WHEN GOD BECOMES 100% FOR US
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WORD FROM THE HOLY BIBLE FOR TODAY
Ephesians 2:3
“. . . 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.”
REFLECTION
IF GOD IS FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?
“All of God’s wrath, all of the condemnation we deserve, was poured out on Jesus. All of God’s demands for perfect righteousness were fulfilled by Christ. The moment we see (by grace!) this Treasure, and receive him in this way, his death counts as our death and his condemnation as our condemnation and his righteousness as our righteousness, and God becomes 100% irrevocably for us forever in that instant.
The question this leaves unanswered is, “Doesn’t the Bible teach that in eternity God set his favor on us in election?”
In other words, thoughtful people ask, “Did God only become 100% for us in the moment of faith and union with Christ and justification? Did he not become 100% for us in the act of election before the foundation of the world?” Paul says in Ephesians 1:4–5, “[God] chose us in [Jesus] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ.”
Is God then not 100% for the elect from eternity? The answer hangs on the meaning of “100%.”
With the term “100%” I am trying to preserve a biblical truth found in several passages of Scripture. For example, in Ephesians 2:3, Paul says that Christians were “children of wrath” before they were made alive in Christ Jesus: “We all once lived [among the sons of disobedience] 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.”
Paul is saying that, before our new birth — before we were made alive together with Christ — God’s wrath was on us. The elect were under wrath. This changed when God made us alive in Christ Jesus and awakened us to see the truth and beauty of Christ so that we received him as the one who died for us and as the one whose righteousness is counted as ours because of our union with Jesus. Before this happened to us, we were under God’s wrath. Then, because of faith in Christ and union with him, all God’s wrath was removed and he then became, in that sense, 100% for us.
Therefore, exult in the truth that God will keep you. He will get you to the end because in Christ he is 100% for you. And therefore, getting to the end does not make God to be 100% for you. It is the effect of the fact that he is already 100% for you.”
- By John Piper. © Desiring God Foundation.
WHEN GOD BECOMES 100% FOR US
IF GOD IS FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?
Ephesians 2:3 is a powerful reminder of where we once were and the incredible grace God has shown us. Here are some key takeaways and how to apply them in your daily life: 1. Stay Humble and Grateful for God’s Mercy • Reflection: We were once lost, enslaved by our sinful desires, but God, in His mercy, rescued us. • Application: Never take salvation for granted. Let gratitude fuel your worship, prayers, and service to God. 2. Remember That Sin is Deceptive and Destructive • Reflection: The desires of the flesh once controlled us, leading to separation from God. • Application: Be vigilant. Guard your heart, mind, and actions against sinful temptations. Regularly seek God’s strength to walk in holiness. 3. Live in the New Identity Christ Has Given You • Reflection: Though we were once "children of wrath," we are now redeemed and made new in Christ. • Application: Walk in the truth of your new identity. Let your thoughts, words, and actions reflect the transformation God has worked in you. 4. Extend Grace and Compassion to Others • Reflection: Just as God had mercy on us, He desires that we show mercy to others still trapped in sin. • Application: Love others with patience and grace, remembering that you were once where they are. Share the Gospel with humility and compassion. 5. Keep Your Focus on God, Not the World • Reflection: The world promotes living according to the flesh, but as followers of Christ, we are called to live by the Spirit. • Application: Prioritize God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. Seek His will daily, resisting the pull of worldly distractions.
Neven MacEwan
Heavenly Father, I come before You in humility, fully aware of where I once was—lost in my sin, bound by the desires of my flesh, and separated from You. Yet in Your great mercy, You did not leave me there. You reached down with love beyond measure and rescued me from the darkness. You called me Your own, not because of anything I have done, but because of Your amazing grace. Thank You, Father! Lord, I know that sin is always lurking, trying to pull me back into the ways of the world. But I do not belong to the world—I belong to You! Strengthen me, God, to resist the temptations of my flesh. Let me not be deceived by the fleeting pleasures of sin but instead be filled with a deep hunger for righteousness. Create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Father, help me walk boldly in the new life You have given me. Remind me daily that I am no longer a child of wrath, but a child of grace, loved and chosen by You. Let my thoughts, my words, and my actions reflect the transformation You have worked in me. Fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit so that I may live in holiness and truth. And Lord, just as You have shown me mercy, help me to extend that same mercy to others. Give me a heart of compassion for those who are still lost. Let me not judge them harshly, but instead, love them as You love them. Open doors for me to share the Gospel, and when I speak, let it be with grace, wisdom, and truth. Keep my eyes fixed on You, Father. The world tries to distract me, to pull my heart away from You, but I surrender all to You. Align my desires with Your will. Let me crave what is holy and despise what is sinful. Let my life be a living testimony to Your redeeming power. I need You, Lord—every moment, every breath. Be my strength, be my guide, be my everything. I give myself to You completely, for Your glory alone. In the mighty and precious name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Neven MacEwan
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