Today’s Readings:
Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16; Jeremiah 23:23-32; Ephesians 2:1-10
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us to much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved). For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness towards us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 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. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT)
Our God is rich in mercy, He so much loved us that while we were yet dead in sins, He gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. We have been saved only by God’s grace. Because we were raised from the dead with our Saviour Jesus Christ, and are seated with him in the heavenly places, having united us with him (vv. 4-6). What an honour! Before, we were spiritually dead and powerless, being controlled by the evil one, thereby putting us in bondage to sin, we cannot save ourselves. And so, we needed a new lease of life to fulfil the plan of God for us, which Christ provided, God made us alive in Christ (vv. 4-5). Apart from a saving relationship with Christ, every one of us is subject to divine wrath (John 3:36). Thank God for his saving grace. Mercy of God withholds the divine judgement we all deserve; but God’s grace gives us salvation which we do not deserve (v. 5). Our faith is not a work that merits God’s salvation; rather, it a response of trust that the Holy Spirit stimulated in us, leading us to surrender to the lordship of Christ and be saved. God deliberately made our salvation a free gift so that no one will boast in it as self-effort (Rom. 3:27).
Work based theology tells us that Faith plus works is equal to salvation. But in God’s system, Grace-based theology which teaches us that Faith is equals to our salvation which results in works. God makes this so, so that none of us would boast about our salvation. The moment we were made alive in Christ, God made us his masterpiece, so that we may be able to live out His purposes and plan for our lives, before the foundations of the world (v. 10). And so, God is creating us, remoulding us, building us by the power of the Holy Spirit to make us unique for His plan.
And what are the plan of God for us?
God desires that we should be redeemed from our debased state, to reign with Christ in his kingdom (1Timothy 2:4)
He wants us to have a cordial relationship with him (John 14:6)
He wants us to be with Christ where he is (John 14:3) ;
To prosper and grow matured in Christ (Col 2:7; 3John 2)
To give us a hope and future in Christ (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
And how do we attain these?
Be a friend of God by being born again (John 3:3; 2Corinthians 5:17)
Be filled with the Holy Spirit and be a carrier of the power of God (Acts 1:8)
Prayer (1Thess 5:16);
Daily meditating upon the word of God (Jas 1:8-9)
Belong to a living church for spiritual nourishment to grow (Hebrews 10:25-27
Always put on the whole armour of God (Eph. 6:10-18)
Brothers and sisters, we must not let this grace of God be in vain in our lives. There is no one Jesus will not accept no matter the level of sin. The thief on the right hand of Jesus on the cross got saved (Luke 23:39-43). Evidence abounds that notorious robber got born again and was saved. No one comes to Jesus and is cast away. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses the kingdom of God. If you are reading this and have not surrendered your life to the lordship of our saviour Jesus Christ, you cannot have and enjoy this cordial relationship with God.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the salvation of my soul, in Jesus’ name.
Thank You for all the ways You have intervened in the affairs of my life, in Jesus’ name.
Thank you for always causing me to triumph in Christ Jesus.
Father, help me and empower me, for where Christ is, there I want to be, in Jesus’ name.
Father, in your mercy, let every Christian marriage that has been re-arranged by the enemy be corrected, in Jesus’ name.
Father, let every anti-gospel spirit, be frustrated and be rendered impotent, in Jesus’ name.
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