Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. ~ESV
Paul starts and ends his letters and passages with, “Grace and peace be with you all”, consistently for a reason.
Ephesians 2:1 In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God. ~ERV
We were dead in trespasses and sins. When he says, ‘trespasses’, it is quite interesting in the way he means it in reference to sin.
For one to trespass, is knowingly enter where one is uninvited or not allowed inside. Here, it means knowingly sinning.
This sort of trespassing in sin, is when one can be considered to have crossed the boundary willingly.
During the time of monarchy, people would even walk out of the King’s presence facing the King, without turning their backs to him; showing respect and honour.
The same way, when we trespass and sin knowingly, we dishonour God in disrespect. One can consider the same as turning our backs on Him, facing away from Him, heedlessly.
Jesus bore what was due.
There should be no embarrassment to call on Him, or speak His name publicly, when He lowered Himself and His standards for us. Made himself of NO REPUTE.
Born sinless, he never sinned. But was put on trial by false witnesses and bore a false verdict. When Pilate himself declared him–not guilty.
Once and for all, His was a sufficient sacrifice FOR ALL MANKIND. INVITED by FAITH and BELIEF, He extended NO JUDGMENT TO HIS BELIEVERS.
In His Grace, He gave Himself, in flesh and blood, what remains undeserved. In His Mercy, He withheld the bad, that remains deserved, so we might bear none.
Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” ~ESV
“Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord. But you’re gonna have to serve somebody”. ~Bob Dylan
Colossians 2:10 And you have been made complete in Christ, ~BSB
In Christ, you become complete. Therefore, until we know the Creator, the vacuum in us will not be fulfilled.
Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ~NIV
God fulfils us with a satisfactory contentment that none other can provide. He provides permanent and eternal fulfilment.
He holds the motherboard or the main power source. No switches can overpower/ fight against the power without Him.
From John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ~NIV
WE CAN DO NOTHING APART FROM HIM.
1 Pet 1:15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; ~CSB
Trust earns us the title of ‘bride’, engaged to Christ. And we should so conduct our lives in such a way, to keep our body, and mind for the bridegroom we belong to IN FAITH.
Once saved, through Christ’s sacrifice. Our good works count as good while we remain in a relationship where we trust in Him, ALONE. And this trust earns us rewards, though saved, we have the added benefit of help, trust and a relationship with Him.
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is God breathed.
Romans 2 ~BSB
Speaks about self-righteous people, the people of the law, the pharisees who acted as if the law surpassed God.
Gospel is the power of God. It has got a transforming power. We can’t transform anyone’s heart ourselves.The gospel has an inherent power.
It is said 95% of all fears we have, never come true!
A man of God may be competent for all good works. He can manage all problems in the home and workplace. Because he uses the Bible as his manual to life. It’s commands are for our prosperity, benefit and safety. A cheerful heart is a good medicine.
Only God can feed our soul. Only if we read our owner’s manual, the Bible, from the manufacturer. We learn who we are.
Problems arise because we are not submitting to God. Because we don’t submit to our bridegroom.
In discipline, we must submit. Like laws, schools work to teach it’s students discipline so they learn to respect the law.
In fact, there is now a new law passed that holds the parent accountable for a crime done by their underage child, be it an accident or purposefully. The parent themselves have to serve the time of the verdict.
Only by the power of God do we receive contentment. Jesus had raised the bar by his treatment of racial and sexist disparity in His time. In the bible we read, that women are to submit to their husbands. While men must love their wives enough to sacrifice themselves as Christ did for the church. Here we see, the care God has brought forth through His Word to care for others and pave the way for women to have rights and equality.
Mark 13:37 What I say to you, I say to all. ~NKJV
Many are confused by the Word, the letters and books writtten and it’s designated audience. However, we see again in the next verse.
The Word of God penetrates through the deepest parts of flesh, soul, and spirit; mind and body.
Grace and peace be with you all, in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
