Belong: Grace
I remember lying in my bed trying to sleep, but I couldn’t. Despite my childlike understanding of God and the Bible, I sensed an urge to ask Jesus to come into my heart. I knew I needed to give my life to him. After saying a short prayer, I ran excitedly to tell my parents about my important decision. Since it was past my bedtime, they encouraged me to go back to sleep and promised we would talk more in the morning.
In the following days and weeks, my parents along with other trusted people counseled me in my decision to walk with Jesus. On Easter Sunday, a year after praying to receive Jesus, my father baptized me. In front of a crowd of people I was symbolically “buried to my sin in death” in the water and “raised to walk in the newness of life” with Jesus.
How did you start walking with Jesus?
Spring flowers in Berlin remind me of God's grace and how he gives us new life in Jesus.
In the book of Ephesians, a leader in the early Christian church named Paul reminded his friends of their lives before their new life in Jesus.
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else” (Ephesians 2:1-3, NLT).
Those are some shocking statements that make people confused, concerned, or conflicted. And yet, even if it makes us feel uncomfortable, can’t we all identify this pattern in our lives? In which areas do we follow our passionate desires only to discover they led us to “death” and not to life?
I later confessed to my father that I waited to make a decision about Jesus because I did not want to admit that I was a sinner and disappoint him. The irony in that statement is great. Any parent is keenly aware of the shortcomings and imperfections of their children. And yet, we still love them! My father chuckled, acknowledged that he was not surprised that I was a sinner, but assured me that I was still loved by him and loved by God.
Paul continued his letter in the same way. He did not leave his friends in a state of insecurity about their sin, but pointed them to God’s rich mercy, love, and grace.
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7, NLT).
Years after my nighttime prayer and baptism, I became overwhelmed with anxiety about my faith. Did I really believe in God or was I just conditioned to because of my childhood and culture? And even if I did pray to Jesus as a child, was I really saved?
I speak with many women and men who also struggle with spiritual doubt and question their assurance of salvation. I believe we all need to continually grow in our understanding of God’s grace at work in our lives, past and present.
Even though I read about God’s grace in the Bible and experienced God’s grace as a child, an offhand comment from a woman one day revealed a whole new understanding of grace to me in regards to my salvation. That conversation ultimately helped me find peace in my battle with spiritual anxiety.
If God really does save us by his grace, not because of the good things we have done, then that includes good things like a childlike prayer asking Jesus into my heart. That prayer did not save me, God’s grace did. I think Paul would agree.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpieces. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT).
Today, even when I struggle with sin or sense anxiety lurking in my heart, I know I am saved by God’s grace. My childhood prayer was just the beginning of a journey of grace. As I continue to grow in awareness of my sin, Jesus graciously continues to teach me more and more about his forgiveness and love.
Are you tired of trying to save yourself?
Do you need to receive God’s gift of grace and experience new life in Jesus today?
If you want to connect with Community Church, please check out our next Worship Gathering this Sunday, 3 March. We invite you to join us as we explore the book of Ephesians and learn how belonging to God changes our lives.