Sunday, September 6, 1998 This Week’s Lesson:
In this week’s lesson, which came from Ephesians 2:1-10, we learned about the importance of experiencing the life-changing power of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people see themselves as spiritually needy before the Lord, so they try to clean themselves up and make themselves presentable to a holy God. The Apostle Paul, however, in writing to the church at Ephesus, pointed out that we can do nothing without Christ and that we are nothing without Him. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Our despicable ways are a reflection of the thoughts and desires of our wicked heart, and we have all pursued the cravings of that sinful nature and wicked heart. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. God is holy, pure, and righteous. He cannot and will not permit sin to go unchallenged or unpunished.
God loves us and is rich in mercy towards us. He has given us life in Christ even though we are or were dead in our sins and transgressions. But we must still respond to His grace and mercy in order to obtain it. We cannot be passive concerning our salvation and still know the richness of a personal walk with Him. When we put our trust in His finished work at Calvary, the Lord gives us eternal life and abundant life. Most people struggle with the concept of salvation as a free gift because human nature tells us that we must earn it. However, God’s salvation is a free gift to all who will come. We are saved by grace through faith. We cannot earn our position in the Lord. All we can do is accept His free gift to us, and then, we can begin to benefit from a personal relationship with Him. Through Christ, no one has to feel unaccepted or alone. Through Him, we can all have a sense of purpose and direction for our life.
Knowing Christ as Savior brings great benefits, however knowing Him also causes us to have great responsibilities. We are made better and given a sense of peace by the indwelling of His Spirit. But because of these things, we have a God-given responsibility to minister to those around us. Matthew 22:37-39 tells us that we are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul and that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. When these truthes have been ingrained on our heart and in our mind, we will not be able to contain or control the desire within us to tell others. Not everyone preaches or sings or teaches a Sunday School class, but everyone who knows the Lord personally is called to do something. As you go through the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to use you in ways which will bring honor and glory to Him.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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