Day 486: Ephesians 2- Resurrected With The Gift Of Grace

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
One in Christ
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands--12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
 
Meditation
God wants you to have resurrection power through Jesus. You are a masterpiece of our Maker whose great love wants to shape you by grace for the good works He has prepared in advance for you to do.
 
Your story doesn’t sound that hopeful in the beginning…  We were dead in our sin (1,5). We followed the ways of the world, the prince of the power of the air. We lived in the passion of our flesh, we were carried by our desires, disobedient to God, and children of wrath (2-3). Dead people cannot make themselves alive.
 
Thankfully, the largest BUT in history reveals the external power through which we can find life:
 
“BUT GOD” loved us with a “great love” (4). God is rich in mercy and saved us by grace (a free gift of His love).  Through God’s grace we are alive together with Christ, raised up with Christ, and seated with Christ in the Heavenly places. We are (re)created in Christ to do good works which He has prepared for us to do (5-10).
 
We who were far off have been brought near, made a part of the household of God. We have been reconciled to God and to one another- One Body. Together we are fellow citizens, saints, and “one new man.” In Christ we are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit (11-22).
 
Resurrected people have renewed purpose. We are made alive with Christ, by grace, to put on display the abounding grace of God.
 
Richly Dwelling
-How were you “dead in your trespasses and sin?” What difference does it make that God wanted to show His great love to you?
 
-Which truth of a resurrected life resonates with you the most?
 
-Which good works has Christ prepared for you? Are you stewarding what He has entrusted to you faithfully?
 
Key Verse
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.