Reviewing Ephesians 2

by Mitchell Tan
January 22, 2020

DEEP APPRECIATION FOR OUR PERSONAL SALVATION IN CHRIST

We who love the Lord should have a greater sense of gratitude to God for our salvation in Christ. It is such an amazing thing to understand in a deeper way how we have been saved by His great grace. The apostle Paul took time to remember the pre-salvation state that we were in before.

1. REMEMBERING OUR PRE-SALVATION STATUS

“Who were dead in trespasses and sins”
Ephesians 2:1

There was a time when we were dead in sins and trespasses. It was such a state of sin and corruption that there was no way that we could get out of it by our own doing. No spiritual stimulus was able to touch or move our heart. We were completely controlled by the evil one and were dead to anything spiritual. We were totally unable to save ourselves. Yet, the Lord extended His exceedingly great grace to us.

2. DEEPLY APPRECIATING OUR NEW SPIRITUAL STATUS IN CHRIST

“For by grace you have been saved through faith”
Ephesians 2:8

It is only by His great mercy, love and grace that we are made spiritually alive together with Christ. It is truly touching to see that it takes so much of God and who He is to save all of us; to save sinners like us. It was not “a walk in the park” for God to save us. It took His great love, His great mercy and the exceeding riches of His grace to save mankind through Christ. It is by means of faith that we are now having the spiritual privilege of being raised up and are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. We are now His workmanship created for His glory. Let’s be deeply thankful to God for His great love and grace extended to us, for saving dreadful sinners like us.

DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD

Another thing that we should deeply appreciate because of our salvation in Christ is that we now belong to the family of God.

1. REMEMBERING WHEN THE GENTILES WERE NOT PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD

“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh”
Ephesians 2:11

There was a time when Gentiles were not part of the family of God. They were far from Him and were strangers from the covenant of promise. And there was this hostility between the Jews and the Gentiles because of the ordinances of the laws of Moses. Christ was the one who brought about a deep sense of peace between God and them and between the Jews and the rest of the world. He broke down the middle wall of separation and reconciled the Jews and Gentiles through the cross. Both now have access by one Spirit to the Father.

2. BEING GRATEFUL TO BELONG TO THE FAMILY OF GOD

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”
Ephesians 2:19

Our heart should be deeply thankful for the privilege of being part of the kingdom of God. We are now part of His household. We belong to God and His family; together with Jesus as the chief cornerstone and the apostles and prophets as its foundation. In Christ, all of us are now fitted together and are being built together as His people in the Spirit. We can have a deep sense of bond with each other in Christ. What a joy and privilege to be part of God’s family … Bethany!

CELEBRATING CHINESE NEW YEAR TOGETHER AS A FAMILY OF GOD

As we celebrate CNY with our physical family and relatives, let’s also seek to celebrate CNY as a spiritual family. On the 1st of February, we will be having our combined fellowship groups CNY special. Let’s come and celebrate together as a Church. Let’s invite our loved ones and friends to come that they may hear of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wishing every one a blessed Chinese New Year!

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