September 12, 2021 – Ephesians 1-3

All over the world, we find people trying to work their way to God. Isn’t it so good to read: “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” (1:11-14).

We once followed “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (2:2), but no longer, because God, “being rich in mercy . . . made us alive together in Christ” (2:4,5). Furthermore, Paul writes about a mystery, i.e., “that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (3:6). That’s us! The promise that was given, generations ago to the fathers of Israel, is now ours, also. The “unsearchable riches of Christ” (3:8) are ours! Christ now dwells in our hearts through faith (3:17), and now, we are able “to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, (3:18-19). Oh, such good news!

Some day the silver cord will break,

And I no more as now shall sing;

But oh, the joy when I shall wake

Within the palace of the King!

And I shall see Him face to face,

And tell the story—-Saved by grace;

And I shall see Him face to face,

And tell the story—-Saved by grace. –Fanny Crosby (1891)