The Riches of His Grace

Ephesians 1:3-8 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption  through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

Our Friday night small group Bible Study is going through the first portion of the book of Ephesians in a topical study of “walking the walk that we talk” as Christians. God meets us “where we are at”, but when we accept the free gift of the redemption rescue from sin and death through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, the Lord does not “leave us where we are”. Being washed clean of our sin by the blood of Christ, we are now “holy and blameless” in His sight, we are “in the world”, but no longer “of the world”; we are of the kingdom of God, a truly loved child of God through Jesus, “blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ” and follow our Lord. And all this by the riches of His grace. Knowing this, we joyfully proclaim: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” Rejoice as you talk of it and walk in it!

This weeks lessons teaches that the Greek word of grace is χάρις or charis, which means “favor”. When we talk of the grace of God and summarize the way God uses it in His word in reference to our salvation, grace is often defined as “unmerited favor” – that which cannot be purchased at any price on our own, and cannot be earned in any way for any reason. Grace is truly receiving something that we do not deserve – a Divine free gift. I’ve heard it explained this way: Suppose my best friend (parent, grandparent, etc.) were to surprise me with an expensive gift and let's suppose my response would be that of immediately digging into my pocket for a couple of dollars to help pay for the gift.  What an insult that would be!  Gifts must be accepted freely.  If even a dollar is paid, it is no longer a gift. Grace is something God freely, lavishly bestows upon sinners, who believe in His Son, the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. But looking at dictionary of Bible words, this word grace also has the implication of the “benefit given” in this free gift and the “gratitude” and “thankfulness” of the unmerited receiver of God’s grace. Do we realize the just how precious, dear and costly God’s gift was and its eternal benefit to us? This is the greatness of the love which God has for us. And we don’t want to miss what He has for those who believe Him and who live (aka walk) accordingly.

Ephesians 1:13-14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

When Paul says that the Holy Spirit “is given as a pledge of our inheritance,” he means that the indwelling Holy Spirit is a guarantee that upon physical death we’ll be taken to heaven and someday receive a brand-new immortal, incorruptible body. I guess that you could call that a “lifetime guarantee”, signed and sealed on Salvation by the riches of His grace.

In Christ, Brian