Today in our early morning devotion we read and meditated on the first two chapters of the book of Ephesians. Just want to share some of the personal insights I learned from them.
Grace versus Moral Law and works
One of the critical issues in the
bible that seekers like myself continue to be fascinated about is the argument
of grace and works, whether Christian salvation results from the law and good
works or by absolute grace. Conflicting arguments regarding this issue actually
offers more intrigue than answers. But Ephesians 2:8-9 gives a resounding
clarification and admonition: it is by grace alone through the working of faith
which result to salvation; not works or by the operation of the law. Jesus'
last words on the cross hammered in the last nail to this deadlock by publicly
declaring "it is finished".
The redemptive work of Christ on the
cross and His blood which is offered as ransom, have broken the shackles of the
law and liberated the people through the dispensation of God's grace.
Grace redefined
For some people, the idea of "only
by grace" is rather absurd because it might make people complacent about
their position in God by invoking this grace theology; abstaining from good
works because as the bible says, “it is not by works”. But it must not be
viewed as such. Good works does not produce righteousness and therefore leads
to salvation; rather good works result from salvation we obtained from grace.
Christ’s solution defies
conventional and mathematical logic. It is not Grace + Faith + Good Works =
Salvation. It is Grace + Faith = Salvation = Good Works. If a person is truly
saved, it will result to good works…it will result to a changed life. Salvation
is not bought with our good works; Christ did that for us once and for all by
giving Himself as an offering—“so that no one can boast”.
Faith with benefits
But it doesn’t simply end there. Our salvation
in Christ is not only a one time experience but a constant and daily journey—with
an assured victory in the end. The Christian journey does not promise itself to
be easy. Like other journeys, there will be obstacles along the way. But we are
not without help. Our help comes from the Lord. Our victory has been won!
There are two words that I underscored in
Ephesians chapters 1 and 2: Access and Inheritance. These two words for me characterize
the exciting life in Christ.
Access: Through
the redemptive work of Christ, the walls that separated us from God was
torn-down (Ephesians 2:14). We are therefore brought back into God’s Kingdom,
as citizens and children of the King. Through our faith in Jesus we became
God’s children—that’s why the bible taught us to pray “our Father”. We were
given full access as citizens of the Kingdom, with full privileges and titles.
Inheritance: As
God’s children, we have an inheritance: eternal life that has been given freely
to those who believe. We are partakers of a treasure that this world may never
fully come to grasp. Through God’s grace we have been made “to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians
2:6). This is too incomprehensible
even for me, but God’s love leads me to believe that this is all possible. And
I am more than amazed!
******
Grace, what have You done?
Murdered for me on that cross
Accused in absence of wrong
My sin washed away in Your blood
Too much to make sense of it all
I know that Your love breaks my fall
The scandal of grace, You died in my place
So my soul will live
Oh to be like You
Give all I have just to know You
Jesus, there's no one besides You
Forever the hope in my heart
Death, where is your sting?
Your power is as dead as my sin
The cross has taught me to live
And mercy, my heart now to sing
The day and its trouble shall come
I know that Your strength is enough
The scandal of grace, You died in my place
So my soul will live
Oh to be like You
Give all I have just to know You
Jesus, there's no one besides You
Forever the hope in my heart
And it's all, because of You, Jesus
It's all, because of You, Jesus
It's all, because of Your love
And my soul will live
-Scandal of Grace, Hillsong United-
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