Remarkable Grace Part 3

Ephesians 6:16-20, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

This week, Michael continues of the message of God’s remarkable grace, pointing out that even though Paul had suffered for the Lord, he wrote that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. Remarkable grace is given so that we can serve our Lord Jesus Christ from a heart of love. Jesus said, “in that you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” Jesus prayed for the soldiers who nailed him to the cross …“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

The theme of Ephesians 6 is the spiritual battle. Jesus said, “blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, great is your reward in heaven.” Because of God’s remarkable grace, mercy, peace, love and wisdom, be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good. God’s remarkable grace is His divine favor given, by the one who didn’t’ need to give it, to the ones who didn’t deserve to receive it. There’s also one other type of grace where Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor (grace) with God and men. Grace is the foundation of receiving God’s precious gift of Holy Spirit. This valuable gift of grace was paid for by the precious blood of his son, Jesus Christ. 

What makes grace remarkable? Grace is only found in one religion on earth, the truth of Christianity. After Jesus’ resurrection, grace was available as God’s gracious gift. However, the Pharisees thought that there was no such thing as grace. They thought that they were righteous in their own works. They thought everyone else deserved death and that they were the only ones who were righteous. They were filled with “so-called” righteous indignation. However, because of Jesus’ righteousness, by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. 

According to Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Lord. He died in our stead that we might live.

The world says, “God helps those who help themselves.” This is the doctrine of the Pharisees. They think that they’re righteous in their own works … that they’re justified by their own performance. They try to help themselves through their vain attempts to keep the letter of the Old Testament Law. However, Jesus said, whoever breaks one law only once is guilty of breaking the whole law. The Old Testament Law convicts everyone of sin. For by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

Let's continue Michael's message on God's remarkable grace in the next post.

In Christ, Brian