It’s Amazing

Because of his great love for us,

God, who is rich in mercy,

made us alive with Christ

even when we were dead in transgressions

—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:4,5

He can’t help himself, and neither can I; his exuberance is contagious!

I think this’ll wrap up this series that started with the observation that Christ Jesus spoke everyday Aramaic, and how in that language Salvation = to be alive. 

From there we went to what our old friend St. Paul wrote to some friends in the town of Ephesus and what we know as Ephesians 2:4,5.

His enthusiasm sloshes over onto us when he describes God who…

+has great love for us

+is rich in mercy

+made us alive with Christ.

And just in case we start to think it’s about us, our importance, and our accomplishments: it is by grace you have been saved.

It is by grace you have been saved.

I know that. But sometimes I forget that. Anybody else?

And we look to our left and see John Newton walking over to us, singing his great song in which he reminds that we “once were lost, but now…found.”

Amazing Grace, for real!

By the grace of God, may that song be in our heads and hearts and evidenced in our hands today!