Thinking on Ephesians 1 Verses 7-10 Part 2

Eph. 1:7-10

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." - ESV

Today we will look at the phrase, "according to the riches of his grace."

We have forgiveness of sin because of the grace given us through Jesus Christ.

Grace is the word charis here. We get our English word charity from it. It is used in many different ways in the New Testament.  Here are just a few of the ways it is translated:

"grace"  - Jn 1:14
"favor" - Lk 1:30
"thanks" - Rom 6:17
"gracious" - Lk 4:22
"benefit" - Lk 6:32
"gift" - Rom 4:4
"credit" - Lk 6:34

Romans 5:20 says, "Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more..."

You see, God's amazing grace is seen in abundance in this passage.

I think many Christians fail to understand what this particular passage is trying to communicate to us. God will never run out of grace to give to you. There will never be a time when God says, "Oh dang, that was really bad, I don't think I'm going to give you grace on that one."

You can never out sin God's grace, you can try, but YOU WILL FAIL.

Think of the most heinous sin you can possibly think of and GOD'S OVERFLOWING GRACE is GREATER than that sin!

All of Salvation is by God's extravagant grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God..."

John Frame gives a great definition of God's Grace when he defines God's grace as his "sovereign, unmerited favor, given to those who deserve his wrath."

2Timothy 1:9 tells us that God saved us and elected us based on his purpose and grace. God's grace is in every part of our salvation.

We deserved to be punished for our sin, but God lavishes his favor on us when we don't deserve it at all.

Quoting John Frame yet again, "So all the blessings of God come to us by God's sovereign grace. Without his grace we are nothing."

We are REDEEMED by his BLOOD and FORGIVEN by his GRACE! Live your life with the knowledge that your God loves to shower you with the riches of his amazing grace.

Be Edified!