Grace first; good life grows from it

When the apostle Paul preached the good news in Ephesus, many people’s priorities and ways of life changed greatly (cf. Acts 19:17-20). Paul knew it was important that they understand that this was not the result of their own initiative or strength. They were God’s accomplishment (Greek poema), living out the kind of life God desired them to live every day. Scholar William Barclay wrote, “Only an act of free forgiveness of the grace of God can put us back into the right relationship with him. That is to say that works have nothing to do with earning salvation. It is neither right nor possible to leave the teaching of Paul here—and yet that is where it is so often left. Paul goes on to say we are recreated by God for good works. Here is the Pauline paradox. All the good works in the world cannot put us right with God; but there is something radically wrong with the Christianity which does not issue in good works.” *

• To what extent have God’s priorities become, not just an occasional exercise that you do when there’s a special church activity, but woven into “the way that we live our lives”? How open are you to letting God continue to shape the way you live the “secular” parts of your life—driving, shopping, business activities, playing and watching sports, and the like? Of course, none of those first-generation Christians in Ephesus had gone to Sunday School or learned from Christian parents–of course, THEY needed God’s restoring work! In what ways does the language in Ephesians’ capture your life experience? Do you ever think that, in your case, you might have already “possessed” salvation, that God just took what was already a pretty worthy life and “bumped it up a notch”? How can God’s restoring work shape your willingness to avoid pride in your spiritual accomplishments, and instead live in gratitude for what God has done in you?