Hello, beloved listeners. I'm Pastor Loren Christensen of Danish Countryside Chapel in Exira, Iowa. It warms my heart to gather with you once again for another edition of "A Word from the Vine." Today, I want to revisit the recent sermon we shared on our YouTube channel, "The Call to Good Works and the Peril of Self-Righteousness," specifically focusing on the profound depths of God's grace as illuminated in Ephesians 2:4-5.
Now, the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, paints a vivid picture of our spiritual state before encountering God's grace. He begins with a stark truth, a reality we might not often confront: we were dead in our transgressions and sins. It's a stark declaration, isn't it? But the beauty lies in what comes next.
Let's turn our attention to Ephesians 2:4-5: "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."
"But God." Two simple words that change everything. These words usher us into the boundless depths of God's grace, revealing a love so profound that it reaches us in our spiritually lifeless state. Imagine, friends, a love so vast that it extends beyond our failures, beyond our brokenness, and brings us into the embrace of mercy.
Consider the contrast presented here: dead in our sins, yet God, in His richness of mercy and vast love, chose to make us alive with Christ. It's not something we earned; it's not a reward for our goodness. No, it's a gift—pure grace.
Reflect on a time when you felt the weight of your own shortcomings, the awareness of your transgressions. It's in those moments that the "but God" in your life becomes a beacon of hope, an assurance that your story doesn't end in sin and separation but is rescued by grace.
This grace, dear friends, is not a mere abstraction. It's personal; it's intimate. It's the gentle whisper that reaches into the depths of our souls, saying, "You are loved. You are forgiven. You are made alive in Christ."
Now, let's bring this truth closer to home. Consider the story of John Newton, the author of the beloved hymn "Amazing Grace." Newton, a former slave trader, experienced the transformative power of God's grace. In the depths of his own transgressions, he encountered the mercy that made him alive in Christ.
As we ponder the depths of grace, let's allow it to resonate in our lives. Your past mistakes, your deepest regrets—these do not define you. God's grace defines you. It reaches into the darkest corners of your heart and breathes life, just as it did for Newton and countless others throughout history.
So, my dear friends, let the truth of Ephesians 2:4-5 be a wellspring of gratitude in your hearts. In the depths of God's grace, we find redemption, restoration, and a love that surpasses all understanding.
May you carry this grace with you today, knowing that you are truly alive in Christ. Until next time, this is Pastor Loren with "A Word from the Vine." God's grace be with you.
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