+DEV+ Grace Not Entitlement

Date: November 5, 2014 11:12 PM

Topic: +DEV+  Grace Not Entitlement

Grace Not Entitlement

"In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace..." Ephesians 1:4-6

Scripture Focus: Ephesians 1:3-14

Seeing ourselves as adopted children in Christ reminds us that if we are children, "then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17). "Inheritance" isn't really an idea many of us grow up with. You may think it's something reserved for the very wealthy. In the Bible, the idea of inheritance had everything to do with who a person's father was (Russell Moore, "Adopted for Life," 2009). The father's livelihood guaranteed survival through the generations. It was security for a person. 

And for us, it's a picture of the inheritance that the Father gives to His children, even to us as adopted children. When God created man, this entire world was meant to be our inheritance, but sin destroyed that model, leaving us all orphans. It's as if we no longer are entitled to anything. Yet through God's matchless grace in sending His Son, we have everything! "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things" (Romans 8:32)?

Insight: We ought to shudder to think what we're actually entitled to. Yet through God's grace we have everything... We have Jesus!

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

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