God's Amazing Grace

God’s Amazing Grace

Eph. 2:1-8

As I think of the great hymn of the church, “Amazing Grace”, I am reminded of one of my favorite passages of scripture found in Ephesians 2:1-8. Paul writes to the church at Ephesus to remind them of God’s Amazing Grace! You know, racial inequality and prejudice have always been a part of the fallen human condition called sin. It manifests itself in many forms, but in the 1st century church it was in the form of prejudice between Jews and Gentiles. Paul reminds the church that we are all recipients of God’s Amazing Grace. I believe that people of every age need to be reminded of this Amazing Grace of God. I want you to consider today 3 important points about God’s Amazing Grace:

1. GOD’S AMAZING GRACE SAVES FROM SIN:

In verses 1-5 of our text, the apostle Paul reminds the Christians at Ephesus that they have been saved from a life of sin and shame! How quickly we all forget that where we are now is not where we’ve always been. In our country today, there are many who have forgotten the dismal legacy of racial inequality and prejudice that permeated the fabric of our great land. Remembering God’s Amazing Grace will cause us all to consider that we have been delivered from the sin and shame of our past. Perhaps John Newton was contemplating this very thing when he penned the words to the great hymn “Amazing Grace”. He went from being a slave trader to becoming a convert of Christ because of God’s Amazing Grace and now he declares, “I once was lost but now I’m found; was blind but now I see”. I believe that each of us should reflect on where we were at a certain point in life before the amazing grace of God saved us from sin!

2. GOD’S AMAZING GRACE SAVES US ALL OF US:

It is interesting that Paul uses a definite tone of inclusiveness as he writes this letter to the church at Ephesus. In verse 4-6 he uses the word “us” repeatedly not only referring to Jew and Gentile Christians in that age but for all people who love the Lord. Across the racial divide in our country, the church has been the one place where all people could stand united in a common faith that God’s Amazing Grace is for ALL people. William Wilberforce understood this about God’s Grace and it inspired him to be a champion for freedom and justice to untold masses being held in the bondage of slavery during his lifetime. Each generation faces the challenges of oppression and injustice. We need more people like Wilberforce, Gandhi, M.L. King, Mandela, and Mother Theresa who are inspired by the Amazing Grace of God to stand for freedom and justice. Each of us must continue to champion the cause for freedom and justice in our area of influence as we consider God’s Amazing Grace that “has raised us up together to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”

3. GOD’S AMAZING GRACE SAVES THROUGH FAITH:

Paul tells the Christians of his era that intolerance and prejudice have no place among the people of God! Today, we must continue to proclaim this message for ours and future generations. We should recognize that we are all the recipients of God’s Amazing Grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul emphasizes the fact that none of us have the ability to save ourselves. We were all slaves to the bondage of sin, but God’s Amazing Grace through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross, liberated us and gave us freedom! Realize today that through faith in Christ we not only have freedom from sin but we have been set free to be “His workmanship” – that is a living testament to the power of a changed life through God’s Amazing Grace!

God give us a choice today, we may choose to remain enslaved to sin and shame or by faith and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ take advantage of God’s Amazing Grace. I hope you’ll choose wisely as we together stand and sing!

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