Sacrifice, salvation and ‘amazing Grace’
Ephesians 2: 8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
If there ever was a couple of verses that say it all, it’s right here. We need to remind ourselves often that we are saved by Grace, not by merit, not by heredity, and not by being good or by doing good!
The gospel of “self help” is a popular gospel today, but it’s not working. The only thing that it’s producing is a lot of financial success to those who sell it. The problem is that we’re told that by our human will we can improve ourselves. May I remind you that if I can save myself, I wouldn’t need Jesus! He died in vain if I can please God on my own.
The fact is that a loving and Holy God chose to send His Son to suffer for sin rather than inflict suffering on us. Why He did it and how He did it are what is so amazing about it. It really is amazing Grace! This is the faith part of the equation. It was all done before you and I were born. God accomplished it without the help of a committee or a denomination. It was His sovereign will and His action on our behalf that produced Ephesians 2: 8&9. You and I are saved by what God has done for us!
Grace covers all that Christ did for us at the cross and still does for us thought the Holy Spirit! It is God’s heart toward me. I did not deserve his response.
God is outgoing toward us. It’s described well in the story of the Prodigal, Luke 15:20, “While he was yet afar off his father saw him, and was moved with compassion and ran, fell on his neck and kissed him! Pig pen smell and all. That’s the God of the Bible. He is merciful and full of Grace and Truth!
Jesus was full of Grace. He was gracious to women, children, the sick, the poor, the crippled, the widows, and the rich. His purpose was to destroy the works of the devil by showing us what God is like.
Jesus loved mankind and gets close to mankind. That’s the way God is and He proved it at the cross. How much does God love me? Romans 8:32, “He that spared not His own Son, But delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with him also freely give us all things?”
I am saved because God wants me saved! I could never qualify on my own. It’s given to me on the basis of a strong character reference. Jesus of Nazareth. He endorses me. John 5:24, “He that hears My Word … and believes… has eternal life and does not come into judgement!”
Christ the savior was God’s idea, His plan — not some religious promotion. Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. God has always been like this. He was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
John 1:12, “As many as received Him.” God can handle any run on the bank of Heaven. He yearns for us to tap our assets. He’s waiting for us to enjoy it. The picture is complete. Whether you accept or reject doesn’t change God’s plan, but I’ll tell you this from personal testimony as well as Paul, you can never be satisfied until you are satisfied in Jesus.
Pastor JR Damiani is senior pastor at Family Worship Center in Towamencin.