amazing grace – Be Still…

Ephesians 2:8-10 – Grace

Since we’re talking about salvation, we must mention grace. If you’ve been around a church for even a minute, you’ve probably heard that word bounced around. Don’t mistake God’s grace with how we act when we’re being “graceful.” It’s not about how delicately we walk. Grace is what God freely gives.

Grace is another way to think about forgiveness. When you think of all the sinful things you’ve done and will do, the “secret sauce” that God uses to forgive us, redeem us, and save us is called grace. We don’t deserve such a gift, and yet God stands ready to shower us with this amazing grace. There’s a poem by that name, “Amazing Grace,” written by John Newton in the 1700s and then put to music in the 1800s, and we still sing it in church today. Chris Tomlin recorded my favorite version by adding a powerful chorus. Be moved as you listen here. Continue reading “Ephesians 2:8-10 – Grace”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – Gift of Grace

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Grace. What is it? God saved us “by” his grace when we believed. That’s a memory verse I’ve had in my brain from childhood. This grace that saved us is definitely a gift because of how much it changes us when we let it.

Context (Ephesians 2:1-10): Paul speaks of grace in these verses in a helpful way. Grace is something Jesus gives us that we don’t deserve. We might wonder how God could be so rich in his mercy toward us sinners. That’s love and God’s desire to be in a right relationship with us, his children. Such a great reminder that our salvation does not depend on us! Continue reading “Ephesians 2:8-9 – Gift of Grace”

Ezekiel 36:16-38 – Thy Holy Name

Read Ezekiel 36:16-38

God means what he says. For those that don’t believe, I mourn for them. This message that the LORD gave Ezekiel makes it clear that his “naughty” people did not deserve to be rescued. Their sins had been detestable, and the LORD punished them just like he said he would.

Here, he is letting the people know that they would be restored. They could place their hope and trust in these words because God does what he says he will do. God’s mercy would be revealed so that his name could be “cleared.” It seems God believed his own reputation had been marred because of the behavior of his children. Continue reading “Ezekiel 36:16-38 – Thy Holy Name”

Hebrews 13:7-17 – Is Accepting Grace Hard For You?

Read Hebrews 13:7-17

Did you notice how this text begins and ends with a reference to our faith leaders? Who comes to mind for you as that person who first shared their faith with you and taught you the truth of Scripture? Maybe it was a favorite Sunday School teacher. Maybe it was a friend in your college dorm. Maybe it was Jesus revealing himself to you! Isn’t Jesus the best teacher of all?

When earthly leaders fail or get distracted, we can always trust Jesus. One of the gems in this text packs a powerful promise. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” We can rely on Jesus as the truth for our lives. All sorts of new age, spiritual type teachings pop up every day. The Preacher warns us to be careful of that.

Ephesians 2:8-10 ? By Grace

Read Ephesians 2:8-10

Have you ever wondered how it could be that easy? I’m talking about our salvation. These verses should be impressed upon our hearts every day to realize it’s not about what we do. We can never do more to “earn” our salvation. That’s hard for us to understand because in this world those who get ahead have worked hard.

God has given us a gift. It’s not a tangible gift with ribbons that we open. It’s certainly not a gift we deserve. It is truly amazing, just like the old familiar hymn suggests. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”