“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.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Our salvation is entirely of God’s grace, from beginning to end. Christ Jesus made full atonement for the sins of all. The Holy Spirit, working through the preaching of the Gospel, created faith in our hearts whereby we have received the blessings won for us by Christ. And, the Holy Spirit continues His gracious working in us through God’s Word to preserve and keep us in the true faith unto life everlasting. We have no grounds to boast; we are saved by the grace of God alone!
We praise You, O God, for providing us with salvation in the Son and making us partakers of that salvation by granting to us faith in Christ Jesus by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit through Your Word. Amen.
“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.” Ephesians 2:4-7
Because our own sinfulness has blinded our eyes, we fail to see the richness of God’s mercy toward us in Christ Jesus. But, in the coming ages, we will see “the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” We will see the great love God had for us when He sent His only-begotten Son to die for us and atone for our sins and when He raised us up from spiritual death and darkness to see our utter sinfulness and to trust in the redemption accomplished for us by Jesus Christ.
We thank You and praise You, O God, for the sacrifice of Your Son to redeem us from sin and death and to give us forgiveness and life through faith in His name. Amen.
“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 …” Ephesians 2:4-6
God, because of His rich love and mercy toward us lost sinners, graciously made us alive with Christ when He brought us to faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the world’s sins. He raised us up with Christ (through faith in His name) and gave us to sit together with Christ in His glorious heavenly kingdom.
Thank You, O God, for graciously granting to me faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, for raising me up from spiritual darkness and death to spiritual light and salvation, and for granting me new life and a place in Christ’s glorious kingdom, all through faith in Jesus’ name. Amen.
“…And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23
The same power of God that exalted the risen Christ Jesus to God’s right hand and placed all things under His authority is also at work in us, who are members of Christ’s body through faith in Him. In Christ, our head, who fills all in all, we are also given victory over all our enemies and are raised up to share with Him in the glories of His everlasting kingdom.
Open my eyes, O Lord, to Your Spirit’s mighty working in me through Your Word to give me faith in Christ my Savior and to make me a partaker of the glories of Christ’s everlasting kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
God’s love for the world, His love for each and every one of us, is demonstrated in this: He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to die on the cross and bear the full punishment for our sins, with the desire and intent that we would repent of our sinful ways and place our faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross and not be condemned to the eternal fires of hell but receive God’s mercy, forgiveness and life everlasting!
O gracious and loving God, grant me faith to trust in Christ Jesus for pardon, forgiveness, and eternal life. Amen.
