Friday, August 3, 2012
You are Saved by Grace Alone!
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth -- in Him.
GRACE FROM BEGINNING TO END
This verse looks ahead to our final glory with Christ. God has carried out everything that He has planned so that we might be gathered together with all believers in Christ on the last day. This too is certain because God is doing what He planned for you. Left to ourselves, we would quickly fall from faith and turn away from God again. But God who "has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). He who chose you and determined to save you, He will complete His work in you. We are "kept by the power of God through faith for salvation" (1 Peter 1:5).
A parallel passage in Romans 8 shows us how secure we are in Christ: "Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called, whom He called, these He also justified, And whom He justified, these He also glorified" (30). That is the final outcome of God's eternal plan; the final glorification in heaven when we will have glorified bodies, completely untarnished by any affects of sin and we will live with Him forever in perfect glory.
Notice how God also speaks of this final step in the past tense as if it is already complete. He who knew you as His own in the beginning, already sees you with Him in glory in heaven. It is as good as done. Your life and salvation is completely in the hands of God from beginning to end. From choosing and determining to save us, to sending His Son to work out our salvation, to giving us the faith to receive that salvation in Christ, to keeping us in the faith throughout our lives until we are finally with Him forever in paradise.
That is why Paul can say with absolute certainty, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Absolutely everything in our lives works for our good, because God is carrying out His plan for us. God truly uses everything that happens in our life to bring us to our eternal home as He has determined.
Amazing Grace -- how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and Grace will bring me home.
(Worship Supplement 2000, 777:1, 3)
