Ephesians 2:4-10
A very wise man once told me that the hardest thing to do in this world, in his estimation, was to communicate to another person a thought, a concept in its entirety the way in which he thought and felt. I’ve come to accept and incorporate that proverb into my own physic.
That is why I believe today’s message is such an ambitious attempt to explain the construct of three tiers or foundations that all of Christianity rest. Three pillars of Christianity represented by Three small words in the English language translated from the Greek Language, these impact the fate of all that live, have lived, or will live. Mercy, Grace, Love-I’m no Greek scholar, but I do have the ability to look in Greek dictionaries to find original meanings of words used in today’s text.
Eleos-translated as mercy. Meaning compassion and in these verses the idea is “divine compassion”.
Charis-translated as grace. Meaning the divine influence on the heart, and its reflection in life; including gratitude: acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, gracious, joy, liberality (charity), pleasure, thank (-s – worthy).
Agape-translated as Love; defined as dear love, benevolence, affection, charity, love without strings attached.
There is a fourth word whose definition is important to our understanding of today’s message:
Chrestos-translated as kindness meaning excellence ( in character or demeanor), usefulness, gentleness, goodness, gracious, (forgive me for using the word to define the word) kind.
Definitions taken from Strong’s Concise Dictionary of the words in THE GREEK TESTAMENT
A Mother Who Approached Napoleon For a Pardon For Her Son
A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice, and justice demanded death. “But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.” “But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied. “Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.” “Well, then,” the emperor said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son. (Luis Palau, “Experiencing God’’s Forgiveness“, Multnomah Press, 1984)
God has, since the very beginning of mankinds rebellion against him, extended His mercy toward us. Not due to our own individual actions, but His benevolence, motivate by His love, and not by our own perceived adorableness.
What’s Unique about Christianity?
During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods’ appearing in human form. Resurrection?
Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. “What’s the rumpus about?” he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.”
After some discussion, the conferees had to agree. The notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and the Muslim code of law — each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional.
I have always wondered why people move forward toward religions that seek to please God by our acts that we might be delivered from the bondage of death by earning His favor. It simply can’t be done. Paul in Roman’s tells us this, even as great an apostle as he, he knew that he battled the old man and sometimes he lost. In today’s scripture he tells us in verse 9, not by works, but by faith we are delivered. There is not a believer who doesn’t battle the same demon we find in the mirror when we examine ourselves.
The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and the Muslim code of law — each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional.
Aware of our inbuilt resistance to grace, Jesus talked about it often. He described a world suffused with God’s grace: where the sun shines on people good and bad; where birds gather seeds gratis, neither plowing nor harvesting to earn them; where untended wildflowers burst into bloom on the rocky hillsides.
Like a visitor from a foreign country who notices what the natives overlook, Jesus saw grace everywhere. Yet he never analyzed or defined grace, and almost never used the word. Instead, he communicated grace through stories we know as parables.
I was recently asked if a person who takes his own life can go to heaven? The question itself judges that suicide is a sin and has been taught for centuries that it is. I’ll be honest, I can’t claim conclusively that it is or it isn’t, but I can confidently state that by the grace of God every believer is sealed by the Spirit of God (Eph. 1:13,14; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5) and that no man, even one’s self can pluck him from the Father’s hand. The Holy Spirit by the Grace of God is our surety, earnest, promise of arriving in heaven to be with Christ for eternity. Can you not also see that God’s Grace moves beyond the giving of life, the conquering of death, but to the joy, the enjoyment, the beauty of His creation; the fact that in a sense we who believe and even non-believers already have a taste of blue heaven here on earth and it is by God’s graciousness toward us? I pray that every flower you see, every note sung in the cool of the morning, every time you witness the smile of small child, or smell the sweet fragrance of a new born you recognize His grace being bestowed on you.
We’ve talked about mercy & grace being two tiers or foundations of this thing we call
Christianity, but lets now look at the third tier we’re examining today-Love.
The apostle John actually defines, describes God as love. It is love that motivated him in the Garden of Eden to extend mercy, it was love of David that he was merciful when David sinned with Bathsheba. And it is love that motivates Him to extend His Grace toward us. As strange as it may sound, His love flows from Him because of Him, not because we are lovely, but because He is. This tier is the most important support Christianity possesses.
On this hinges God’s mercy and His grace: and just as importantly, our desired actions. 1John 4:15,16.
Our works or actions can’t earn God’s grace, but when we are given – granted that grace it should affect our works, actions, even our emotions. Isn’t that what Paul is saying in verse 10 of Eph. 2? Paul talks about kindness in his discussion of God’s mercy and grace, as if these are the works of God. What then does He (God) expect once He has bestowed his mercy and grace on the believer? Do you think He desires of us to be gracious to others, to be kind, to love them? Didn’t Jesus state we are to love one another, our neighbor? And did he qualify who our neighbor is? When we love we are gracious toward those we love. We all know or have known someone whose character has exhibited a special graciousness toward us. I remember Hoyt Clark, the simple words he shared with me after my son’s funeral, that impacted me in such a way that in no small part, has led me to stand here today.
Our God is loving, kind, merciful, and gracious, His followers should be too.
Le Apprentice 