A Journey Through Ephesians…2:4-7

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.

My mother-in-law was a cheerleader back in her high school days. And every now again she talks about the “Fancy Clap”…. a series of fast hand and leg slaps the girls did on the sideline at ball games. And every now and again, when all the family is together, we can beg one good Fancy Clap out of her – IF we are lucky!

Well Mimi, I don’t exactly know all the moves of Fancy Clap, but this passage makes me wanna learn! The Gospel of Jesus saving me from my sin seems to call for some FANCY! Wouldn’t you say!?

BUT GOD! BUT GOD! BUT GOD!

Do you see the hard stop!? We. Were. DEAD. Paul says it over and over and over so we don’t miss it. We were separated from God and subject to His anger and judgement. It was bad, y’all. As bad as it gets.

BUT GOD is soooooo rich in mercy and he loved us soooooo much. Oh I just love Him back!! THIS IS GRACE. Do you see? We will talk more about His grace in verse 8 so I will hold my finger there.

Here is what I see most this morning…. And honestly I have never honed in on this. Look at the “togetherness” between you and I and Jesus through this entire unfolding.

We are “united with Christ Jesus” – This root word is syzōopoieō and it is our English word for TOGETHER. Here’s what is so cool. It is used ONLY FOUR TIMES in the New Testament and 3 of those citings are in verses 5&6. See below in KJV.

Even when we were dead in sins, he hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly place in Christ Jesus. v 5-6 KJV

Syzōopoieō means to make one alive together withanother – so literally this all happens simultaneously. We were spiritually raised from the dead AND seated with Christ TOGETHER.

Not only was God’s wrath satisfied but HIS LOVE WAS SATISFIED, TOO. This is ALL driven by LOVE. He made us alive TOGETHER with His SON. His beloved. He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life. He raised us together with Him and made us sit down TOGETHER – which means we have JOINT SEATING with His Anointed One. AND we are now delivered from judgement.

And we did absolutely NOTHING to deserve this. Not. One. Darn. Thing.

Whyyyyyyyy would he do this? Seriously? Why?

Verse 7 in the Amplified says it BEST!….“He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in His kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.”

That is why. He did this SO TODAY, JUNE 30th 2023, we would STILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT. So the lost could see the free grace available to them, still. Today.

And he did it because he wants us to be syzōopoieō FOREVER. Together.

It is a simple (and complicated) as that.

Love to you all….. oxoxo

**P.S. I probably won’t write on the weekends. Have a restful one!