(Eph 2:13) “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”  No one is worthy to approach either through prayer or action, the Lord God Almighty in His holiness. Only One has ever been found worthy and that one is Jesus the sinless Son of God. He allowed Himself to be taken and killed, His blood being spilled in payment for our sins. It is through Him alone, by faith allowing His blood to wash us, that we can come nigh unto God! “What can wash away my sin? NOTHING but the blood of Jesus.”

(Eph 2:11” Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,….. (12) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”  Thank God for Jesus! He died not only for Israel but for the whole world. Anyone who responds with an honest heart of love and thankfulness will be willing to turn from their sins, asking forgiveness and the gift of everlasting life from God will receive! We who once had no hope, had Jesus enter our hearts upon the salvation experience! Praise His Name!  

(Eph 2:11) “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,….(12) That at that time ye were without Christ,….” To be lost is to be without Christ. To be without Christ is to be without the blessings of God and the hope of heaven. One is without Christ who has yet through repentance and faith to have been Born Again spiritually by God, (Eph 2:1) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” Are you still without Him? Is pride keeping you from Him? Or is it “love for your life as it is”,  keeping you from Him?  

(Eph 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”   Is a good work simply doing right; or is it seeking to serve the Lord in our actions, seeking to give Him the glory! We have a tendency to take the praise for right actions. We are to be deflectors of praise, giving the glory to He Who made us new (workmanship). How can others come to our Lord if we through action and verbiage do not give share “why” we are what we are and do what we do? 

(Eph 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  The word for ‘workmanship” is “poiema”. This is were we get our word, “poem”.  The birth of the spirit in us is as much as special creation as the earth itself. We are created, made alive in Christ spiritually, so that we can be like Christ morally.  That work is very special and with the potential in each of us to do wonderful things for our God! We work not to earn salvation, but to live salvation. 

(Eph 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  Our puny actions of desire to somehow earn or keep salvation, is corrupted by the  of our old nature, How sad that we could possibly think we could add something to the merit of Christ sacrifice and blood! We cannot, for if we could, we would surely in our wicked pride boast! The Lord says, “No!” Salvation only and completely comes through the sacrifice of God’s perfect, sinless, selfless, Son!

  (Eph 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”  How dull of hearing we must be! I mean, He has already stated that He saved us when? While we were dead in trespasses and sins (not deserving). He has told us the Lord is rich in mercy. Mercy is only needed for the guilty. We are told it is for His glory – not ours. We have been told our presence will forever speak of His grace and His kindness. Yet, He says it again even more plainly and to the point: You didn’t have anything to do with it nor deserve it! It is a gift!  Praise Him! I get it!

(Eph 2:4) “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Notice the purpose – the glory of the Lord for grace and kindness through Jesus – His sacrifice. Not our good, though that is certainly a by-product. Not our happiness, though that too is a by-product. Our sinful nature has a tendency to blind us to the truth. The truth is God is to receive the glory. The center of our life and the direction of our work and love is to be Him!