Daily Devotional Tuesday 8th September 2020
by William MoodyEphesians 2:1–7
By Grace Through Faith
2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body1 and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.2 4 But3 God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
(ESV)
Paul has outlined a very bleak picture of the human condition as being dead, disobedient and doomed (v1-3). Now he focuses on where hope is to be found. Due to the condition of people all hope must be found outside of themselves (v4).
The only hope for sinners is the intervention of God. Here we have one of the great ‘But God’ statements of the Bible (v4). We’re dead, disobedient and doomed, there is nothing we can do, but God steps in. God steps in not because we deserve it (for we don’t), but because He is rich in mercy.
The resurrection power of Christ is applied to the sinner’s heart so that they are made spiritually alive in Christ (v5). New spiritual life means they can understand, trust, love and follow Christ. This Paul says happens as a gift of grace, God’s undeserved favour reaching down into the lives of those God the Father has chosen. Here we see clearly that salvation is all of the Lord.
Paul then says something truly amazing (v6). The Christian is united even now with Christ in heaven. This reality is worked out as we commune with Christ in glory. Our prayers, our praise enter the throne of heaven.
The goal of this work of salvation is the praise of God for the immeasurable riches of His grace (v7). Speak to God now about the wonder of this grace.
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