Ephesians - Part 5

     This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on 26th July 2026, by Colin. For the audio , please click here.  For the worship, please click here.  

From Far Away to God's Dwelling Place

Ephesians 2:11–22

Have you ever paused to think about where God found you?

It's easy to focus on where we are today, but the Apostle Paul intentionally asks believers to look back—not to dwell on the past, but to appreciate the incredible grace that transformed it.

In Ephesians 2:11–22, Paul reminds the Gentile believers of their former condition and then paints a beautiful picture of what God has accomplished through Jesus Christ. This passage takes us on an extraordinary journey—from being far away from God to becoming His very dwelling place.

Remember Where You Came From

Paul begins with an important instruction: "Remember." Before Christ, the Gentiles were:

• Without Christ
• Excluded from God's covenant people
• Strangers to God's promises
• Without hope
• Without God in the world

Spiritually speaking, they were outsiders.

The same is true of every believer today. Regardless of our background, we were once separated from God because of sin. Remembering our past keeps us humble and fills our hearts with gratitude. Our salvation wasn't earned because we were good enough—it was entirely an act of God's grace.

Remembering where God rescued us from also changes how we see others. Instead of responding with pride or judgment, we are reminded that apart from Christ, we too would be lost. Gratitude produces humility, and humility produces compassion.

Brought Near by the Blood of Christ

The wonderful turning point comes with two beautiful words:

"But now..."

Paul declares:

"But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

Jesus accomplished what no human effort ever could.

Through His death on the cross, He established peace in two remarkable ways:

• Peace between God and humanity—our sins are forgiven, and we are reconciled to the Father.
• Peace between people—the barriers that divide us are broken down.

The hostility that once separated Jews and Gentiles was destroyed through Christ. His sacrifice created something entirely new—not Jews becoming Gentiles or Gentiles becoming Jews, but one new humanity united in Him.

Today, Christ continues to tear down walls of nationality, ethnicity, culture, language, and social status. Our identity is no longer rooted in earthly distinctions but in Christ.

Citizens of Heaven

Paul then presents the first of three powerful pictures of our new identity.

We are no longer foreigners.

We are citizens of heaven.

While earthly passports may have different rankings and privileges, every believer possesses the highest citizenship imaginable—the Kingdom of God.

Our primary identity is no longer based on our nationality, language, or culture. We belong to God's eternal kingdom.

What an incredible privilege!

Members of God's Family

Paul goes even further.

We are not merely citizens—we are members of God's household.

God is not simply our King; He is our Father.

That means every believer is our brother or sister in Christ.

Being part of God's family carries practical responsibilities. Families celebrate together, grieve together, encourage one another, and carry one another's burdens. Christianity was never intended to be lived in isolation.

Paul's message challenges us to ask:

• Are we caring for fellow believers?
• Are we bearing one another's burdens?
• Are we actively pursuing unity?

In an increasingly individualistic world, the church is called to be a genuine community where love is demonstrated through everyday actions.

God's Holy Temple

Finally, Paul presents perhaps the most astonishing picture of all.

Believers together are becoming God's holy temple.

In the Old Testament, God's presence dwelt in the temple.

Now, through Christ, God's Spirit dwells among His people.

Jesus Himself is the cornerstone, and every believer is like a living stone being carefully placed into God's spiritual house.

This truth changes how we live.

Because we are God's temple, we are called to:

• Pursue holiness
• Guard unity
• Build one another up
• Worship together
• Display God's presence to the world

The church is not merely a building we attend—it is the place where God's presence is displayed through His people.

Living Worthy of Our Calling

Paul's message ends with both encouragement and challenge.

We once were:

• Far away
• Without hope
• Without God

Now, because of Jesus, we are:

• Reconciled to God
• Reconciled to one another
• Citizens of heaven
• Members of God's family
• God's holy dwelling place

What amazing grace!

The question is no longer whether God has done enough for us.

The question is:

Will we live worthy of the calling we have received?

May we never forget where Christ found us.

May we treasure the peace He purchased through His blood.

May we pursue unity, love deeply, carry one another's burdens, and live as people in whom God delights to dwell.

For those who were once far away have now been brought near—and are being built together into the very dwelling place of God.

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

Ephesians - Part 4

 

    This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on 12th July 2026, by Lasya. For the audio , please click here.  For the worship, please click here.  

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… it is the gift of God.” — Ephesians 2:8

The book of Ephesians is one of the most profound letters in the New Testament. It was written by the Apostle Paul to a church he had personally discipled for nearly two years. These believers had received the Holy Spirit, endured persecution, and remained faithful in a culture overflowing with idol worship and competing philosophies.

Before arriving at Ephesians 2, Paul prayed that the believers would know three incredible realities: the hope of their calling, the riches of God’s inheritance in His people, and the immeasurable greatness of His power. Now, having lifted their eyes to God’s glory, Paul turns our attention to something far less glorious—our own condition apart from Christ.

At first glance, this passage may appear to be about humanity’s sinfulness. But at its heart, Ephesians 2:1-10 is a breathtaking portrait of God’s grace. It reveals not only where we were, but what God has done to rescue us.

Let’s walk through the four stages of this beautiful story.

Stage 1: Dead on Arrival

Paul begins with sobering words:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…”

Notice that he doesn’t say we were weak, struggling, or spiritually sick.

He says we were dead.

From the moment sin entered the world through Adam, humanity inherited spiritual death. While Adam continued to breathe physically, his fellowship with God was broken. The life of God no longer flowed through him, and that same condition passed on to every human being.

Spiritually speaking, we were dead on arrival.

Paul describes this condition in several ways:

·       We followed the patterns of the world.

·       We lived under the influence of the enemy.

·       We gratified the desires of our sinful nature.

·       We stood deserving of God’s righteous judgment.

Whether our sin looked like reckless rebellion or respectable self-righteousness, the destination was the same. Like both sons in Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, one wandered far while the other stayed home, yet both were equally distant from the Father’s heart.

The uncomfortable truth is that before grace, every one of us was spiritually lifeless.

Stage 2: Brought to Life

Then comes one of the greatest phrases in all of Scripture:

“But because of His great love for us…”

Those three words change everything.

God was not motivated by our goodness, our potential, or our promises to improve. He acted because He is rich in mercy and overflowing with love.

While we were dead, God made us alive together with Christ.

The gospel is not merely about improving broken people.

The gospel brings dead people back to life.

That is why salvation is nothing less than a resurrection miracle.

Grace is often defined as unmerited favour, but it is even more than forgiveness. It is God’s lavish kindness toward people who could never earn it.

The story of the Prodigal Son illustrates this beautifully. The father didn’t simply forgive his son and allow him to return as a servant. He ran toward him, embraced him while he was still covered in filth, restored him as family, and celebrated his return.

That is the heart of God.

He doesn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up before welcoming us. He knows we never could. Instead, He restores the relationship first.

The question every believer must ask is:

Have I truly received this grace?

And just as importantly:

Am I extending that same grace to others?

Stage 3: Raised and Seated with Christ

God’s grace doesn’t stop at making us alive.

Paul says God also raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms.

This is remarkable.

Grace restores not only our relationship with God but also our position before Him.

Like the father placing a robe and ring on the prodigal son, God publicly declares that we are no longer outsiders—we are sons and daughters.

Our position is not based on our performance.

It is entirely based on Christ’s finished work.

Paul reminds us:

“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works, so that no one can boast.”

There is no room for pride because there is no part of salvation that we accomplished ourselves.

Faith simply receives the gift.

When people look at redeemed lives, the focus should never be on how deserving we are. Instead, our lives become living evidence of the immeasurable riches of God’s grace and kindness.

We are masterpieces that point to the greatness of the Artist.

Stage 4: Created for Good Works

Only after explaining grace does Paul speak about good works.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

This order is essential.

We are not saved by good works.

We are saved for good works.

Religion often reverses this sequence. It teaches that if we work hard enough, perhaps God will eventually accept us.

The gospel tells a completely different story.

God loved us while we were still dead.

He restored us.

He welcomed us.

He seated us with Christ.

Only then does He invite us into His work.

Our obedience is never an attempt to earn God’s acceptance.

It is the joyful overflow of already belonging to Him.

As members of God’s family, we now participate in our Father’s business. His work extends far beyond church activities—it reaches into our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, schools, and communities.

Every sphere of life becomes an opportunity to reflect His grace.

Our Response to Grace

Grace is completely free.

Yet it calls for our entire lives.

As Isaac Watts beautifully wrote:

“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Perhaps today you identify with the prodigal son, burdened by shame and regret. Maybe you recognize the heart of the elder brother, struggling with pride or finding it difficult to extend grace. Or perhaps you’ve been living as though God’s love must continually be earned.

The invitation of Ephesians 2 remains the same.

Come to the Father.

Receive His grace.

Rest in the position He has already given you.

Then go and live out the good works He has lovingly prepared for you—not to gain His approval, but because you already have it.

Grace doesn’t simply change our destination.

It changes our identity, restores our relationship, establishes our position, and transforms the way we live every day.

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

Ephesians - Part 3

    This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on 28th June 2026, by Lasya. For the audio , please click here.  For the worship, please click here.  

In the opening chapter of Ephesians, Paul celebrates the incredible blessings believers have received in Christ—we have been chosen, predestined, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed with the Holy Spirit, all to the praise of God's glory. Having established these wonderful truths, Paul transitions into a heartfelt prayer.

Surprisingly, he isn't praying because the Ephesian believers are struggling. He is praying because they are thriving.

"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." (Ephesians 1:16)

His prayer reveals God's deepest desire for every believer. More than success, comfort, or even effective ministry, God wants us to know Him.

1. A Prayer to Know God Better

Paul prays that God would give believers "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better" (Ephesians 1:17).

This is the heartbeat of the Christian life.

Jesus echoed the same desire in His prayer:

"I have made you known to them... that the love you have for me may be in them." (John 17:26)

Likewise, Paul wrote in Philippians,

"I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:8)

Christian maturity is not measured primarily by knowledge, achievements, or ministry accomplishments—it is measured by growing intimacy with Christ.

Wisdom and Revelation

Notice that Paul asks for both wisdom and revelation.

We can faithfully read the Scriptures, but true understanding comes as God opens our hearts. We can desire to obey Him, but we need His wisdom to know how.

Knowing God requires both diligent pursuit and divine illumination.

Peter encourages believers to "make every effort" to grow in faith and godliness (2 Peter 1:5–8), yet that effort must always be accompanied by dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Like any healthy friendship or marriage, intimacy grows through intentional time together. Our relationship with God is no different.

2. Eyes That See Beyond the Natural

Paul continues:

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened..." (Ephesians 1:18)

Imagine someone born blind suddenly receiving sight. No description of colour could compare with actually seeing a sunrise, a rainbow, or the face of a loved one.

Spiritually, many people live with closed eyes.

God's Word can seem ordinary until the Holy Spirit opens our hearts.

Paul says enlightened hearts allow us to see three incredible realities.

The Hope of God's Calling

Our world often struggles with hopelessness. Many pursue temporary freedom while feeling uncertain about the future.

Yet God's calling is rooted in hope.

Even in exile, God declared through Jeremiah:

"For I know the plans I have for you... plans to give you hope and a future."

Romans 8 reminds us that our present suffering cannot compare with the glory awaiting God's children.

Biblical hope is not wishful thinking—it is confident expectation based on God's promises.

God's Treasured Inheritance

Paul speaks of "the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people."

Remarkably, this is not describing our inheritance.

It is describing God's inheritance.

We are His treasured possession.

Like the merchant who sold everything to obtain the pearl of great price, God delights in His people.

When we begin seeing fellow believers through God's eyes instead of our own, criticism gives way to compassion, and love replaces judgment.

Perhaps this is why the Ephesian church was later warned about losing its first love. Love for Christ naturally overflows into love for His people.

God's Incomparable Power

Paul's third focus prepares us for what comes next—God's immeasurable power at work in every believer.

This is not ordinary strength.

It is resurrection power.

3. The Power Above Every Power

Paul reminds us that the same power that raised Christ from the dead now works in us.

Jesus is seated:

• Far above every ruler
• Every authority
• Every power
• Every dominion
• Every name that can ever be named

Nothing—whether earthly, spiritual, technological, or future—surpasses Christ's authority.

Then Paul makes an astonishing statement.

Everything is placed under Christ's feet.

The Church is His body.

This means the Church is not a powerless institution struggling to survive. It is the visible expression of Christ's reign on earth.

As Eugene Peterson paraphrases,

"The church is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church."

God intends His wisdom to be displayed through His people.

That should completely transform how we view the Church.

4. The Beautiful Path of Grace

At this point someone might object:

"That's true of Jesus—but what about me? I've failed too many times."

Paul answers by reminding us where every believer began.

Stage One: Dead in Sin

Before Christ, we were spiritually dead.

We followed the ways of the world and lived according to our own sinful desires.

Whether our sins looked rebellious or respectable, we were equally separated from God.

No one could rescue themselves.

Stage Two: But God...

Then come two of the most beautiful words in Scripture:

But God.

Because of His great love and rich mercy, God made us alive with Christ.

Not because we deserved it.

Not because we earned it.

Simply because He loved us.

The gospel does not merely make bad people good.

It makes dead people alive.

That is grace.

Stage Three: Raised With Christ

Grace doesn't stop at forgiveness.

God raises believers with Christ and seats them with Him in the heavenly realms.

Why?

So that throughout eternity His grace would be displayed through transformed lives.

We become living evidence of His kindness.

Salvation is entirely God's gift.

Our role is simply faith.

There is no room for boasting.

Stage Four: Created for Good Works

Finally, Paul writes:

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..."

Notice the order.

Grace comes first.

Good works follow.

We do not work to earn God's acceptance.

We work because we have already received it.

Our obedience becomes the natural expression of our new identity in Christ.

Living It Out

Paul's prayer invites us to ask some important questions:

• Am I praying that others would know God more deeply?
• Am I intentionally pursuing a closer relationship with Christ?
• Do I truly live with the hope of God's calling?
• Can I see God's people as His treasured inheritance?
• Do I believe Christ's power is greater than every challenge I face?
• Am I living as someone transformed by grace?

The Christian life is not simply about knowing more information.

It is about having our eyes opened to see who God is, who we are in Christ, and the incredible grace that has changed everything.

May our prayer echo Paul's:

"Lord, open the eyes of our hearts, that we may know You better."

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.