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Saved by Grace
06/23/2016

Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris

Ephesians 2:1-22 KJV
(1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
(2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
(3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
(5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
(6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
(7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
(11) Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
(12) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
(13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
(14) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
(15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
(16) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
(17) And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
(18) For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
(19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
(20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
(21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
(22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Save through faith but it is by God’s grace. How precious is the love of God who looked down from above and despite our sin seen a people needing salvation. Walking in the fires of darkness in this world absent from God. Walking in a pit of sin and darkness and not always our own sin, but potential sin because of our environment. Yet it was our own sin that alienated us from God. Just being born meant we were in sin. Eventually as we grew the temptation of sin would come upon us children of darken world. Without the light of Jesus to bring us hope we would be covered in darkness. Yet through faith we saved by grace, not of ourselves it is a gift of God. Because of this gift we sit in heavenlies with Christ Jesus. We walk by His Spirit who speaks of things of His Father, who is God, and His Will for each of us. Our sins are washed away by his Son’s death and we brought to life through his victory if we have faith in Him. Because of Christ death and resurrection through faith, we have a right to become children of God, but it always was because of act of love. Yet the act faith causes us to be brought from death to life to sit in the heavenlies. We have a right to climb Jacob’s ladder and yet we still experience the things of this world. The spiritual high of faith comes not by our emotion, but by the spiritual experience of communing with God. Think of the high of Isaiah as he looks at the throne of God or even Ezekiel. Think of the high of John to see his Lord raised up and in his home in heaven, yet John is still flesh of this earth. Are we spiritual translated to heaven, if so it is only to bring hope of our faith we already know? Isaiah was believer long before he seen heaven throne room. Yet he had the right to be their as a child of God.

I do not doubt any president’s children or even the children’s of the monarchs of this world did not walk into the office of their parents. If they needed a parent the parent was there except in special sessions. Yet no doubt the other spouse was usually tending to the children. Yet they access to their parent in office. As children of God through faith in Christ Jesus we have access to the Father. We have access to commune with God. It is not by the flesh we have this ability but by our spirit. As the muck of this world is cleansed from our Spirit, we learn to walk in the purity of God’s light, his Spirit. The same Spirit that convicts us of sin, translates us to speak to God the Father by the Spirit.

How easy it is to sit on the pew of the church being a believer but never communing with God and only giving mindful lip service. It not tell we get serious about our relationship with God that God’s spirit can move freely in our life to change us for his glory. You can not have a relationship with God unless you personally talk to God, no belief and repentance is our only requirement for salvation, but salvation is more then just being free from sin. He called us out to commune with us as believers. God calls us out of sin, to become children of witness of His Spirit, mercy and love. The spiritual high comes through worship and prayer. God’s Spirit gives us confidence to approach the throne of grace and asking of what we have need of and what is going on in our world and what will be before it is. Yet we cannot know the hour of His Son’s return. Jacob’s ladder is not a myth, but reality of the spiritual truth of worship and communication with God the Father in a believers life. Jacob’s vision of the angels descending and ascending into heaven only made the place he slept holy to him. Yet the spiritual truth of what he saw is more clearly understood by God’s children today. Our talks with God should increase our faith, yet no doubt at times there is sluggish feeling of not fully communing with God, perhaps because of silence or sin in our life, that separates us from God, because of lack of our obedience. Yet the communication is there with God by His grace. Faith saves but our sin after being save effects our walk, our talk and our communication with God. When we sin it like we hide from God as Adam and Eve did. Yet it is by God’s saving power that the sin does not cause our death any longer for hope is in Christ. Let us not strive to sin but strive to be holy unto God listening to His Spirit of correction and grace.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for your grace through faith. In Jesus precious name, Amen.