This morning I read scripture I had posted on this day in 2011. It was from Titus. This text, like so many of my favorite passages in the Epistles, reminds me that I did not need to clean myself up to be worthy of saving… No Holy Water shower or forty-day fast. This salvation was a gift of grace. It was something that I could not earn. It was something that I never could become worthy of. It was a gift given by God; by his grace.
Grace
I think about grace a lot. It is a wonderful thing that God does for us. It is a gift that I could never earn or one that I am never worthy of. It is one of those things that is sometimes difficult for me to grasp. It is a gift given by God to all who will receive it, but I struggle to find words to describe it.
I decided to look at what the Biblical Scholars had to say about the word. So I put my Strong’s Dictionary to good use. It is part of my Olive Tree software.
Here is what it had to say: (Olive Tree Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary)
- Grace that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
- goodwill, loving-kindness, favor of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
- what is due to grace the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace the token or proof of grace, benefit a gift of grace benefit, bounty, thanks, (for benefits, services, favors), recompense, reward
All these definitions co-mingle in my mind as I study God’s Word or in my prayers. This Grace brings joy and sweetness. It is a great reward, and it is that gift by which I was saved. I enjoy how Paul said in Ephesians 2.
Saved by Grace
Paul opens Ephesians with a wonderful prayer, and then he proceeds to remind everyone how horrible their lives were before God.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV Strong’s)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 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— 3 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.
When I think of this description, I am taken back to a glimpse of my past BC. I was so lost, but God called me, and I was found. Paul follows that harsh reminder with this gift given to those who believe.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV Strong’s)
8 For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
What an amazing gift, and when I think of this gift, all those definitions merge as one, and I am thankful. But I do not only want to focus on what Paul said in Ephesians. What he said to Titus got me started this morning.
Titus 3:4-7
As I said in the beginning of this post I read an old post on Facebook this morning. It touched on grace and salvation. It was in Titus 3:4-7
Titus 3:4-7 (ESV Strong’s)
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Paul reminds Titus, his “true son in the faith” of the gift of Grace, and all that was done through God’s grace, for the people that he is teaching. Much the way he explained it in his letter to the Ephesians Paul explained that our salvation came by a gift of grace not by any action we could do to earn it.
Reflection
I look at these passages in Ephesians and Titus, and both are powerful. I know that these are not the only places in the New Testament that Paul mentions being saved by Grace. But these two places give me pause.
Ephesians reminds me of my ugliness in the eyes of God; walking dead. I cannot fathom what he must see when he looks at us. He cannot stand sin, Yet, for our sake he made him (His Son) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21 ESV). What tremendous love that takes.
I have two children, they are adults now, but at no time could I choose one over the other. But God chose His only begotten Son for all of us. What an amazing God we serve. What great Love he demonstrates for those whom he loves.
One Step Further
I look at the love that God shows me every day and the hope that I have in him, and I am filled with joy. I am also filled with a love that does not seem to be available in the world.
The world is filled with conditional love. It seems everyone sets conditions on who can love whom. Most of it is based on race or political opinion, and to me that is so foolish.
That is taught nowhere in the New Testament. I like what Paul wrote in Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:11-16 (ESV Strong’s)
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
What a wonderful image. The image of the Gentiles and Jews becoming united. All humanity was given the gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. But Paul did not stop there.
Ephesians 2:17-22 (ESV Strong’s)
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Through Christ Jesus, all who believe are united people. Through Him all have access “in one Spirit to the Father.” What a glorious gift. United in Christ Jesus.
Galatians
That promise in Ephesians reminded me of a passage in Galatians.
Galatians 3:27-29 (ESV Strong’s)
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
What then is there to consider. We are all saved by Grace through Faith and once saved “are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
What freedom we have in Christ Jesus. What Joy we have in this salvation.
Closing Thoughts
I look at these passages from Ephesians, Titus, and Galatians and it is such a joy. Paul reminds me that we are ALL one in Christ Jesus and nowhere did he place one group of people above another. None of us could earn our salvation. None of us was worthy. I am humbled when I read the passage in Ephesians that reminds me where I once stood.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV Strong’s)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 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— 3 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.
All of us were saved by Grace. I like the way he said it in Ephesians the best. He said, 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.”
I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving. I am humbled.
Prayer
Father God, thank you, for even though at one time, we were “children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God (You), being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (Eph 2:3-5 ESV). And I am thankful that gift is free to all; There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3: 26-29). What joy there is in knowing that we are, saved by your Grace through faith. Father help us to not lose sight of this wonderful gift and keep our focus on the things above and not the things the world tries to use to define us. Father let me do as Paul decreed in Romans 12 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect, (Rom 12:2). And all this I pray in Jesus name, Amen!
Amen and thank you, Jesus!
AMEN!