Glorious Grace
Ephesians 1: 3 - 6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Father God chose us before the world began. He predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself. This was far more than a rescue plan; it was the bringing of humanity into a full and intimate relationship with Himself as sons and daughters. Such a plan was according to the good pleasure of His will. This is what God wanted to do, for He delights in our salvation.
Everything God accomplished in our redemption is by Jesus Christ. In Him we are blessed, chosen, adopted, holy, without blame, and accepted. This list is extensive and powerful as He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Eternity will not exhaust the reality of all this implies. We will forever stand in awe of the One who loves us and willingly died for us. Surrounded by the radiance and splendour of who He is, we will bow before His throne and realise that this One, this glorious Son of Almighty God, became man and took our place. He died when we were the ones who sinned. He suffered so we could go free. He became sin, paid its price, and carried it away so we could be without blame.
Grace is glorious. We could not conceive of it and demons were totally blind to it. Hidden within the heart of God was the plan to do the unthinkable; God would become man. Through the eternal union of God and man, we could then be placed in Christ. By faith, all that He is, becomes our portion. His acceptance is our acceptance because His righteousness has been made our righteousness.
Grace is glorious. It does the inconceivable and achieves the impossible. It takes fallen man from a place of darkness, separation, and damnation, and adopts us as sons. Now we are loved as Jesus is loved. These truths boggle our mind. We struggle to conceive of such kindness, forbearance, salvation, and deliverance. This is grace. It is powerful, effective, and indomitable. We can frustrate it, refute it, and render it in vain, but we cannot annul the gift that has been given. Our life here may be lived in denial of its truth, and we can downplay its implications, yet for eternity we will be accepted and beloved. For this we will offer eternal praise and glory to the One who is full of grace.
Religion may limit its application. Wrong choices and self-centred living may hinder its flow, but His grace is forever celebrated and praised in heaven. Grace took sinners and made them saints. Grace transformed enemies into friends. Grace took those destined for destruction and gave them a glorious future where they are holy, without blame, and fully accepted in the Beloved. Forever this will be to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Consider:
What has God’s grace looked like in your walk with God?
Prayer Prompts:
Jesus, what does it look like to be fully accepted in You?
Lord, how does it impact You, when I fail to believe that I am holy and without blame before You in love.
What does Your grace look like in my life right now?
