LET’S RECAP:
Having considered the 3 keys to Ephesians 1 we looked at:
1. Ekklesia which means those called out, the first key—A community of Christ confessing believers.
2. Elect—the second key word “elect” is in reference to God designing Christ as the vehicle to save and elect us.
3. Equipped—the third key is to acknowledge that we are equipped as God’s people to do His will.
Ephesians 2:1-10 presents the Heavenly Position of all Believers.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 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. 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. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 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. 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. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
CONDITION
Our former condition in our unsaved state is listed from verses 1-3:
Vs 1
He (Christ) has made us (believers) alive. We were once like dead people in trespasses and sin without spiritual life.
Vs 2
In the past we walked according to the worlds influence with no thought about spiritual matters. We were caught in the devil’s web of deception, We acted in mutiny and disobedience. The same spirit that currently blinds unbelievers kept us in darkness.
Vs3
This spirit of rebellion vexed us in thinking only of physical and material matters ignoring the spiritual realities. By nature we were children of wrath under God’s Judgement and condemnation.
DIAMOND RING
Like a lady who admires the velvet box and ignores the engagement ring, our worldly values are misdirected to temporal and not eternal values.
CHARACTER
Vs 4-7 documents His mercy and plan to rescue us from our former condition. God’s love was manifest in Christ, even when we were dear in our transgression God chose the means to rescue us. He raised us to the heavenly realm seated with Christ. What does that mean? From God’s perspective we are no longer seen as dead sinners governed by the world, but elevated to the position in Christ. God sees us “in Christ” and in Him we are whole, renewed, saved and blessed. In the ages to come God’s Grace in us will reveal God’s rich love and mercy.+
CONVERSION
Vs 8-10—Our conversion from dead unbelievers to living believers in Christ is the work of God. No-one can boast about being elevated to being seated with Christ. It’s a gift that is unmerited. It cannot be earned or worked for, it’s a gift we receive.
A gift ceases to be a gift when we try to pay for it. Through faith (trust) we accept God’s gracious gift of eternal life.
Several years ago I had to deal with two brothers faced with a unique and unusual exchange. The younger more wealthy brother suffered with kidney failure. A transplant was necessary. His older brother was impoverished but had healthy kidneys. The younger brother offered to compensate the healthy brother as a donor. The exchange took place in Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.
A substantial sum was paid by the recipient brother. The travesty was that the donor brother accepted the cash in exchange for his kidney. A new lease of life extended the life of the recipient brother, but at a cost. That donated kidney was not a gift from one brother to the other, it was bought at a great price.
It would have been a brotherly thing to have given his matching kidney at no charge, an act of love.
Consider that Christ gave His life to save you, so that this new life can be received at no cost to you, the gift of eternal life.
May God help each and everyone of us to value our heavenly position paid for by His Blood.
G O D ’ S
R I C H E S
A T
C H R I S T ’ S
E X P E N S E
A Definition of Grace
Grace is unmerited favour.
Grace and Mercy is receiving what we don’t deserve.
Judgement and condemnation is receiving what we do deserve.
YOU have BEEN SAVED by GRACE. If it was by works, it wouldn't be GRACE.
- by Bruce Woolard
