For by grace you have been saved

I love Ephesians 2. I know I say this often about chapters in the Bible, but I really do love this one; it might actually be one of my favorite chapters. From the first verse Paul just overwhelms you: 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Ick.  That was/ is us? So dirty, vile, unworthy of anything! But, wait . . . there's more . . .

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Wow. My mind can hardly comprehend these verses. After reading the preceding verses, how can we understand that God could have so much love and mercy to make us clean, new, and alive in Christ so that we can live for eternity with Him? 

We can't. 

But, it's true and we can revel in that glorious and beautiful truth and seek opportunities to share it with others.

 

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

This summer since Stephen and I have been away from each other we decided to go through a book of the Bible; a chapter a week. We chose Galatians and finished that a couple of weeks ago and decided to continue on through Ephesians and Philippians, and so forth. Now, we will be discussing Ephesians 2 and I am being reminding of how much I love this book. It's pretty close to being my favorite book in the Bible. So, I thought today I would share Ephesians 1 and give just a few thoughts of my own since this chapter is overflowing with beautiful truths.


"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

    To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Spiritual Blessings in Christ

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 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  making known 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.

 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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."

See? I told you it's a lot! It's one sentence after another that is just filled with so much beautiful truth that it's almost to much to comprehend! For example, that first paragraph: we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, we were chosen before the earth was even created to be holy and blameless before Him. And, then, because of love and through grace, we are adopted as sons through Christ! It doesn't end there! Paul just keeps going. As you read, you can't help but praise the Father and rejoice in all that He has done for us. 

I urge you to do just that. Read this chapter and with all thankfulness and praise to our Father, contemplate on every spiritual blessing He has given us.

The Peace That Surpasses All Understanding

Philippians 4 is one of my favorite passages in Scripture. Here's why:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you . . . Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.I can do all things through him who strengthens me . . . And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. ~ Philippians 4:4-9,11-13, 19-20

 I love every aspect of this passage, especially verses 4-7 and 19-20. We have no need to be anxious or worried about what will come next; if we carry those worries to God, He will surely take of them. One of the most beautiful feelings is that in verse 7 - the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds. 

Verses 19-20 are some of my favorite verses in all of Scripture:  "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." Isn't that so comforting? It goes with the beginning verses; when we let go of all the worries and anxieties this world brings and truly believe v. 19 - He will supply EVERY NEED - then we will have the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Lord, now indeed I find Thy pow’r, and Thine alone, can change the leper’s spots and melt the heart of stone.

I have one desire in this life: to see my dad and brother enter into saving relationships with Christ. 

I know I write on this often. But, it's always, constantly, on my mind. And, since I haven't posted in a few months, it is even more worthy of me writing.

I, recently, have read several books that have caused me to dwell on this more than usual: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer, Letters From a Skeptic by Dr. Gregory A. Boyd and Edward K. Boyd, and, currently, The Plight of Man and the Power of God by Dr. martin Lloyd - Jones.. All of these books make clear the urgency of salvation and the devastation of the passing of a non-believer. 

One of my favorites quotes by Packer is found in this book: 

"Thus the sovereignty of God in grace gave Paul hope of success as he preached in deaf ears, and held up Christ before blind eyes, and sought to move stony hearts. His confidence was that where Christ sends the gospel, there Christ has His people -fast bound at present in the chains of sin, but due for release at the appointed moment through a mighty renewing of their hearts as the light of the gospel shines in to their darkness, and the Saviour draws them to Himself." (pp.116-117)

This says so much. First, a believer is called to be Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5 calls us ambassadors; "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."). Wherever we go, so will Christ be. Second, believers are also sinners. We are not made perfect in Christ; only forgiven and called to be holy. Third, goes with the first, wherever we go Christ will shine and thus those in darkness will see the light. 

This is humbling, a calling, and encouraging all at once. Humbling in that I am a sinner, just like those who are not saved. A calling to be Christ, to be a witness for Him at all times. And, encouraging because since Christ is shining through me, lives can be saved; including those of my family.

Pages more can be said about this book but, I must move on. 

Letters From a Skeptic is the most encouraging of the trio. I happened to find it while browsing through the evangelism section of a Christian bookstore. I started reading. I couldn't be moved from it (I read the first 80 pages in the store) so, my boyfriend bought it for me. It did not take me long to finish. 

The basic premise of the book is that a professor at a theological school has an unsaved atheistic, 70-year-old dad. He decides to give his father the opportunity to ask questions about his faith. And, thus begins a 3 -year, 30 -letter correspondence that ends with the dad becoming saved. You can see why I was so transfixed with it.

One of the quotes that stood out to me ( I, unfortunately, do not have the book near me so this will be a poor paraphrase) was this:

the urgency of the situation (the lostness of the unsaved) required a drastic remedy (God sending His Son to die on the cross).  

Knowing this shows, even more, the urgency we need to have in sharing Christ, praying for the lost, and having them enter into salvation.

This is shown by the author. Dr. Boyd saw saw this urgency and took time out of busy schedule to answer his father's questions - most of which were no easy questions to answer. 

As I mentioned before, this book is incredibly encouraging. First, the author's father was in his 70's. My own father still has a few years yet before he reaches that age. There is still hope. You are never to old to believe in Christ. Second, it took 3 years of persistence, assurance, and true faith in God that He can save anyone - even the most hardened of hearts. Third, the Gospel alone has the power to save. You don't need anything extra. Dr. Boyd gives the straight Gospel in each letter. 

The last several letters had me in tears. tears of rejoicing that Dr. Boyd's father chose Christ and tears of hope that my own father, and brother, still can. His father has passed away but, he has the assurance of knowing where he is: in heaven rejoicing and praising our Almighty Savior. I yearn for the same assurance of my father is to pass away.  I urge anyone to read this book. 

The Plight of Man and the Power of God continues the urgency of salvation. I am about halfway but, it thus far has been convicting.

As I have requested many times before, I call you to pray for my dad and brother as well as the many, many, many others who are not saved. If you know someone who is not, I am praying for them. And, there is still hope.

I will end with a favorite verse from one of my favorite hymns:

Lord, now indeed I find Thy pow’r, and Thine alone, can change the leper’s spots and melt the heart of stone. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Unstaggering Faith

 Another Spurgeon devotional I found especially encouraging:

"And, not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." ~ Romans 4:19-20

(Exodus 5:22-6:13)

"If your heart has been set upon any special object in prayer, if you have an express promise for it, you must not be staggered if the object of your desire be farther of now than when you first began to pray. If even after months of supplication the thing should seem more difficult now of attainment than ever it was, wait at the mercy seat in the full persuasion that although God may take His time, and that time may not be your time, yet He must and will redeem His promise when the fullness of time has come. If you have prayed for the salvation of your child, or husband, or friend, and that person has grown worse instead of better, do not cease praying. If that dear little one has become more obstinate, and that husband more profane even, still God must be held to His word; and if you have the faith to challenge His attributes of faithfulness and power, assuredly He never did and never will let your prayers fall fruitless to the ground; and I repeat the word. that you may be sure to bear that away with you, let not the fact that the answer seems farther off than ever be any discouragement to you. Remember that to trust God in the light is nothing, but to trust Him in the dark - that is faith. To rest upon God when everything witnesses to God - that is nothing; but to believe God when everything gives Him the lie - that is faith. To believe that all shall go well when outward providences blow softly is any fool's play, but to believe that it must and shall be well when storms and tempests are round about you - this is a work of grace."

`Spurgeon: A Happy Christian

And the LORD shall guide you continually
   and satisfy your desire in scorched places
   and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
   like a spring of water,
   whose waters do not fail. ~ Isaiah 58:11

"Jehovah shall guide you continually. Notice the word shall - "the Lord shall guide thee" How certain this makes it! How sure it is that God will not forsake us! His precious "shalls" and "wills" are better than man's oaths. "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee; I will never forsake thee." Then observe that adverb "continually". We are not to be guided only sometimes, but we are to have a perpetual monitor; not occasionally to be left to our own understanding, and so to wander, but we are continually to hear the guiding voice of the Great Shepard; and as we follow close at his heels we shall not err, but be led by a right way to a city to dwell in. You have been, perhaps, in a maze, and you know how difficult it is to find your way to the centre. But, sometimes there is one perched aloft who sees the whole of the maze spread out before like on a map, and he calls out to you to turn either to the right or to the left, and if you attend to his directions you soon find the way. Even so the maze of life is only a maze to us, but God can see it all. He rules over all, looks down upon it as men look down upon a map; and if we will but look to him, and if our communion be constantly kept up we shall never err, but we shall come to the goal of our hopes right speedily but following his voice."

This is another Spurgeon passage from my reading the other day. I had never fully thought upon this particular Scripture before but, it is a comforting one to meditate on. And, as always, Spurgeon adds his incredible insight causing even more of an impact on meaning.

"He shall guide you continually". Think on that and as Spurgeon urges, think specifically on that word, "shall". Is that not such a joy to know? Right here, we have this promise that God, the God of all creation and who placed the earth into existence, will be with us - each one of us that knows and follows Him - in every aspect and little detail of our lives. That, to me, is mind - blowing. After reading and digesting this glorious promise, let us move on.

" . . . and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail". Even in the driest times of our lives, God will still be there. We will still have His Word, His love, His promises. He will guide us through, satisfying us. When we are weak, He will be there to make us strong ( But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31). Again, a beautiful, beautiful promise that I cannot read and think upon without being humbled and amazed. 

Last night as I was preparing for bed I was thinking about my boyfriend. I love him and he loves me. We tell each other this all the time. We are constantly amazing at how much we love each other and even though we do, our love is going to continue to grow more and more everyday. But, then, you compare this with the love of Christ. Christ loves us so much - so much more than Stephen and I will ever, in our lifetime, love each other. This, to me,  is mind -blowing because I do love Stephen so much but, Christ loves infinitely more. And, this will never, never change. Christ will love us, unconditionally, for all eternally. Us. The ones who despised, mocked, hated His Name before repenting. Throw that into the mix! Stephen and I have never done anything to each other that would cause our love to waver. But, we, all people, have to Christ. And, yet, He suffered a horrible, painful, ghastly death on a cross just for us; for our sins. If that's not love, I don't know what it is!   

I could dwell and write on this for pages. And, I will . . . but, another post. (: For now, I will leave you with two quotes from C. S. Lewis and some passages of Scripture:

"Christ didn't die for us because we're worth dying for, but because He is intrinsically love, & loves infinitely."~ C.S. Lewis

"Jesus is not proud. He will have
us even though we have shown that we prefer everything else to Him." ~ C.S. Lewis

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ~ Galations 2:20

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort as the firstfruitsyour hearts and establish them in every good work and word. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Spurgeon: A Tempted Savior - our best succour

This was in my Spurgeon devotional today:

"For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 4:14-16

Suggested further reading: Hebrews 4:14-16

I am certain of this, that when through the deep waters he shall cause you to go, or you are made to pass through furnace after furnace, you cannot want a better rod and staff, nor a better table prepared for you in the wilderness than this my text: "In that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted". Hang this text up in your house; read it every day; take it before God in prayer every time you bend the knee, and you shall find it to be like the widow's cruse, which failed not, and like her handful of meal, which wasted not: it shall be unto you till the last of December what now it is when we begin to feed upon it in January. Will not my text suit the awakened sinner as well as the saint? These are timid souls here. They cannot say they are saved; yet here is a loophole of comfort here for you, you poor troubled ones that are not yet able to get a hold of Jesus. "He is able to succour them that are tempted". Go and tell him you are tempted; tempted, perhaps, to despair; tempted to self-destruction; tempted to go back to your old sins; tempted to think that Christ cannot save you. Go and tell him that he himself has suffered being tempted, and that he is able to succour you. Believe that he will, and he will, for you can never believe anything too much of the love and goodness of my Lord. He will be better than your faith to you. If you can trust him with all your heart to save you, he will do it; if you believe he is able to put away you sin, he will do it.

For Meditation: Of all who have lived on earth the Lord Jesus Christ had the greatest experience possible of exposure to temptation, but was the one and only total stranger to sin. In this dual capacity he is uniquely and ideally qualified to help us in our ongoing conflicts with both temptation and sin (Hebrews 4:15). Are you one of those who seek his help?

Our God is greater and stronger than any power on earth. He can defeat any enemy, any raging storm, any temptation. You just have to believe that God will. One of the lines that stood out to me in this passage is the sentence towards the end : "Believe that He will, and He will, for you can never believe anything too much of the love and goodness of my Lord".