Ephesians 2:1-10

Wow, Ephesians 2 is so good. The entire bible is so good, but certain parts are what James Macdonald describes as diamonds in a mountain of gold. Or it was something like that, I don't quite remember. Regardless, Paul begins speaking of our previous state. We used to follow Satan, being dead in our sins. This state of not being alive is what we used to do and is just like the rest of the world. However, the amazingly reassuring and comforting words of "But God" in the ESV enunciate a stark change in this paragraph. It all seems bleak in the first few verses, but God is rich in mercy. How amazing is that? It's not just that God is merciful, but he is rich in mercy. He is abundant in mercy. He has so much of it. Not only that, but he loves us. This is described as great love. "Normal" love is not enough to describe the kind of love that God has. He is the one who has made us alive even though we were dead. We are made alive together with Christ. It is through Christ that we are saved. As Christ was raised up by God, God will also raise us up. Not only that, but we will be seated with him. Jesus reigns and as he sits reigning, we will sit with him.

Wow, so there you have it. God is good and we have been saved. This saving is not by works but it is by grace through faith. Thus, we don't earn it or do anything to merit this salvation but are offered it freely as a gift. Not only that, but there is this notion of works for which we are created in Christ Jesus. So we are not saved by works, but they are something we were created for.