The Law of Moses with its 613 commands was good, but it only served as a schoolmaster teaching us our need for grace. Even though all of us are guilty of breaking God’s laws, God didn’t want us to die in our sins because He loved us (2 Peter 3:9).

When Jesus came to earth He revealed to us God’s grace and truth. Grace and truth are not opposed to each other but are rather two sides of God’s love (John 1:17). God loved us enough to tell us the truth that we are sinners and He loved us enough to give us grace to forgive all our sins.

Therefore, when Jesus came and fulfilled the law of Moses and enacted a new covenant with His blood it gave us what the law could never give; a new spiritual life (Romans 8:3-4). Now by the grace of God, both Jew and Gentile (non-Jew), can be forgiven of their sins, saved from death and reborn in the image of Jesus.

Ephesians 1:3-14, “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

FOURTEEN THINGS PAUL WAS THANKFUL TO GOD FOR:

  1. Blessed with Every Spiritual Blessing, (v. 3).
  2. Chosen to be Holy & Blameless, (v. 4).
  3. Adoption to Sonship, (v. 5).
  4. Glorious Grace, (v. 6).
  5. Redemption & Forgiveness, (v. 7).
  6. Lavished with Wisdom & Understanding, (v. 8).
  7. Knowing God’s Mysterious Will, (v. 9).
  8. Unified with Christ, (v. 10).
  9. God’s Plan, (v. 11).
  10. Made to Praise God’s Glory, (v. 12).
  11. The Gospel, (v. 13a).
  12. Marked & Sealed by the Holy Spirit, (v. 13b).
  13. Guaranteed Inheritance, (v. 14a).
  14. God’s Possession, (v. 14b).

DEFINITIONS

  1. GRACE DEFINED: Grace, “charis” in Greek, means; “God’s unmerited favor and kindness displayed in saving and empowering the believer to live for Jesus and experience the fullness of His blessings in Christ.” G.R.A.C.E, “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”
  2. PAUL’S USAGE OF GRACE: He used the term, “charis” 100x in his thirteen letters and 12x in Ephesians.

GRACE IN EPHESIANS

  1. Ephesians 1:2, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
  2. Ephesians 1:5-7, “5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
  3. Ephesians 2:5-9, “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 is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
  4. Ephesians 3:2, “Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you.”
  5. Ephesians 3:7-8, “7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.”
  6. Ephesians 4:7, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
  7. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV), “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
  8. Ephesians 6:24, “Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”

THREE REASONS WHY GOD’S GRACE IS GLORIOUS

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us…

  1. IT’S FREELY GIVEN IN JESUS: Jesus paid for our grace with His blood (Rev. 5:9-10).
  2. IT’S RICH IN FORGIVENESS: God’s grace never runs out and is always available.
  3. IT’S LAVISHED ON US: Literally God the Father showers us with His grace by the Holy Spirit because of Jesus.

You’ll never appreciate God’s glorious grace until you realize how much you need it.