Ephesians 2:1-10: 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 sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects 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 to us 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 no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
This passage tell the wonderful story of God's destiny for the redeemed.
Notice that Paul begins by describing the former condition of a believer. At one time you lived under the power of transgressions and sins. You followed the ways of this world. And Paul teaches here that the ways of this world are working in conjunction with a spiritual power. The ruler of the kingdom of the air is the one who is working diligently in those who disobey the commands of God.
Romans 3:23 clearly states that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Paul reiterates that point in this passage. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.
Andrew Murray teaches that God's holiness requires both the love of God and the judgment of God. God is reaching out in love to the people who he created in his own image. He want us to be holy, even as he is holy. But the demands of God's holiness require judgment upon sin.
Of course that is the whole point of cross. Jesus lived a sinless life, but at the end, he bore the judgement of our sin upon himself. Jesus Christ became sin, that we might become the righteousness of God.
Paul teaches in this passage that while we lived according to our sinful nature, we were destined to be objects of wrath. God's holiness demands the punishment of sin. Hell is a reality for those who refuse God's gracious gift of salvation. Jesus paid the price in full, but each individual must accept his gracious offer of salvation.
Paul describes this gift by saying, But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgresssions. It is by grace you have been saved.
God's gracious gift of salvation was given to redeem us from the power of sin. Salvation is the gift of God. God, who is rich in mercy, chose to offer his Son to restore us to fellowship with him.
Now, I want to attack a common mentality in Christianity. Often you may hear a Christian say, "I'm just an old sinner saved by grace."
Well there is truth in that statement. We all can sin very easily. And we are saved by the grace of God. And, yes, we should every day give thanks for the gracious gift of God in giving his Son for our sins. However, let's examine verses six and seven.
And God raised us up with him in 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.
Yes, I understand that in one sense we are all just old sinners saved by the grace of God. But God wants us to think beyond sin. HE HAS SEATED US IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS IN CHRIST JESUS!!!! Positionally in Christ, I am seated with him in the heavenly realms. We are in a postions of fellowship with God, and we are in a postion of authority with him.
Additionally, we have been given by his grace, the gift of righteousness. Yes, daily confess your sin to God. But after your sin is confessed, then come before the Father with great boldness because, the acceptance of the gift of his grace has clothed you with robes of righteousness. Confess your sin, and then come before God, not as an old sinner saved by grace, but as the one washed in the blood of Jesus and clothed with glowing white garments of the righteousness of God.
Could the lack of understanding of your postion in Christ be one reason for unanswered prayer? I think so. But when you understand your position in Christ, that you are seated with him in heavenly realms, and that you are clothed with robes of his righteousness, then you can come boldly before the Father in petition for your own needs, and in intercession for others.
Look at the intent of the heart of God. We are seated with Jesus in heavenly realms, so that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
I won't begin to pretend what all of that means, but it sounds awesome to me. His intent for you is that in the coming ages he will show you the incomparable riches of his grace. WOW!!
Then this passage ends with a familiar verses. We are saved by grace through faith. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. It is totally the free gift of God's grace.
Look at verse ten. It is very important. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We are not saved by works. But, we are his workmanship. We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works. He has prepared in advance the works that we are to do.
What has God called you to do? He wants to work through you to bless your neighbors and the nations.
I am so thankful for the gift of God's grace. I am so thankful that I am seated with Jesus in heavenly places. I am so thankful that he has given to me the free gift of righteousness. I so thankful that he will even allow me to work for him.
Let's be busy spreading the good news of God's grace, and being God's workmanship in the earth.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org