THE FREENESS OF GRACE
Quote for Today
“It isn’t Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy. “It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?” “But you shall meet me, dear one,” said Aslan. “Are -are you there too, Sir?” said Edmund. “I am,” said Aslan. “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
- C.S. Lewis
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WORD FROM THE HOLY BIBLE FOR TODAY
Ephesians 2:4–6
“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.”
REFLECTION
GOD MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST
“The decisive act of God in conversion is that he “made us alive together with Christ” even when “we were dead in our trespasses.” In other words, we were dead to God. We were unresponsive; we had no true spiritual taste or interest; we had no spiritual eyes for the beauties of Christ; we were simply dead to all that ultimately matters.
Then God acted — unconditionally — before we could do anything to be fit vessels of his presence. He made us alive. He sovereignly awakened us from the sleep of spiritual death, to see the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). The spiritual senses that were dead, miraculously came to life.
Ephesians 2:4 says that this was an act of “mercy.” That is, God saw us in our deadness and pitied us. God saw the terrible wages of sin leading to eternal death and misery. “God, being rich in mercy . . . made us alive.” And the riches of his mercy overflowed to us in our need. But what is so remarkable about this text is that Paul breaks the flow of his own sentence in order to insert, “by grace you have been saved.” “God . . . made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him.”
Paul is going to say this again in verse 8. So why does he break the flow of his own sentence in order to add it here? What’s more, the focus is on God’s mercy responding to our miserable plight of deadness; so why does Paul go out of his way to say that it is also by grace that we are saved?
I think the answer is that Paul recognizes that here is a perfect opportunity to emphasize the freeness of grace. As he describes our dead condition before conversion, he realizes that dead people can’t meet conditions. If they are to live, there must be a totally unconditional and utterly free act of God to save them. This freedom is the very heart of grace.
What act could be more one-sidedly free and non-negotiated than one person raising another from the dead! This is the meaning of grace.”
- By John Piper. © Desiring God Foundation.
THE FREENESS OF GRACE
GOD MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST
As followers of Jesus, being made alive in Christ means we have been rescued from sin and brought into a new life of grace and purpose. We should reflect on the depth of God's love and mercy, recognizing that our salvation is not by our own works but through His grace (Ephesians 2:4-5). This new life calls us to walk in righteousness, turning away from our old ways and embracing the transformation Christ brings. We are now united with Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and called to live in faith, hope, and love. Our identity is no longer in the world but in Christ, and this truth should shape our thoughts, actions, and daily walk with God.
Neven MacEwan
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your incredible love and mercy that has made us alive together with Christ. We were once lost in sin, but through Your grace, You have given us new life and purpose. Help us to walk in the fullness of this life, leaving behind our old ways and embracing the transformation You bring. Fill our hearts with faith, hope, and love, that we may live each day reflecting Your glory. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to remain steadfast in You, always grateful for the gift of salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Neven MacEwan
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