Dave concluded his mini-series on Ephesians 2:1-7 TNIV last night, looking at verse 7: ‘in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.’
Over the past few weeks we have looked at our state before we came to know Christ and how God’s mercy and love have raised us up to new life and seated us with Christ in heavenly realms. Verse 7 answers the question ‘Why has God done these things?’ for it talks about His desire to show His glory to the whole world through the church, a theme expanded in Ephesians 3:10 TNIV (‘His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.’)
Salvation belongs to God and Rev 7:9-14 TNIV gives us a glimpse into the awesome work God is doing, bringing people from every tribe, language and nation to know Him and giving them white clothes to wear as they declare His praises. We are humbled by our part in God’s plan and can see throughout history how God has been working to bring people to a knowledge of Him.
God’s grace demonstrates His kindness to us. Despite our sinful nature, God’s grace and mercy have been lavished on us and as we respond to that grace and show others that no one is unforgivable, we become living examples of God’s love. We were chosen before the foundation of the world, so loved by God that He gave His only Son to save us and made an everlasting covenant with us.
God’s grace is channelled to us through Christ. We receive all the covenant blessings of God through Jesus Christ, the door into God’s presence and salvation.
God’s grace is limitless. Just as we cannot ever see the whole sea at once, so His grace is beyond our vision. To God, forgiveness comes naturally, for it is part of His nature. His grace is greater than our sins and in Him, there is forgiveness and restoration (1 John 1:7 TNIV). His grace is unconditional, for He welcomes all.
In 1851 Prince Albert organised the ‘Great Exhibition’ to showcase Britain’s importance and value, housed in the newly built Crystal Palace:
A century later, the Festival of Britain was put on to show that Great Britain had come through the Second World War and was still ‘great’:
God has a far greater exhibition to ‘show off’ to the world (including all the heavenly beings). We are part of His exhibition, ‘trophies of His grace’, God’s workmanship demonstrating His timeless, limitless, unconditional love which is available to everyone.