What a wonderful thing God has done for us!
“In Him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” [1]
We were guilty. We committed sins against God and against people. God responded to our dilemma with grace. He sent His Son to take the condemnation and punishment that our sins deserved.
“In Him [Jesus Christ] you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” [2]
After forgiving our sins, making us aware of what He did for us, and bringing us to faith in Him, He sealed our inheritance by giving to us His Holy Spirit to live and abide in us. Such grace! Praise the Lord!
“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).” [3]
Dead in trespasses means that we were unable to rescue ourselves. We were not even aware of how grievous our trespasses were to God and to those around us. God’s wealth was revealed to us not with silver or gold, but with the blood of His Son who died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Then, Christ resurrected from the dead on the third day and revealed to us that there is life after the grave… a good life… a never ending life! A Promised Land better than any place on earth!
“You were once without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” [4]
Not just a Promised Land, but also a promised home. A home with God! Accepted into His family, loved, honored and enjoyed! Praise the Lord!
[1] Ephesians 1:7
[2] Ephesians 1:13-14
[3] Ephesians 2:4-5
[4] Ephesians 2:12-13, 19
No comments:
Post a Comment