Ephesians 2:1-5 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Continuing Michael's message, he write that the second essential of receiving God’s gift of grace is His assurance that “I accept you as you are.” As the song says, “Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. And that thou bidst me come to thee … O lamb of God I come, I come.”
When we accept God’s offer of grace, we receive the righteousness of Christ. God accepts us as we are. He doesn’t see us as we are in the flesh, but by the blood of Christ, as we will be. He sees us in the righteousness of His grace. Because of His grace, blessed is the man and woman who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the way of the scornful. But their delight is in the law of the lord and in His law doth they meditate day and night. And they shall be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of waters. Their leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever they do shall prosper.”
Living in God’s peace produces the fruit of the Spirit. Peace is the result of reconciliation. Reconciliation means to bring together that which has been separated. For there is one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus. Bearing fruit results when Jesus Christ is the vine and we are the branches. Because of God’s loving grace, we’re valuable. Our value is not in our own performance. What’s valuable? Our value is in our fitness for His purpose. Our value is the payment His only begotten son Jesus Christ paid with His precious priceless blood. Value is determined by the price that was paid. Our value to God is priceless. Our value is in that God made us fit for His purpose … that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. What is the purpose for His gracious gift? We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he’s foreordained that we should walk in it. This is the purpose for which God paid the ultimate price in sending His Son to die in our place for our sins and the sin of the world ... that we should be to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Ezekiel 37:27 “My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Because of His loving grace we are His and He is ours. A man of God is God’s man and a woman of God is God’s woman. And both are a child of God. This is the genitive of possession. Christianity is not who we are but WHOSE we are. Because of His grace, make me a captive Lord and then I shall be free. I sink in life’s alarms if by myself I stand. Imprison me within thine arms and free shall be my stand.
That we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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