The Implications of God's Grace (Part 2)

A Verse

Ephesians 2:8-10

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

A Comment

Of all people on the planet, Christians should not only be the most humble, but also the most hopeful. Again, if we really get it, if we really understand what God, by His abundant mercy, has done for us in Christ while we were “dead in trespasses and sins,” then we would be far less prone to despair about the future.

The salvation that we possess in Christ is bigger than us. What I mean by that is that God’s own glory is at stake in our future. If we failed to make it to the finish line, if we failed to persevere to the end, if we failed to obtain the inheritance that is ours in Christ, something far greater than our own personal salvation would be lost. The glory of God would fall into disrepute. The glory of God would be blasphemed.

“The immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Jesus Christ” would not be seen or displayed in the age to come if God’s grace did not complete the work that it began in us. We who have been saved have great reason to be full of hope that whatever comes in our life, God is faithful, and He will not allow His promises to fail for those who have truly trusted in Christ Jesus for salvation.

A Prayer

Join me in asking God to fill us with hope in light of His grace.

A Blessing

Now may the God who never
abandons you and never lets
go of you, go before you in your
darkness, stand beside you in your
fears, make you faithful in your
temptations until Jesus comes.
Amen.

from Dale Ralph Davis, Grace Be with You: Benedictions from Dale Ralph Davis