And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Acts 20:32 KJV
Ezekiel 16:1-14 speaks of the King walking through a path and seeing a child lying in its blood. This King cleans the little girl and gives her life, ensuring she was stable enough to live. This king came through at a later time, seeing the girl was mature enough. He enters into a covenant with her, beautifies her, crowns her with crowns, so much so that she was famous in all the world for her beauty. This story is about Israel and God, and it speaks of our redemption. Grace is what secured redemption for us. Redemption is not just forgiveness of sin, it is deliverance from sin. It is what enables a person to live holy and above sin as Titus 2:11-12 says. That which brings people who are dead in their trespasses makes them alive and then goes ahead to seat them in Christ far above all heavens while securing them eternal relevance in ages to come as Ephesians 2:4-8 says, is Grace.
Grace is simply unmerited favor. It is getting assistance that is undeserved. Grace is what makes the work of man useless because it has already been paid for by the blood of Jesus. Fasting, praying, giving of alms, etc. cannot earn grace. As Paul said in Ephesians 2:9, it is not of works, lest any man should boast. This grace is a result of an election. As Peter 1:2 says, we were elected according to the foreknowledge of God. The word ‘election’ here connotes a choice made independent of those chosen. We had been previously enrolled in a course taught by the prince of this world as Ephesians 2:2 says, but by grace, we have been saved. Romans 12:2 counsels us to be transformed by renewing our mind or submitting to the Word of God.
Every believer has been predestined (has a predefined destination) to be conformed to the image of Christ. This is what Grace achieves in us. Taking a further look at predestination, the Lord asked Jeremiah to go to the house of a potter, in Jeremiah 18:1-6. The potter had an idea of what he wanted to make with the clay, but it was marred (or corrupted). The potter ended up making something else with the clay. In a similar way, Jesus is the destination for every believer (in Character, power, image, and likeness). The bible calls Him the firstborn among many brethren. He is the prototype. However, God will not go against the free will of a believer. We each need to submit to Him in full trust, that He will create that beautiful picture we see in Christ in us.
Final thoughts: A doctor runs a diagnosis on a patient and then administers a treatment. Afterward, he gives the patient a prognosis (a foreknowledge) to predict the effect of the treatment. The Lord ran a diagnosis on us and saw sin as the disease. He administered the blood of Jesus as the treatment. This foreknowledge ensures that there is a purpose attached to your life. It also shows that God knows every challenge you will ever go through in life and He is committed to you till you become the Image of Christ He destined you to be.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me from sin and redeeming me unto God. I trust you. I know your word can transform me into your Image. Mold me into the Image of Christ you envision for me. I submit myself to the Word of your grace
Scripture: Ephesians 1
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