Ephesians: 2-1-10
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
You are saved by The Gift of GOD!
If you have claimed Jesus as your Lord, did you ever think about the fact that you are already seated spiritually with Jesus in Heaven? This scripture tells us that before we knew Christ we were sinners and sentenced to death spiritually. ALL people were separated from God since Adam and Eve no matter how GOOD you may have thought you were.
We exist in this world, live our life and then we are done. Why? Because Sin owned us and mastered us and we lived according to the whims of the world, the desires of our flesh and the thoughts of selfishness and greed. We did not know God or want to know him. But God tells us that he loved us and knew the only way to bring us back to a relationship with him was through Christ. He gave us Christ so that we could have his grace and mercy and come to know him personally.
We are not, and cannot be good enough to enter heaven on our own. We often think that if I follow this rule and that one. If I give money to the church or the poor that makes me good. If I treat people well, if I am a caring person. I could go on and on you get the point. But often times we are comparing ourselves to other human beings and making a judgement call on what we think the word “Good” means. Surely I am better than so and so! Surely GOD will accept me. Don’t you get tired of the roller coaster of doubt and insecurity? I know I did. I was never was sure if I was good enough. Am I pleasing to GOD one day and the next on my way to Hell?
Here is the Good News! This scripture tells us that GOD gave us grace and mercy while we were still dead to him. That means while we are/were yet Sinners.
He sent his Son, paid the price for ALL of our transgressions and sat us on the throne with Christ sitting at his right side.
It does not say this will happen after rapture or later down the road, it says NOW at the time of salvation we are spiritually positioned to our rightful place.
I DONT KOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I JUST HAVE TO SHOUT!!
It was and is not by my works/deeds, that I have been saved, it is solely based on His grace, and my faith in who Jesus is. Because we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
So what is Christianity? It is the FAITH I have in the Gift God gave me by allowing his Son to die for me, resulting in the renewing of my mind and heart to become like Christ. Preparing to do good works through Christ and the Holy Spirit, which GOD already planned for me to do. I am a member of the Body of Christ. The Kingdom that He established when He rose from the dead.
Matthew: 15-17
Jesus asked Peter:
But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it.
Jesus was not saying that Peter (man) was the church, he was saying that the truth that Peter stated, which was revealed to him by God “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (spiritual) is the foundation and beginning of the Body of Christ. We are the members of that One Body designed to work and be together to do the will of God in this age.
Tilt your head and think about this truth. It takes all the pressure off of you to be this and that. It word shows you that GOD loves you just the way you are and you do not have to prove yourselves to anyone. You just have to agree that he is God and that Jesus is Lord and that you are a sinner in need of a savoir and by FAITH you are now saved.
But let me add that this also means you have to repent! Repenting means that you want to change your life, you want to leave the old behind and begin again. Just as Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, He said “go and send no more”. Jesus died so you could be better and whole in spirit and mind. You will not be perfect as you begin your journey, but you will now be walking on a new path, one built on a relationship with Christ as you allow him to lead you and guide you through his love.
