[:en]SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 2
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance fo us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
We are saved through God’s unmerited favor, and not as a result of human effort, ability, intelligence or or service. Salvation is a free gift so that out of gratitude, we must seek to help and serve others with love to build up the church.
Formerly we were Gentiles by birth, separated from Christ and without hope. But Christ had brought us near through His blood. He had destroyed the barrier of hostility and make peace by reconciling us to God through the cross. Now we can have access to the Father by one Spirit through Christ.
We are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow citizens of God’s people and members of God’s household. We are built on the foundation of the spiritual heritage given to us by early apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone where the whole building is joined together and rises to become the holy temple in the Lord (v. 21)
Lesson: We are God’s masterpeice and saved by grace through faith and not by our works. Christ had broken all the barriers – age, appearance, intelligence, races, status and theological perspective to unite us as one. May God’s love and mercy make us alive to do good works. Let us become a dwelling place for God to live by His Spirit in us. Let us be united as one in Christ.[:]