GRACE UPON GRACE

GOD’S GRACE

Eph. 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

I am starting a study of the book of Ephesians and seem to be stuck in the opening verses of this majestic book. Paul is consumed with the grace of God. Ever since that first taste of God’s grace on the road to Damascus he has been hopelessly captured by the grace of God. Like he exclaimed in 1 Corinthians, “By the grace of God I am what I am”. God’s grace chased him down, converted him, transformed him into the foremost apostle and author of much of the New Testament, sustained him, empowered him, and helped him finish his race with joy. As I reflect on this verse in the beginning of Ephesians these are some of the thoughts I have racing through my head.

1. GRACE ATTRACTS US — THE LOST ARE UNINTERESTED IN GOD

Gal. 1:15 ¶ But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,

It was the attraction of God’s grace that captured Paul. Actually, it is the grace of God that captures all of us. How else could I explain my sudden ravenous hunger for God that began at my conversion in the summer of 1973.

2. GRACE CONVERTS US — WE BECOME A NEW CREATURE – A NEW CREATION

2Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

We are recreated by the grace of God. Salvation is more than a makeover. We are not the people we used to be. The old is gone and the new has come. We are born again.

3. GRACE TRANSFORMS US

2Cor. 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

More than forgiveness happens when we become Christians, total transformation becomes our story. There is an instant, immediate change but that is not where it ends. We step into this grace upon grace life. We begin a life of continual, supernatural metamorphosis by the grace of God. This change will not be complete until we step into the life to come.

4. GRACE SATISFIES US — WE DRINK FROM THE CUP OF GRACE AND WE ARE FILLED

John 1:16 ¶ And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

All throughout our lives we look high and low for something to complete our life. Is it another person, a career, an accomplishment we need to complete our lives? Maybe it is a possession or winning the lottery. Actually none of these things will make us happy for very long. That is the final accomplishment of grace in our lives. Grace makes God and His goodness real to us. Drinking from this cup of grace will complete and satisfy you more than you can ever imagine.