Ephesians 2:8-13
GRIPPED BY GRACE
Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man
should boast.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
of the Bible
Grace - charis –
graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstr. or concr.’ Lit., fig. or
spiritual: espec. The divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in
the life; including gratitude): acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(ious),
joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy). (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
of the Bible)
God’s grace, His favor that we cannot deserve or earn,
influences our heart to salvation. The evidence that this change has occurred
is that we reflect the nature of Jesus in our daily lives. Because of God’s grace, He even provides the
faith we need in order to trust Jesus for salvation – even faith is not our own
doing. The entire redemption experience is dependent on God’s provision rather
than our own abilities, works, or worthiness. We did nothing to attain the status of salvation. Our only part
was receiving the gift God gave us when He chose us from before the foundation
of the world. I have no “bragging
rights” when it comes to being redeemed. My redemption was purchased by Jesus
on the cross and applied to my need by the Holy Spirit. I was dead spiritually,
and the Lord made me alive.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
God not only chose us before He formed our
world, but He predetermined the good works He would do
through us after we surrendered to Jesus, that we would become more and more
like Him (sanctification).
Romans 8:29 (ESV) For those whom he foreknew
he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he
might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Philippians 2:13 (KJV) For it is God which
worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
My cousin, Russell Little, posted a good word
on Ephesians 2:8-10 on Facebook the other day, and I asked if I could share it
here:
We
can't receive justification by good works, but we do good works because we are
justified by His grace. We need to unwrap the package that is tailor made for
each of us in Christ Jesus, and walk in those good works. God ordained that for
each of us. It is exciting to watch for the random opportunities (from our
side) that lie ahead. (Russell Little – Susie’s cousin)
Ephesians 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time
past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is
called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
The Ephesian believers were not Jewish, they
were not of the nation set apart as God’s chosen people in the Old Testament.
They were gentiles (non-Jews) who had never converted to Judaism, and
therefore, had never been circumcised according to Jewish law. Gentiles were
despised by the Jews and even called “dogs.” However, Christ died for Gentiles
as well as Jews (see Mark 7:25-30).
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ,
being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants
of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Before hearing about Jesus and believing in
Him, the Ephesians had been directionless, following after
myriad false gods and not knowing the true God or any of His benefits laid out in the covenant
promises since they were not Israelites. They were completely without hope.
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye
who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Rabbinical teachings referred to Gentiles as
being “far off,” as in not near to God. The blood of
Christ afforded them the privilege of being close family members with the Lord
Jesus. They even had the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in them.
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