Ephesians 2
August 2, 2022
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…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.” (v1,6-7)
Before we can understand and appreciate what Christ has done for us, we need to understand the predicament we’re in without Him. We weren’t just sick or hurting. Paul says we were “dead” (v1). That’s why, when people call Jesus a religious crutch, our response should be, “Actually, He’s not just a crutch for our limp; He’s the A-fib Paddles that bring us back to life!” And He brings us back to life, not because we deserve it, but by His grace, at the expense of His own life. That’s why a fitting acronym for GRACE is:
God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense
Father, I praise You for doing for me what I could never do for myself: raising me from being dead in my sins to having eternal life through Christ. And You did this for me, not because of any inherent goodness in me, but because of Your lavish, costly grace. I praise You for the spiritual riches of forgiveness and eternal inheritance that are now mine - the expenses of which have been paid for by You. Thank You for amazing grace!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
