Truly, “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people” (Titus 2:11). Since God’s plan includes “all men,” it certainly includes you and me. The Ephesian Collection presses home this very point that we are included, not excluded. Yet, even as Paul assures Christians that no one is left out, he still speaks of “outsiders.”33 He must still describe most Gentiles as “alienated from the life of God” (Ephesians 4:18). Why are outsiders dying of thirst, when living water is so freely available? Because they have not come to the Source who says, “come to Me and drink.” They must believe Him. They must come to Him. Grace saves “through faith” (Ephesians 2:8).
Not just any religious feeling is faith. Many Jews are fervent and zealous for God.34 Yet Jesus says to them, “You refuse to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:40). Some among them actually “believed in Him,” yet refuse to confess Him, much less join Him (John 12:42-43).35 Jesus also rejects those who call Him “Lord” but fail to come on His terms.36 So the “faith” of Ephesians 2:8 means faith that keeps on following Jesus.
…he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister (Colossians 1:22-23).
Paul warns Timothy about believers who “have made shipwreck of their faith” (1 Timothy 1:19). Even those who were once saved can “receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1).37 Paul, therefore, urges the Corinthians,
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Today we receive this challenge. We test ourselves, asking, “Am I in the faith? Have I entered Christ, and is He within me? Am I trusting Him and following Him?” Those who pass the test “stand fast” in grace.38 They form God’s group, the “we” and the “us” of God’s choice and planning in Ephesians. Paul calls such believers, “the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1). Paul also calls this group “God’s household,” the gathering or “church” of His “eternal purpose.”39 This is the church where you belong, or ought to belong. For God decided long ago that this group of sinners would become His sons. Yes, the King “predestined” this group to be His royal family!
33. Colossians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:12
36. Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46; Titus 1:16
37. Research subject – Receiving grace in vain: 1 Corinthians 9:27; 15:10; Galatians 1:6; 2:21; 5:4; Hebrews 10:29; 12:15 cf. John 15:6; 1 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Timothy 1:19; 4:1; Hebrews 3:12-14; 4:11; 6:4-8; 10:26-31; 2 Peter 2:1,20-22; 3:17
38. 1 Peter 5:12; Romans 5:2; 2 Timothy 2:1; 2 Peter 1:10; 3:18
39. Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19; 3:10-11
Research Subjects
- Success
- Praise
- Deity of Christ
- Humans can choose
- Be holy to be with God
- Grace described
- Christ the only channel
- Receiving grace in vain
God is awesome. He made and sustains all things. He does whatever He wishes. Yet, in such a vast universe, His planning focused especially on “us” – according to Ephesians.
God knew our failings, yet He predestined (decided ahead of time) for us to become His own children. In amazing love He planned to pay the greatest price for us. Using examples like Paul, the Corinthians and Ephesians, He shows that all sinners are welcome to enjoy His grace, but they must accept it by trusting and following His Son.
Memory Verses
- Ephesians 1:4-5 – In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.
- Ephesians 1:11 – In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
- 1 Timothy 1:17 – To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 6:15-16 – …which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
- 2 Corinthians 5:19,21 – …that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation…. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Ephesians 1:7-8 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight…
- 2 Timothy 1:9 – [God] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began….
- 1 Corinthians 6:11 – And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
- 1 Timothy 2:5-6 – For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all….
- Revelation 22:17 – The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Almighty Lord, to You belongs the highest praises! You are awesome in Your power, as we see in all the creation around us. You can do whatever You desire. Yet Your desire and planning is for us. The very thought of being Your child is astonishing… beyond anything we could ever hope for by ourselves. Even more astounding is the price You paid in the sacrifice of Your Son. I accept Your welcome, and come to You in trust and obedience…