Christian Boylove Forum

And now for the good news


Submitted by Jules on March 07 2000 13:56:16

Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
9 not by works, so that no-one can boast.
10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.


Questions for meditation (from Crossway Bible Study Guides)

  • What exactly are ‘the desires of our flesh’? Does Paul particularly have sexual desires in mind here?

  • Think of the four things which motivated God (his great love for us, his mercy, his grace and his kindness). Are these things which only God can show, or can we show them too?

  • Paul says that we are ‘seated with Christ in the heavenly realms’. Do we just have to believe that this is true and look forward to experiencing it, or can we really experience it now? How?

  • Do you carry around burdens and memories of past sins which still cause you pain, or experiences of rejection which still make you feel unloved? How does this passage help you?

  • Do we have to work hard to discover the ‘good works’ God has prepared for us, or will we find them automatically, without trying?



    ‘Remember who you are!’


    With love,

    Jules


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