In talking
about God raising Christ from death, and placing Him far above all rules and
power, Paul wanted the believers to see the immeasurable power of God
(Ephesians 1:19-21). Now as he talked about how God had raised believers from
their spiritual death and seated them with Christ in the heavenly realm, he
wanted them to be aware of the immeasurable grace of God.
This grace
is immeasurable because from the depth of their helplessness and sinful condition,
God set the believers free. The state of the fallen man was that he freely
followed the course of the world, Satan, and the flesh, and was deeply ensnared
by spiritual death. But the depth of the grace of God made believers alive in
Christ and seated them in high places with Christ.
Paul used a
perfect participle to show what grace had done. He wanted to demonstrate that
the step of getting sinners saved was already a completed act. Paul’s point is
clear. Grace alone saves and not grace plus human merit. Though we often say
that salvation is by grace, yet at the same time we would behave as if we need
to earn God’s favor. We think that God’s grace is given because we deserve it. However,
Paul tells us here that salvation is by grace and grace alone. The fact is that
man can never save himself by his own works. Otherwise, he will make it as a reason
to boast.
When we
understand that we do not deserve this grace, we begin to see our spiritual
status with the right perspective. Knowing that by grace alone are we saved,
keeps us humble and leaves no room for boasting, and the tendency of
self-exaltation will be removed. We will not deceive ourselves and steal the
glory from God.
Faith is the
means which God uses to tell us we are His. We are saved by grace but through
faith. What does it mean to be saved through faith? It simply means that faith
is the channel through which we receive God’s grace. It is the means by which
grace is given to us. Grace is like the reservoir and faith is the channel
where the mercy flows to refresh us. Paul tells us here that God is the Source
of both grace and faith. Both are gifts from God. In other words, our salvation
is entirely given by God.
The word
“workmanship” means a masterpiece, a special creation. Paul here is referring
to God’s wonderful work of saving us from our sin and making us brand new
people in Jesus Christ, His Son. Besides, the church as a community is God’s master
piece. Each one of us is like a different piece of a jigsaw puzzle, fitted into
the right place to give the complete and entire tapestry of God. Paul went on to
show why God saves us. We are saved to do good works. While good works are not
means of our salvation, they are the evidences. These good works, Paul said,
were prepared beforehand for us to walk in them.
So far, Paul
had contrasted two ways of living for us. One way was to walk in sin and the
other is to walk in the good works that God had prepared for us. Let’s be conscious
of the call to walk on the road to glory on God’s highway. And then walk on it resolutely
to reflect that we as an individual and as a community of God, is truly a masterpiece
of His!
No comments:
Post a Comment