Ephesian 2:1-10 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else. 4. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, 5. that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!)
6. For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms all because we are one with Christ Jesus. 7. And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.
8. God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
observation
I cannot believe that I did that again! Why is it so hard to resist Satan’s temptations? Because we have a sin nature it is just natural to live the way that he wants us to live. The “easy” way to live is to follow the rest of the world and do what comes natural, just follow those passions and evil desires.
The whole world is living that way without any hope “doomed forever because of your many sins” God’s anger is upon you and the only way to be right with him is through his special favor (grace) that he has given to us because his love is more powerful than his anger. God sets aside his anger and shows us his mercy and love by his own choice; don’t think for a minute that you did something that deserved so great a reward.
Do you ever think that God is not nice or unfair? God can say take a look around you and see for yourself (verse 7), look at all those people in your church, can you believe that God showed so much grace to some of those people, look at the kindness that Jesus showed to the people throwing insults at him and setting traps for him, look at all the do over’s that the children of Israel had and the mercy that he gave to even a known criminal hanging on the next cross over from him.
God’s grace is the only reason that we are saved and the only reason that we have an opportunity to live a better way, a way that does not come natural, a way that is full of good works and love.
application
We all have to make a choice to live for God and we have to remember that if we experience a temporary set back that God is forgiving. We will always have to battle that sin nature, just be sure that you don't give up the battle.
prayer
Thank you Lord for your special favor to us even while we were living the way the rest of the world lives you died for our sins so that we can have eternity with you. I could have never done enough good to have deserved anything that you have given to me as a gift.
