Father. God was not willing to remove the cup as it would mean the ultimate sacrifice for our sins would not have been made. Jesus loved God more than anyone else and wishing the best for his disciples even encourages them to pray against temptation.
I know myself that I would not be as willing as Jesus was to go through His Passion in order to save the human race. It's not something many of us think of. However God asks us everyday to confront things that make us uncomfortable, but will make us grow closer to Him. In those cases we must pray as Jesus prayed and ask God what he wants from us and then to take the cup we are given. For if we don't drink from it, then who will?
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
ReplyDelete(Ephesians 2:4-6)
I always love reading verses like these where God's unending love for us is shown so directly and profoundly. My bible study at MCG has been going through the book of John and, over and over again, it shows that how merciful and full of love God is. Not only he sends his only son to dwell among us, but also he sacrifices his only Son for our sin in order for us to be saved. Moreover, He sends Holy Spirit to help and guide us. He allows us to call him Father and Friend. I think this is amazing! It's like having an older brother who will always have your back. Also, I think these verses also challenge us in how we treat others (with love hopefully) and how we use this immense love and serve others.
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephe 2:10
ReplyDelete"But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ." Ephe 2:13
So these two made me think of one of my favorite things: children. In verse 10 Paul mentions being created again through Jesus to do good things. To me that implies that before we were running around doing bad things and not really following the plan God laid out. We had to be remade (spiritually) to be brought back to doing good things. Verse 13 follows along the same lines, by having God bring us back from whatever far off land we wandered to. So this all makes me think of children who just kinda do their own thing and really have no vision of the greater picture. They follow their own instincts and wander off and have to be brought back. Also interesting to me, they never come back on their own, they have to be brought back, which is true most of the time. I tend to agree: people are like children, there are some more mature than others, some that know better but choose to act out, some that have no idea what they're doing, some don't want to listen to their parents, and some are easily distracted, but they are all still children that need the guiding and wisdom of God, at every step of the way if they hope to ever do anything right. Good thing to keep in mind at all times.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
ReplyDeleteFrom time to time, I feel as if am both unworthy of God's grace, or more worthy than others. It was God's purpose that we would feel neither of these sentiments. He made salvation such that it is not about if you are worthy or not. Salvation is all about grace. It is all aout God's desire to reach out to us.
"For by grace you have saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is a gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them." Ephesians 2: 8-10
ReplyDeleteI love this. We are indeed saved by grace. Not faith alone and not works alone, but by grace. By grace, we are given the gift of faith and the gift of good works that have been prepared for us in advance, but we must make the choice to accept the gifts of faith and accept the path that God has prepared for us. THIS is easier said than done, but it is important to keep in mind.
"For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, this establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it." Ephesians 2: 14-16
Unity. Jesus is our peace. He is what joins all peoples together. He is the foundational truth. I find this so strong and beautiful because Jesus is protecting and perfecting his bride, the Church. He is protecting us and perfecting us for the day when we are presented before Him unblemished.
The letter to the Ephesians goes on to discuss the community that is the Church and that we are all brothers and sisters in christ and that we are family and members of the household of God. How often do we actually act that way though? We may call each other brothers and sisters in Christ and we may call our priests Fathers as they act as spiritual fathers and Jesus speaks through them directly during the mass, but how often do we actually treat each other as chalices and tabernacles that hold Christ? We should be protecting one another, serving one another, and sacrificing for one another using Jesus Christ as THE example.
**May I also add that while accepting the gifts of faith and God's path for us includes accepting the responsibility that comes with being a child of God. We gain the legacy and the inheritance, but we also gain the responsibility. The responsibility to use the gifts that God has given us and that we have accepted.
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