September 16, 2021 -- Ephesians 1:1-2 -- Kept Faithful in Christ

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
   To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:1-2 ESV

Listening to this opening greeting can be discouraging. Let me explain. It might be tempting to say, those saints in Ephesus they may have been faithful to Christ Jesus, but I look at my own life and know I am not faithful. There are so many sins that creep in. There are so many faults which erupt from deep within and spill over into my words, my actions and my writings that it is evident I am a sinner. Can the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ truly referred to really be for me?

Notice that Paul—himself formerly a great sinner, a murderer of Christians— has been called by the will of God, and sent out as an ambassador for Jesus’ reconciling work. In Romans 7 Paul makes it clear sin still threatens to overpower him. How it is even possible Christians can be called saints? It is not because of work we have done. In these two verse Jesus’ name is written three times. He is our reconciliation. He is our peace. He is the One by Whose blood our sins have been washed away and in Whom we have right standing with God. This is grace.

How is it that the Ephesians then and Christians through-out all ages are called faithful? It is the work of the Holy Spirit. We are sealed by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13)—we cannot even contain the grace and peace from God which has been given us in Christ Jesus unless the Holy Spirit nanosecond by nanosecond held us in this great blessed state. It is by the Spirit we have access to this One Father through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:18).

We live in a world of great upheaval. Canada is changing before our eyes. Our hope is not found in this election or the next. Our great hope is fixed on this great truth, God our Father has sent the anointed One, Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit those who believe in Him are kept, guarded in the grace and peace of God no matter what happens in this life or this world.

God our Father how varied, beautiful and vast are the blessings You have poured out on us through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Savior and King. Words fail as we think how such blessings would just run over us and through us and past us, except that You have given Your Spirit so that we should be sustained by Him in Your never-ending faithfulness. Truly, You are beautiful, My God and King! Amen.

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