Ephesians 2:11-13
The key words are: circumcised and uncircumcised (Paul gets a bit graphic!), citizens and foreigners. He returns to his favourite theme: in Christ we have been brought near to God.
This passage starts of with "therefore" indicating that this is a conclusion of Paul's previous thought: we have been saved by grace through faith to do good works. This passage helps the reader recall how great that grace was: Gentiles who were outside the promise of God and were without hope and without God have been brought near, not because of anything they have done, not because they have been circumcised and converted to Judaism, but only by the grace of God and blood of Christ.
I have lost this sense of being a foreigner - because I grew up in a Judeo-Christian based country (at least to some extent) and in a family whose Christian heritage goes back a long ways I tend to see myself as the established citizen (with all the rights and entitlements that go along with that) rather than a refugee escaping the kingdom of darkness and grateful for a place to live in the Kingdom of God. When I see myself as a citizen, I tend to act like I deserve it somehow. As a refugee I can only say, "amazing grace! how sweet the sound..."
Showing posts with label amazing grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amazing grace. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Your Grace Still Amazes Me!
Ephesians 2:19-22
This passage continues where Paul left off earlier - I, as a Gentile, am very fortunate to be included in the covenant of God. I was not one of the chosen people, not one of the chosen nation. Now, because of Jesus, I am no longer a stranger and foreigner in the kingdom of God. In fact, now I am at the very center of the city of God because I am part of the temple. Again, this is nothing to be proud or arrogant about - it is all because of the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It's still amazes me to think of the depths that I have come from and the heights to which God, in his grace, has lifted me.
Because I have grown up in a Christian home and environment, it is hard for me to fully fathom that my place, apart from Christ, was that of a stranger and foreigner to the promises of God. They have been a part of my life ever since I can remember. The "rituals" of Christianity are so familiar to me that I can't imagine my life without them. I think this is evidence of God's grace as well. I could have been born to a family who didn't know God in a place where it was very unlikely that I would ever hear of the true God. I could have remained un-chosen. The more I think about, the more I remain amazed by God's grace.
And then I come to the end of the passage to a wonderful image of the temple of God - a temple that I am a part of. I know that Paul says in Corinthians that my body is the temple of God but I like this image even better - that as the unified Church of Christ, we are the dwelling of God. The unity between Gentile and Jew, man and woman, child and adult, slave and free testifies to God's presence in this earth and inspires worship. This unity could never be achieved apart from him. It is laid on the cornerstone of Christ and his sacrifice. And as great as this temple is, I still wonder like Solomon: "But will God really dwell on the earth with men? The heavens, the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple..." More evidence of God's amazing grace!
This passage continues where Paul left off earlier - I, as a Gentile, am very fortunate to be included in the covenant of God. I was not one of the chosen people, not one of the chosen nation. Now, because of Jesus, I am no longer a stranger and foreigner in the kingdom of God. In fact, now I am at the very center of the city of God because I am part of the temple. Again, this is nothing to be proud or arrogant about - it is all because of the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It's still amazes me to think of the depths that I have come from and the heights to which God, in his grace, has lifted me.
Because I have grown up in a Christian home and environment, it is hard for me to fully fathom that my place, apart from Christ, was that of a stranger and foreigner to the promises of God. They have been a part of my life ever since I can remember. The "rituals" of Christianity are so familiar to me that I can't imagine my life without them. I think this is evidence of God's grace as well. I could have been born to a family who didn't know God in a place where it was very unlikely that I would ever hear of the true God. I could have remained un-chosen. The more I think about, the more I remain amazed by God's grace.
And then I come to the end of the passage to a wonderful image of the temple of God - a temple that I am a part of. I know that Paul says in Corinthians that my body is the temple of God but I like this image even better - that as the unified Church of Christ, we are the dwelling of God. The unity between Gentile and Jew, man and woman, child and adult, slave and free testifies to God's presence in this earth and inspires worship. This unity could never be achieved apart from him. It is laid on the cornerstone of Christ and his sacrifice. And as great as this temple is, I still wonder like Solomon: "But will God really dwell on the earth with men? The heavens, the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple..." More evidence of God's amazing grace!
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Drinking From A Fire Hose...
Hey, Ben and Graham - I'm really looking forward to blevo-ing with you guys! I hope this is a good experience for you!
Ephesians 1:1-10
Paul sure packs a lot into these verses: the blessing we have in Christ, predestination, redemption, grace, end times, the mystery of Christ... Ben wasn't kidding when he said Ephesians was pretty rich! It's like trying to eat everything at an all you can eat buffet!
I can't read Ephesians without marveling at all the things we have in, through and by Christ. Even in these few verses: I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, chosen in Christ, adopted as his son through Christ, given grace in Christ, find redemption in Christ, and find purpose or meaning in Christ. I also can't read Paul without being overwhelmed by the grace of God, described here as glorious grace freely given and the riches of God's grace lavished on us. There's a word we don't use very often: lavished. I like the imagery - it's more grace than I can ever use. It's a waterfall of grace. It's fire hose of grace.
The grace of God as seen in Jesus, who could have come to condemn us all because he had every right to do but rather came to redeem us and rescue us from the curse of sin, amazes me. The grace of God as seen in my life also amazes me - that God would choose me to be his son, first of all, and then give me the privilege and responsibility of the ministry he has called me to... amazing! That's a grace that is lavish! And the best part is that I still feel like I'm just wading on the edges of an ocean of grace - there's so much more to discover.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!
Ephesians 1:1-10
Paul sure packs a lot into these verses: the blessing we have in Christ, predestination, redemption, grace, end times, the mystery of Christ... Ben wasn't kidding when he said Ephesians was pretty rich! It's like trying to eat everything at an all you can eat buffet!
I can't read Ephesians without marveling at all the things we have in, through and by Christ. Even in these few verses: I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, chosen in Christ, adopted as his son through Christ, given grace in Christ, find redemption in Christ, and find purpose or meaning in Christ. I also can't read Paul without being overwhelmed by the grace of God, described here as glorious grace freely given and the riches of God's grace lavished on us. There's a word we don't use very often: lavished. I like the imagery - it's more grace than I can ever use. It's a waterfall of grace. It's fire hose of grace.
The grace of God as seen in Jesus, who could have come to condemn us all because he had every right to do but rather came to redeem us and rescue us from the curse of sin, amazes me. The grace of God as seen in my life also amazes me - that God would choose me to be his son, first of all, and then give me the privilege and responsibility of the ministry he has called me to... amazing! That's a grace that is lavish! And the best part is that I still feel like I'm just wading on the edges of an ocean of grace - there's so much more to discover.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!
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