The Free Gift of Grace
SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 2:1–10 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked,
following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is
now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our
flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,
like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he
loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by
grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his
grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may
boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
DEVO
At the core of Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ reconciled man to God though his death
and resurrection. The result of this union is an intimate and personal relationship expressed in
familial terms of Father to children. An essential aspect of the grace of God is that it means we
have fundamentally been moved from one family to another. In other words, our allegiance has
fundamentally been changed from the sons of disobedience to sons of light. First, sons of
disobedience follow the course of this world. The course of this world refers to the mindset,
customs, and practices of those who are separated from God. Describe your mindset towards
Christianity prior to coming Christ? Second, sons of disobedience follow the desires of the flesh
which refers to the selfish part of human nature that puts ones needs above the needs of others.
The gospel removes all grounds for boasting because we all once lived for our flesh and
following the course of this world. The result is being dead in our trespass and being children of
wrath. Paul, reminds the Ephesians that it was an act of God that changed our allegiance, gave us
a new family, and made us alive in Christ. Do you see your salvation as an act of God? That we
are alive together with Christ means that we have union with him. Consequently, believers share
in Christ’s resurrected life—life that is indestructible, in union with God, and led by the Spirit.
This is the result of the grace of God so that no man may boast. Contrary to world religions our
new life is not the result of karma or good works. Our new life is because we have received a gift
of God for which we can take no credit, but only give thanks to the one who gave the gift. That is
the heart of the gospel, God gave, God made alive, and God reconciled. Our new life is not spent
in service to the world or ourselves. Rather, our new lives are to be lived in obedience and good
works. Elsewhere, Paul writes to workout your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2).
Our new life is not meant to be lived in idleness. Each of should be growing in sanctification and
being conformed into the image of Jesus. Furthermore, since we are united with Christ in living
we are united with him in mission. The message of Jesus is different than every other world
religion, it is a message of salvation through grace alone.
REFLECTION
Ephesians 2:1–10 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked,
following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is
now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our
flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,
like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he
loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by
grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his
grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may
boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
DEVO
At the core of Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ reconciled man to God though his death
and resurrection. The result of this union is an intimate and personal relationship expressed in
familial terms of Father to children. An essential aspect of the grace of God is that it means we
have fundamentally been moved from one family to another. In other words, our allegiance has
fundamentally been changed from the sons of disobedience to sons of light. First, sons of
disobedience follow the course of this world. The course of this world refers to the mindset,
customs, and practices of those who are separated from God. Describe your mindset towards
Christianity prior to coming Christ? Second, sons of disobedience follow the desires of the flesh
which refers to the selfish part of human nature that puts ones needs above the needs of others.
The gospel removes all grounds for boasting because we all once lived for our flesh and
following the course of this world. The result is being dead in our trespass and being children of
wrath. Paul, reminds the Ephesians that it was an act of God that changed our allegiance, gave us
a new family, and made us alive in Christ. Do you see your salvation as an act of God? That we
are alive together with Christ means that we have union with him. Consequently, believers share
in Christ’s resurrected life—life that is indestructible, in union with God, and led by the Spirit.
This is the result of the grace of God so that no man may boast. Contrary to world religions our
new life is not the result of karma or good works. Our new life is because we have received a gift
of God for which we can take no credit, but only give thanks to the one who gave the gift. That is
the heart of the gospel, God gave, God made alive, and God reconciled. Our new life is not spent
in service to the world or ourselves. Rather, our new lives are to be lived in obedience and good
works. Elsewhere, Paul writes to workout your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2).
Our new life is not meant to be lived in idleness. Each of should be growing in sanctification and
being conformed into the image of Jesus. Furthermore, since we are united with Christ in living
we are united with him in mission. The message of Jesus is different than every other world
religion, it is a message of salvation through grace alone.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think the Bible chooses to describe our relationship with Christ in familial terms?
- How does Pauls words “we all once lived” influence our approach to unbelievers to share the
- gospel of grace?
- What have you struggled to leave in your past since becoming a Christian (sin, mindset,
- priority)?
- Describe a season of doubt/struggle in your Christian life and how the grace of God intervened?
- Why does Paul tell us that we are saved to walk in good works? Do you know Christians who are
- idle in their faith, if so how?
- Why is mercy a point of emphasis in this passage and why is it necessary?
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