Ephesians 2:12—Extending Grace/Receiving Grace

Ephesians Study

Chapter 2

Amplified Bible:

Ephesians 12: [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God's agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God.

This verse was spoken in regard to Gentiles; those who had not shared the sacred compacts of Messianic promise…because they did not know.

• They were in a state of being separated and estranged.
• They had no knowledge of God’s agreements.
• They had no hope/no promise.
• They were in the world without God.

Do you see the progression that is here?  It starts with where they were at the time and shows the path to that place.

We have all kinds of science today that reinforce what scripture tells us that “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”  And the issues of life flow from the heart.  Much of this science has been manipulated to create other works oriented beliefs.  We have to be careful of this.  Instead of turning it into a man centered work, let us praise God that He is in all of this truth and completing that which concerns us.  Scientific validation, as good as that is, is not our god.  

The bullet points are a picture that tell us the path of a person with no hope or promise?  What is the heart going to do.  They are going to live life based on those beliefs and hopelessness.  It makes it easier to see why the Lord said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”  He not only knows what we are doing but why we are doing those things.  It is all a matter of heart.

The fact that He spoke forgiveness over His people (not Gentile) is very telling.  Jew or Gentile in the same state have the same forgiveness.  It helps us all extend more grace.  It is telling us that God’s forgiveness has all of us covered while we are coming to the truth about God and His plans.

This tells me that we all need to live in grace and extend grace to those who do not know.  So often, those who do not know are seen as less than.  That really makes us who would judge them as such the ones who are less than.  We are being like the publican who said that he thanked God he wasn't like the sinner.  The so-called sinner  is not likely to see God in this judgmental modeling.  Encouragement that reduces fear is that which helps touch people.  The reason we want to be “more than” is because we fear being “less than.”  

The bullet points above can serve as a reminder of what really takes down the separation between man and God.  That is the work of the Messiah.  It is all about God and knowing Him.  I was amazed at the story that the bullet points tell!  Instead of seeing ourselves and others through a lens of rejection (like the publican), let us recognize that oneness is God’s goal.  Starting with that belief/hope, our lens can change to something filled with God’s forgiveness and God’s grace.  His model is for all.