Ephesians 2:4-9 - God Keeps Us

Todaywe're looking at Ephesians chapter 2:1-9. In these first three verses, we findthat sin works against us. I believe you could summarize all nine of theseverses with Romans 6:23: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God iseternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Yes, sin works against us, butmy friend, God works for us. And, “…If God be for us, who can be against us?”(Romans 8:31). God has great love. He's rich in His mercy! (v.4).  In verse five, we see He's made us alivetogether with Christ. And also in verse 6, He has raised us up to sit together withChrist in the heavenly places. He's exalted us in Christ.  Everything'sin Christ. I've underlined it in my notes, in Christ and throughChrist. It's all because of Jesus. The gift of God is eternal life throughJesus Christ our Lord. So, not only has He loved us, but He’s also made usalive. He's exalted us. He keeps us, we see this in verses 7-9. Yes,God also keeps us. We believe the Scripture definitely teaches we have eternallife. And when we have eternal life in Christ Jesus, it's a life that willnever leave us. He is eternal. Because of that, His life lives within us. It'snot our life. We didn't save ourselves. We're not saved by works of our ownrighteousness, but according to His mercy, His grace, He saved us. Grace issomething we did not merit. We deserve death. And I love that verse in Romans5:8. “But God commended, He manifested His love toward us. And that while wewere yet sinners, Christ died for us”.  That'sthe riches of His grace in Christ Jesus. He died for us. The church at Ephesuswas a persecuted church. That's why Paul wrote chapter six of this letter tothe church there, reminding them that we don't wrestle with flesh and blood butwith principalities and powers”. Remember, as you read Acts 19, there waspersecution going on even as Paul was in process of leaving the city. And theysought to beat him and to destroy him and to kill him. And yet God protectedhim as he left the city with a great group of believers loving the Lord, livingfor Christ.  Jesuspromised His believers, "You will suffer persecution." He said,"They hated me, they'll hate you." Just because now the Christians inAmerica are facing ridicule and persecution and trials and we're seeing ithappen, we forget that was the norm of the church through the centuries. Matterof fact, in many countries today, we're finding that the persecuted church andthose who are dying for the name of Jesus Christ is the greatest it's ever beenin Christian history. We were just in Egypt and there we were with the CopticChristians in several locations, and we remember just a few years ago 21 ofthese believers had their heads cut off because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Myfriend, today God wants to encourage us. You might be lonely today. You mightbe tired today. You might be weary today. You might feel opposition today. Youmight not feel like trying to take another step as a believer and living forJesus today. You need to remember God works for you. He cares for you. He lovesyou. He has mercy and grace for you today. He will make you alive in Christ. Hehas exalted you and you should remember you're seated in the heavenly places inChrist. And our citizenship is not on earth. Philippians chapter 3, but it's inheaven with Him. We're just pilgrims passing through and oh, we have somethinggreat and awesome to look forward to.  Butwe can enjoy heaven on earth right now in Jesus Christ. And that's what Godwants us to know. We are not trying to work for our salvation. It's a donedeal. Jesus did the work already for us on the cross of Calvary. All we can dois receive. Oh, today make sure that you believe, you receive, you trust, andyou take these words to heart.  Godwants you to be encouraged today with these words, and I trust that you are,too.  Godbless!