September 9, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Leviticus and Ephesians? Here’s today’s reading:
Ephesians 2 (NIV)
Made Alive in Christ
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 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.……Continue Reading
There’s nothing that comes within miles of reading Gods word that can feed our souls and connects us with God. To read we were saved by Grace through faith and not of ourselves so that no man can boast. The plan of salvation for mankind is so beyond words!!
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
”But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,“
Ephesians 2:4-8 NKJV
Grace: undeserved favor, cannot be earned.
God’s mercy, love and grace made us alive with Christ, gave us a seat in heaven in Christ, through faith in Christ. It is a “done deal” for those in Christ. When Christ died and rose, we were with Him.
Ephesians 2 without Christ we have a sinful nature, especially if we are following the ways of the world. I love verses 5-10 It is by grace you have been saved, And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his Grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. FOR IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH – and this is not from yourselves, it is the Gift Of God – not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We are saved to serve God and to build up his church. Grace is Gods riches at Christ’s expense, I think that was said at one of Pastor’s sermons on Grace. We Have been given a free gift so we need to use it wisely to serve others.
Ephesians 1-2
Love For it is by grace, you have been saved through faith and this, not from yourselves. It is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast for we are god’s workmanship created in Jesus Christ to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.2.8-10.NIV
Beautiful chapter. All made possible by the love of God and the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The two have been made one.
Ephesians 2.
Amazing grace!
Ephesians 1-2; Leviticus 11-12
This is another interesting chapter. It clearly tells what we were before coming into that personal relationship with Christ and how we were saved by what Christ did on the cross. We were once strangers and foreigners walking according to the world and the prince of the power of the air. {Satan} Most of the world is in this darkness and don`t even realize it for Satan has blinded their minds. Plus the fact that mankind loves darkness and don`t want to be shown the truth or light. Jesus said the world would hate Him and therefore would hate us as believers. But we are still commanded to tell the world about the gospel. The gospel being the good news of what Christ did on the cross and how He conquered death. 1 Cor. 15:3,4 {For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.} Because of this act of grace toward us we are now made to sit in heavenly places. Not only that but we all have access by one Spirit to the Father. vs 18. We are now fellow citizens with all the saints and are of the same household of God. vs 19. Only God could do this for we being sinners cannot save ourselves as scripture clearly teaches in this passage and throughout scripture. No one is good except the Father as Jesus said when talking to the rich young ruler. Eph. 2:8,9 {For 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.} Of course we are to do good work once we get saved but it has nothing to do with salvation. Christ wants us to live for Him being a light in this dark and evil world and share the gospel. Eph. 2:10 {For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.} 1 John 1:5c {God is light, and in Him is no darkness.} 1 John 1:7 {But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.} Colossians 3:23 {And whatever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men.} God bless you all brothers and sisters.
Ephesians 1 and 2
Ephesians 2
The juxtaposition that exists in this chapter starts at verse 1 with “as for you” (and this naturally coming out of chapter 1 where Paul expressed all the marvelous things God has done for us through Christ). But what do we bring to the table: sin and disobedience, bound to the sin nature and following it’s dictates along with all those around us. The juxtaposition is completed in verse 4 with “But because of God’s love for us” and consistent with His mercy, He raised us up in Christ, doing the great work of salvation, inspite of us, but in order to display His glory. And how great is that salvation? It is by grace and through faith. God doing all the work but us engaging by believing the work of Jesus to be true, necessary and effective. And that effectiveness will also be seen in the works we do that are commensurate with the family we have been made part of. Which brings us to the other juxtaposition. In our former state we were far away with no connection to Israel and the work of God in the past. But another work that Jesus has done is to bring us near and make us one with God’s chosen people so their is no division between us and no differentiation of regard before God. What a revelation that was intended to be to both Jew and Gentile. The differentiation is erased in Jesus and the focal point is Him and the family He makes us part of and the structure He is building to bring glory to Himself! Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
We are a part of God’s holy family along with the Jews, the patriarchs, prophets and Jesus who is the cornerstone of it. We have a loving, heavenly family that we will be with forever. That’s an encouraging statement to think about and meditate on especially during the times when we are persecuted by our biological family.