When we think of the grace of God, our minds are generally drawn to the great passage in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." This passage becomes much more alive when we look at the context and see how Paul tells of the "amazing grace" that brought salvation to the Ephesians and will bring it to us as well. Just as was done in Romans and in the case of his own salvation, Paul begins with man’s sinful condition without God. That is where we shall begin this study. References are from Ephesians 2 unless otherwise noted.

I. HE TELLS OF OUR SINFULNESS. (1-3)

He begins by saying, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1). One who is dead is destitute of life. Metaphorically, a dead person is one who is destitute of a life that recognizes God because he is given up to trespasses and sins. His sins have separated him from God: "Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear" (Isa 59:1-2). It was because of Adam’s sin that he was separated from God. He had fellowship with Him, but that fellowship was severed by sin and he died spiritually when he violated God’s law. We, too, are separated from God because of our sin. We are dead in sin. The reason is stated in verse 2: "In which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience." The Gentiles were sinners because they walked like the devil wanted them to walk. That describes all mankind.

There is a spirit from Satan that is working in those who are in disobedience to God. Now it is interesting that Paul discusses the Gentiles and the Jews in this passage just as he does in the letter to the Romans. Notice the emphasis in verse one: "you." In verse three as he brings in the Jews to show their sinfulness as well. "Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Eph 2:3). Because of their living by the lusts of the flesh and indulging in the desires of the flesh, the Jews were in the same boat with the Gentiles--dead in sin. Therefore, all — Jew and Gentile alike — were lost in sin.

The tragedy of being lost is seen in verses 11-12: "Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ‘Uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘Circumcision,’ which is performed in the flesh by human hands — remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."

In particular notice the condition of sinners: "having no hope and without God in the world." That’s where we are when we are in sin. We have no hope; we are of all men most miserable! We cry out with Paul, "O wretched man that I am..." What can be done to relieve such a tragic situation? There is an answer and it is given in our text.

II. "BUT GOD..."

What fantastic words to hear! I was lost and undone, "but God..." I was without hope, "but God..." I was doomed to eternity in hell, "but God..." What a burden is lifted! What inner peace is our because God has entered into the picture. Just look at some of the marvelous attributes of God.

1. "Rich in mercy." Mercy is "kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to help them." Mercy withholds the punishment that man deserves. God’s mercy withholds punishment from those who turn to Him by faith, but it is much more as we shall see. Observe Paul’s statement that God is "rich in mercy." God has an abundance of mercy. "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" (Rom 11:33).

2. "Great love" (v. 4). The greatness of His love is seen in Rom. 5.6-8: "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." His great love reached down from Heaven and gave us His son in order that our sins might be forgiven so that we can go to Heaven.

3. "Surpassing riches of His grace" (v. 7). "so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Paul does not simply say that God has grace. He speaks of the "surpassing riches of His grace." Nothing can surpass the riches of the grace of God. This reminds me of the wonderful expression of God’s power in Eph. 3.20: "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us." Grace gives us what we do not deserve. Observe Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." We earn death as the wages of our sin. But by God’s grace we have a free gift. That free gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus. That gift is by the goodness of another: our God.

It is not merely that God has grace. He is abundantly benevolent in the outpouring of that grace. Paul expresses it in this way: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us" (Eph. 1.7-8a). God has "lavished" this grace upon us. A wealthy man married a younger woman. For her wedding gift, he have her a Mercedes sports car, a fur coat, ornate jewelry and then told her she could have whatever she wanted. That is "lavishing." But God has lavished something on us far more valuable — His grace. It is freely available to all. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Rom 8:32).

4. "Kindness" (v. 7). God’s kindness is shown to us in Christ Jesus. This is much like the "lovingkindness" of God that is seen in the Old Testament. The use of chesed in the Hebrew text helps us understand God’s kindness today. David used this word in Psalm 25:6-7: "Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your lovingkindness remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O LORD." Especially consider Ps. 103:8-13. "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness ... For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him." Numerous other Old Testament passages are very helpful in understanding God’s lovingkindness, but this is sufficient for now. It is His lovingkindness that removes our sins as we come to Him by faith. The fact is that God cares for you! You are important! God acted for you! Praise Him!

III. HOW ARE WE SAVED?

Does all of this mean that man is saved just because of God’s grace without any action on man's part? No, God demands an acceptance of His grace. In fact, this is so stated in verses 8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." We can well say that grace is God’s part in our salvation and that faith is man's part. We must accept God’s grace by faith. This means that we not only believe God (Heb. 11.6), but that we believe Jesus as well (Rom. 10-9-10). We believe that God raised Jesus and that Jesus is Lord of our lives. We believe whatever Jesus teaches as to our salvation. This means that we believe what He said in the great commission concerning what we must do to be saved. He said, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16). Being saved by grace does not rule out our accepting the forgiveness of our sins in baptism (Acts 2.38). In fact, our rejection of God’s requirements would rule out His grace.

A look at the Ephesians and their salvation helps us understand this. They were saved by grace. In being saved by grace, it was necessary for them to hear the gospel (Eph. 1:13). It was essential that they believe (Eph. 1:13). When Paul went to Ephesus to preach, his message demanded repentance (Acts 20:21). Not only this, but as a result of Paul’s preaching, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5). Yet, they were saved by grace. In being saved by grace, we, too, must believe, repent and be baptized. It is in baptism that our sins are forgiven by His grace. Our responsibility after this is to walk in the good works which God has ordained. (Eph. 2:10).

IV. THE BLESSINGS OF BEING SAVED BY GRACE

Numerous blessings come into our lives when we are saved by grace. Look at the word "saved." We were lost in sin, but God saved us by His grace (v. 5). We were dead in our sins, but God "made us alive" in Christ (v. 5). He "raised us up with Him" (v. 6). We are raised up with Him from the waters of baptism to walk a new life (Rom. 6.4-5). How wonderful! We are not left in the filth and mire of the devil’s hog-pen — we are raised with Him! Not only this, but now we are "seated with Him in the heavenlies" (v. 6). This means that we now have fellowship with Jesus. We are seated at His table and partake of all the blessings that He has in store for us (Eph. 1:3). Oh, the wonders of His grace. May our looking at Ephesians 2 help us to appreciate His grace much more and to seek to walk in the good works which He has ordained for us (v. 10).

Forrest D. Moyer