The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-04-10

lie might SIlGW TIE eACeGulIlS
riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us through
Christ Jesus"
-Ephesians 2:7
In EphesianS, chapter two
verses one through ten, we have
picture of mans spiritual state
by nature and a revelation of
Gods grace.
If an individual has not COM
| mitted his life to Jesus Christ,
he is in his natural state, that
is, dead in trespasses and sins
| (Verse one). When one is dead,
he is senseless, useless, and in
a state of corruption. So is one
| spiritually-senseless Che does
not understand the ways OF
God; they do not make sense
to him; they are foolishness to
him, / Corinthians 2:14; there is
the need Of a spiritual rebirth,
John 3:3, 6, ~, useless GOD
cannot use him; in fact he has
no desire to be used of God.),
corrupt lin a state of moral
deterioration; his sense Of right
and wrong is impaired). This
| is evident by the trespasses
(willful, determined acts which
are wrong or evil in Gods sighD
and sins (wrong acts in general,
missing the mark or goal which
God has established for us. Acts
of omission as well as of COM
mission). This applies to all,
''for all have sinned, and come
short of the glory Of God
(Romans 1929.
Because men are spiritually
dead, senseless to God and His
will, they seek an environment,
they live in a sphere where God
is ignored. They find companion
ship among the goddess. They
desire to live by the spirit of
the times. They follow the die
tates Of Satan (whether they
realize it or not) and thus are
slaves to Satan. So their life
is to satisfy the craving of the
fleshly nature, living on the low
level of fleshly passions-carry-
ing out the cravings Of the ap-
petites and the suggestions OF
the mind. So natural birth does
not make men the children of
God; by nature they are the chill
dren of wrath (the word "chil-
dren" tells US that this is by
birth). All of this is found in
verses two and three.
Even though men are dead,
thus living apart from God,
.aving no desire to please God,
, in fact, rebelling against Gods
revealed will, God, motivated by
His great love Where-With He
loved US, has shown an abund-
ance of mercy toward men. He
has sympathy for man in his
sinful state. His heart goes out
to man. GAS l live, saith the
Lord God, l have no pleasure
in the death Of the wicked; but
that the wicked turn from his
way and live" ezekiel 33:1D.
His heart is filled with love for
man (not mans SIM. It is love
that was willing to sacrifice the
best He had to save man from
his lost, ungodly, evil way OF
living, and from a destiny that
could only be eternal damnation
God gave His Son John 3:l6),
Jesus Christ has redeemed us
from the curse of the law
Galatians 3:l3) by taking the
penalty of sin on Himself for
man II Corinthians SID. For
the one who is willing to yield
his life to the Lordship of Christ,
there are untold blessings in
store for him (verSe g.. He be-
comes a joint-heir with Christ
(Romans 8:10. He shall share
in Christ's glory.
The person who accepts Gods
love and mercy will become a
living testimony or display OF
Gods exceeding abundance OF
grace which has been revealed
sin His kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus" (verse y,
Because it is "by grace ye are
saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God" (verse 81. Grace" is
favor shown to one who does
not deserve it. 1t is an express
sion of true love. Gods grace
has provided salvation. 1t is {
| gift; it is offered to one with
out q price tag on it. 1t is all
paid for. All he has to do is tc
accept it, claim it as his own
The sinner exercises faith, anc
only faith, and takes what Goo
has offered in Jesus Christ
salvation from the penalty ot
sin and the power of sin, anc
the hope of eternitv with God
| When a man is willing to con.
fess Jesus Christ as his Lord anc
Saviour, he becomes Gods work.
manship, handiwork, master
piece, a new creation (II Corin
thians SID TO do works that are
pleasing to God.
Truly, the Christian has much
to praise God for. The riches o.
His grace is at our DISPOSAL. Thi.
praise should not only be ex
pressed with our lips. but by
our every day living as wei
II I n.0