But God being rich in mercy… (Part 4)
Ephesians2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
We find in Daniel 4:28-37 the story of Nebuchadnezzar. God judged him for his pride and refusal to acknowledge God as the source of his position and power. God placed him into a state anyone would judge as insane. He remained that way until God restored him to his right mind.
In verse 35 he says “And no one can ward off His hand”. This was the most powerful man in the world yet he was unable to control or resist God’s actions. He is sovereign.
What does this have to do with the scripture at hand? Much. This story illustrates the regeneration of Ephesians 2. This is the point. Even when we were dead we were made alive. We couldn’t change our state neither could we resist the change. In much the same manner when Nebuchadnezzar was given back his sanity there is no way he would or could have chosen to go back into his insanity.
But God being rich in mercy…this is the reason behind your salvation if you belong to Christ. Not your superior intellect, your wiser decision making, not your expansive cranial cavity. No it is all of God, nothing from within you.
This doctrine is extremely important. It will affect your view of everything in scripture and in this world. It will either be God centered or man centered. God the Father purposed your salvation from eternity past, the Son accomplished your redemption on the cross validated by His resurrection, and The Holy Spirit has applied that salvation to your soul. Christ died particularly for His elect. And if it is His work it is finished. There is no chance that you can mess it up. This is the real rest that God speaks of in Hebrews 3 and 4.
God’s sovereignty is responsible for your salvation. It is because of His great mercy and compassion exercised toward us. God deserves all of the glory honor and praise for your salvation.
Isaiah 42:8"I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.
It doesn’t end there. God brought from death into life for a purpose. We
are not saved by any good works even those God has prepared for us in
eternity past [Ephesians 2:10]. This is all the work of God.
You do not have to understand God’s sovereignty to get saved. But
afterwards looking back at the how and why it certainly puts a different
perspective on the act of salvation unto eternal life.
Now go forth and do these good works that God has prepared for you. It
is to share the love of God with others. The Holy Spirit is shed aboard
in our hearts not so that we can keep it to our selves. God always uses
means to accomplish His sovereign will. The question really is will you
obey God and live a life that brings glory and honor to His name? His
will is accomplished with or without our cooperation. Where man rules
God overrules!
Ephesians2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
We find in Daniel 4:28-37 the story of Nebuchadnezzar. God judged him for his pride and refusal to acknowledge God as the source of his position and power. God placed him into a state anyone would judge as insane. He remained that way until God restored him to his right mind.
In verse 35 he says “And no one can ward off His hand”. This was the most powerful man in the world yet he was unable to control or resist God’s actions. He is sovereign.
What does this have to do with the scripture at hand? Much. This story illustrates the regeneration of Ephesians 2. This is the point. Even when we were dead we were made alive. We couldn’t change our state neither could we resist the change. In much the same manner when Nebuchadnezzar was given back his sanity there is no way he would or could have chosen to go back into his insanity.
But God being rich in mercy…this is the reason behind your salvation if you belong to Christ. Not your superior intellect, your wiser decision making, not your expansive cranial cavity. No it is all of God, nothing from within you.
This doctrine is extremely important. It will affect your view of everything in scripture and in this world. It will either be God centered or man centered. God the Father purposed your salvation from eternity past, the Son accomplished your redemption on the cross validated by His resurrection, and The Holy Spirit has applied that salvation to your soul. Christ died particularly for His elect. And if it is His work it is finished. There is no chance that you can mess it up. This is the real rest that God speaks of in Hebrews 3 and 4.
God’s sovereignty is responsible for your salvation. It is because of His great mercy and compassion exercised toward us. God deserves all of the glory honor and praise for your salvation.
Isaiah 42:8"I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.
It doesn’t end there. God brought from death into life for a purpose. We
are not saved by any good works even those God has prepared for us in
eternity past [Ephesians 2:10]. This is all the work of God.
You do not have to understand God’s sovereignty to get saved. But
afterwards looking back at the how and why it certainly puts a different
perspective on the act of salvation unto eternal life.
Now go forth and do these good works that God has prepared for you. It
is to share the love of God with others. The Holy Spirit is shed aboard
in our hearts not so that we can keep it to our selves. God always uses
means to accomplish His sovereign will. The question really is will you
obey God and live a life that brings glory and honor to His name? His
will is accomplished with or without our cooperation. Where man rules
God overrules!
sherman
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