The Book of Ephesians Pt. 19 The Fruit of the Spirit, Beautiful Holiness and Transformed Lives!

Ephesians 2:7-10  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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. 10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We learn more about being saved by the grace of God in this section. It is full or glorious truth that should bless and encourage us as born again believers. If you are not born again, I pray that these texts will point you to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. 

In our previous post we studied the great love, mercy and grace that God has toward us. Even when we were still vile sinners, He lavished His love, grace and mercy on us through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul picks right up where he left off as we see in Ephesians 2:7-10.

The eternal blessing of God's grace tells us what God is going to do both now and in the future. Paul looks at the present time in which we are a live and shows us that God will pour out the excessive riches of His grace upon us throughout eternity. This is the great mystery that was hidden through the ages but is now made manifest by Christ, and the preaching of the gospel. Our Lord is in the business of radically changing us when we turn to Him in repentant faith. 

The words "in the ages to come" has the idea of time both now and in the future until the age of the Church is over at the return of Christ for His Bride.  It refers to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit of God that began on Pentecost at the birth of the New Testament church. 

The words "He might show" is an action of God to save people from every nation, tongue, tribe and race, for His glory and for our spiritual well being.  It is like an ongoing harvest of grace with succeeding generations of believers being harvested, washed in the blood of the Lamb and placed into the family of God. 

The Fruit of the Spirit perfectly displayed within the Godhead!

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

What is God going to show throughout these ages? "The exceeding riches of His grace and kindness." The word "exceeding" refers to God's infinite supply of grace. We already know that "grace" is unmerited favor, the act of God giving us His great salvation that we do not deserve, nor can we earn it. The word "kindness" refers to the heart of God toward mankind being one of gentleness or forbearance. 

God's heart toward man reflects the fruit of the Spirit that Paul taught us about. The believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God and He is going to work in us to reproduce those fruits of God in each born again believer. Thus, each of those beautiful fruits are fully manifested with perfection in the Godhead and in how He treats us. 

Connection between the Fruit of the Spirit and the Beauty of Holiness.

Psalm 29:1,2  A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2)  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 

We are commanded in several places to give God the glory that His Divine Names deserve, and we have studied many of those beautiful names over the last 2 1/2 years. Learning about the names of God helps us to know Him better and helps us enjoy a dynamic, growing relationship with the God of glory. 

The name Jehovah (LORD) is used four times in two verses. Jehovah is the promise keeping, covenant making God, the Self Existent God who inhabits eternity but will dwell with each person who has a humble heart and a contrite spirit. He is the unchanging God who is the source of lovingkindness.

The names of God revealed in scripture also put on display the beauty of His holiness. The people of God who place their trust in Him, are commanded to worship Him in the beauty of holiness. This is the idea of each believer living out the command "Be ye holy for I am holy" (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16).

There is a connection between the beauty of God's holiness and the fruit of the Spirit which comes from God. The fruit of the Spirit is really a display of God's beautiful holiness. God alone has perfect love, joy and peace. God alone has infinite longsuffering and patience in dealing with all believers and saints. God alone perfectly manifests gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. 

Jesus Christ our Lord is God in the flesh. He is Jehovah in a human body. He perfectly displayed the beauty of Divine holiness and all the fruits of the Spirit as He lived, worked, taught and saved people during His earthly ministry. Jesus is our model for all of these things. This is why Paul tells us that God is going to continue to show the boundless grace and kindness of God through the Words, Works and Person of Jesus Christ. 

Salvation is by grace through faith. 

Ephesians 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.

We have already spoken about what grace is. Paul teaches us that we are saved by God's grace. What does the word "saved" mean? It means to save someone from immediate danger or certain destruction. It also means to deliver us from all the penalties and judgment of our sins, and to save us from the forces of darkness which seek to hinder our salvation. 

We are saved by the grace of God. God is gracious toward man because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His Son. During the time that the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached He will continue to be gracious. When Christ returns to take His church home, God will then unleash His judgment upon all Christ rejecters. 

Paul even goes further and tells us that salvation is a precious gift from God and is all of Him for His glory. We cannot earn it and we do not deserve it. God wants it this way so that no man can boast except in the cross of Christ. 

God has a purpose in saving us by His grace.

Ephesians 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.

Remember that Paul began this book by teaching us about God giving all spiritual blessings in heavenly places because we are "in Christ" when we are born again. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminded the church that we are not free to live our lives as we choose. Why? Because we have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ. God bought us and we belong to Him. 

God claims each believer as part of His workmanship. The word "workmanship" is often used to highlight the works of God seen in creation. This tells us that when we are born again and made a new creation in Christ, God views us as part of His great works. 

This truth is very humbling because like you, I know that I am not worthy of anything from the hand of God except condemnation. Yet, He saved me and regenerated my heart and my life has never been the same. Therefore, all believers have strong motivation to live for God's glory. 

Why did God do His mighty work to save us by grace? For the purpose that we might live a life filled with good works, that reflect God in us, the hope of glory. God ordained that we should walk in good works at the same moment that He chose us to be "in Christ." 

All who are born again have been given this holy purpose. To walk in the good works that God has ordained for us. He grants each believer unique gifts, talents, likes and dislikes. He created us to walk in newness of life and when we find what He has called us to, whatever that might be, it becomes a labor of love and passion for His glory. 

Grace brings a new life, new purpose for the glory of God.

Titus 2:11-14  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Notice the parallels between this text and Ephesians 2. God's grace is on display in the world. Sinners are born again and live a new life that the world does not understand. As the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, God's grace is put on display. As believers make choices and decisions that honor God, His grace is put on display. 

However, salvation by grace brings divine obligations. Since we are bought with a price and our body is not our own, God has parameters for how His children are to live. We are to be sober minded as opposed to thinking like a fool. We are to make righteous choices that honor God not selfish choices that satisfy the lust of our flesh. We are to live godly lives not ungodly.

We are to live a hope filled life that eagerly anticipates the coming of Jesus Christ. The return of Jesus is our great hope and it will be a glorious event that defines all of history. 

Why did Jesus save us? In order to purify for Himself a peculiar people who are zealous of good works.   The word "purify" means to be cleansed from all defilement of sin. It means to be free from the guilt of sin and consecrated for God. The word "peculiar" does not mean odd. It means a people who have been redeemed by God for Himself, His own possession. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Salvation is the mighty work of God. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ. 

Salvation is the gift of God and cannot be earned by works. 

Salvation means that God owns us having purchased us with the blood of Christ.

All who are born again have the Spirit of God living in them. If we say we are born again but live like the world lives, then we are liars. 

Is there evidence of the new birth in our lives?

Are we living a holy life that honors God?

Are we denying ungodliness and fleeing worldy lusts?

Are we zealous for good works for the glory of God?

Honest answers to these questions will help us see if our profession of faith lines up with the scriptures. 

I pray that the spirit of God will show us our heart and encourage us, rebuke us, convict us and lead us in whatever area of our life that is not surrendered to God.

Bob