Tag: Riches of His Grace

Great…

Great…

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love for us, made us alive together with Christ even when we were dead in trespasses – it is by grace you have been saved… ~ Ephesians 2:4-5

In 1984, Whitney Houston recorded a popular song that became a huge success in her music career. Entitled Greatest Love of All, the song extols the importance of self-worth – proclaiming that “learning to love yourself … is the greatest love of all.” And while there can be merit in affirming ourselves as humans because we are made in the image of God, I do not believe that self-love is the greatest love of all.

There is something far more profound that Jesus taught; and it should impact our thinking in this regard. He said, “Greater love has no man than this – that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Indeed, before Jesus even made this statement, we read these words:

John 15:9-12 (ESV)

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Jesus asserted there is no greater love than self-sacrifice! And this is the indescribable depth of love that He demonstrated to us … a love of far greater worth than our minds can conceive! Paul, inspired by the greatest love of all, reflects on the words of Jesus:

Romans 5:6-11 (NIV)

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Think about what John wrote – his words of great encouragement through the message of the cross:

1 John 4:9-11 (NIV)

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

My friends, the greatest love of all will not be found inwardly; rather, learning the love of God through His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the greatest pursuit you or I could ever embark upon. The Scriptures often declare the great love of God for those who fear Him – reminding us that His great love is higher than the heavens, and that His faithfulness reaches to the skies and endures forever. (Psalm 57:10) Yes, I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. (Psalm 89:1) This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:21-23)

Have a Blessed Day!

Grace…

Grace…

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14, 16-17)

The Apostle John had great insight and wisdom into the deep significance of the Son of God … His origin in eternity past; His intimate relationship with the Father; and the ordained purpose for which He was sent into the world. The grace of the Law given through Moses was sufficient; and yet, a greater grace was sent from heaven to be received in faith by those who believe. As Paul articulated: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. (Cf. Romans 5:1-2)

The grace of God is rooted in His Being. It is just as inherent as His great compassion, His unfailing love, and His enduring mercy. His utmost purpose from the beginning has been for us, His treasured possession, to experience the delight of His goodness and love; to abide in His glorious presence through intimate fellowship; and to walk in the beauty of holiness just as He is holy. It is apparent that grace has been integral to the plan of God to see the desires of His heart come to pass. “For if righteousness could be gained through the Law, then Christ Jesus died for nothing.” (Cf. Galatians 2:21)

Our Lord Jesus is the expressed grace of God! As Paul explained: “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. 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.  (Ephesians 2:4-9)

My friends, “God has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior. (2 Timothy 1:9-10) Therefore, I urge us all to embrace the fullness of His grace! For His grace is more than sufficient for us! His power is made perfect in our weakness!” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Have a Blessed Day!

Graciously Given All Things…

Romans 8:32 (NIV)

He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?

Our Verse of the Day offers us a tremendous, liberating hope to empower our faith. Think about the implication Paul presents here. The love of God for His people is so intense and passionate that He did not spare His own Son from death on a cross. The death Jesus died atoned for our sins … it freed us from the power of sin within our hearts … it bestowed upon us His righteousness and eternal life! Paul reasons that if these outcomes are trustworthy, then God will not withhold anything from us that pertains to life within His Son.

Romans 8:28-39 (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Quoting Psalm 44:22) 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And the Apostle John has attested to His gracious love as well:

1 John 4:7-17 (NIV)

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

Someone here reading this message needs to know this transforming love! Someone here needs to be reminded the love of God is immutable! It does not change for those who abide in Christ Jesus. It is inseparable. It is everlasting! Oh, you need to know the love of God is not based upon your performance; “but God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Cf. Romans 5:8) “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, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Cf. Ephesians 2:4-9) Indeed, His love is seen in His grace … and the Father calls to us through His Son to receive this gracious, inseparable love that is found in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yes, the Father loves us with an everlasting love! I pray you will trust in the truth of His Word. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ~ Ephesians 3:14-19

Prayer – His Power at Work…

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Our Verse of the Day continues on the theme of prayer … the power of God manifested through prayer … the praise and glory due His Name because He answers our prayers!

I believe we need to study Ephesians 3 because it is filled with incredible insight into the inner workings of prayer – how God acts on behalf of His people through His Son, our Lord Jesus, and how He empowers us through the indwelling of His Spirit.  I will underline what I find as the most powerful thoughts that Paul shares in this passage of scripture:

Ephesians 3 (NIV)

1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the Gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this Gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In Him (Jesus) and through faith in Him (Jesus) we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Points of Reflection:

  1. Like Paul, God’s grace is given to us in order to serve others.
  • Because Paul was afforded wisdom to understand the revelations he was shown, we now have that knowledge as imparted in this Epistle to the Ephesians.
  • This insight has been revealed by the Holy Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets for our own edification and understanding.
  • The mystery is that in Christ Jesus, believers (Jewish and non-Jewish) have become members of ONE Body in Christ Jesus.
  • Note that the work of grace in our lives is given to us by God through the working of His power!
  • The grace that we receive is to share the Gospel … the Good News of the peace and unity we receive through abiding in Christ Jesus.
  • Paul explains that the intent … the purpose of God in revealing this mystery … is that through the Church (the united body of Christ in the world – both Jewish and non-Jewish) the sovereign will of God should be made known; that is, put on display and brought into full reality before the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms in accordance with His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  • Note that the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms referred to here are those who are opposed to God and His Sovereignty. (Cf. Ephesians 6:12) His work in us is to effectuate a oneness with the Body of Christ that is evidence to world and to spiritual beings in the heavenly realms. 
  • In Jesus and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.  Let His grace and truth empower you!
  1. Paul’s prayer is for the people of God to be strengthened with the power of His Spirit in our inner beings (souls).  This strength comes from His glorious riches which are found in Christ – His inner dwelling (abiding) in us through faith! (Cf. John 15)
  1. The reason Paul gives for his prayer is that through the power of God we might KNOW the depth of Jesus’ love … because it is a love that essentially exceeds human understanding. It is made known spiritually within our inner beings….
  1. Included in the reason for his prayer, Paul desires that we (believers) may be filled with “all the fullness of God.” Again, this is received through our intimacy with Christ Jesus as His Body.  (Cf. John 1:16; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-13; Colossians 2:9-10)
  1. Paul concludes this portion of his letter with a “doxology” – a praise to God for His attributes, His power, and for His loving purposes for His people through Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have found this chapter in Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians to be so powerful in its presentation of the spiritual experience God has ordained for every believer in Christ Jesus.  It affirms His purpose that those who put their faith in Jesus should experience “fullness” in their life of faith.  It affirms we can personally and intimately know the love of Christ in a way that we may approach the Father with freedom and confidence.  Only through abiding faith Christ Jesus can we have true life … real life … abundant life … external life! Indeed, this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (Cf. John 17:3)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” ~ John 14:6-7

When We Were Powerless…

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Our Verse of the Day has been cited and used in commentaries numerous times.  Still, this passage from Romans 5 is just as powerful today as it was when the Apostle Paul penned it for the Church!

As I read it again, Verse 6 has captured my attention: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” As King David observed: “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside. They have together become corrupt; there is none who does good … No, not one!” (Cf. Psalm 14:2-3; Psalm 53:2-3; Romans 3:11-12) Indeed, we are powerless. We are helpless and without hope.  But God….

Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 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— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the sinful nature and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Our power … our strength … our redemption and deliverance come only by the mercy of God! Yes, the riches of His mercy can be received only through His Son … Jesus! He died for the ungodly … He died for us! He alone atoned for our sin to present us righteous and holy before God. He secured our eternal redemption! (Cf. Hebrews 9:12) Hallelujah! Praise His Name!

A second thought came to mind: “What kind of love would compel Jesus to die for the ungodly?” As I thought about this a moment, I remembered what Jesus told His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Cf. John 13:34-35) And it convicted me with the question: “Can I love others who are ungodly and sinners – just as Jesus loved and died for me?” Maybe it was this question that inspired Paul to write: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship … your true and proper worship.” (Cf. Romans 12:1)

Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Luke 6:27-36 (NLT)

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most-High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

There is no ambiguity here.  Love is not earned.  Love is not based on merit. Love is. Love acts. It is the mind-set of God … for He is love. It is the state of being in which we are called to live as His children. This is the heart of God! This is the heart of Jesus! Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one that this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. And you are my friends if you do what I command. (Cf. John 15:12-14) I pray we will love like Jesus loved … willingly and sacrificially. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so, we know and rely on the love God has for us. ~ 1 John 4:10-16