New life

This morning my Bible reading took me to Ephesians chapter 2. There are verses in this chapter that changed my life.

I had grown up in church. My German name, Loeffelbein may give a hint to which denomination we belonged to, Lutheran. Lutherans are very Bible focused. The Liturgy is filled with quotes from the Bible so I don’t know how I missed the very center of Lutheran theology, that we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works, not by piling up good deeds. But I missed it somehow. I was convinced that God was mad at me for my sins and I had to earn my way back into his favor by doing good deeds and avoid his wrath and anger by not doing bad deeds. I was wrong. This chapter in Ephesians slays that thought process, completely undoing a salvation by works mentality.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:8-10.

Jesus death on the cross paid for my sins. Completely totally wiped away my debt. Some say it like this. Jesus + nothing = salvation.

I am completely saved by my faith in Jesus, what he accomplished on the cross. His last words were, “it is finished“.
Then he gave up his spirit. 3 days later he rose from the dead and is alive forever.

Where are you on your spiritual journey? Are you where I was, trying to earn your way into God’s favor and pleading for mercy, doubting you will ever measure up?

Later in chapter 2 of Ephesians there is more encouragement for us.

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Jesus said it was finished, he meant for all humans drawing breath, our debt for the sins we have committed has been paid and we now have access to God our father. We are accepted into God’s family through Jesus death and given new life through his resurrection.

My hope is that this gives you hope. That you will accept God’s gift to you of the sacrifice of his son to pay for all of your sins, our sins.

We are saved by grace. Grace is God’s unmerited favor, a favor we do not, cannot deserve. It is a gift. Will you receive God’s gift of forgiveness and adoption today?

I hope so.