As I look at these two chapters, I can’t help but think how God-centered they are. They’re all about not what we have done, but about what God has done and will do. Think about it.
He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
He chose us before this world began to be holy and blameless in love before him. (1:4)
He predestined us to be his sons and daughters. (1:5)
He lavished his grace on us in Jesus. (1:6)
He redeemed us through the blood of Jesus. (1:7)
He forgave our sins. (1:7)
He will bring everything together in Christ. (1:10)
He has given us an inheritance in Jesus. (1:11)
He works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will. (1:11)
He sealed us with the Spirit, claiming us as his own, and guaranteeing our inheritance. (1:13-14)
He raised Jesus from the dead, and set him far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion. (1:20-22)
He made us, who were dead in sin, alive in Christ. (Ephesians 2:5)
He raised us up with Jesus and seated us with him in the heavens. (2:6)
He gives us the gift of salvation. (2:8)
He brought us near through the blood of Christ. (2:13)
Jesus reconciled both us and the Jews to each other and to the Father. (2:14-16)
Jesus proclaimed peace to us. (2:17)
Jesus gives us access to the Father. (2:18)
God makes us fellow citizens with all the saints. (2:19)
He builds us in Christ to be a temple for God. (21-22)
All this God did for us.
What did we do?
In all these passages, what does it say we did?
Paul says, “You….carried out all your sinful desires.” (2:3)
That’s what we did. We were people deserving God’s wrath. We deserved nothing from God but death.
And yet he poured out his love and grace upon us. And because of that, we came to believe in him.
That’s what Paul means when he tells us,
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift–not from works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Think about that truth. Meditate on it. And let us praise God for his glorious grace.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 