Hope and Belief are United

Ephesians 2

To the saints who believe and in earshot of those who do not, perchance they might hear and reach out to God…

You were once dead in spirit and trapped in the ways of this world that is powered by those who fight against the purposes of God, as we all once were. Without the Holy Spirit, we had no ability to do different and because of that were subject to God’s judgement.

But because of His great mercy and grace, He sent Jesus Christ to absorb and deflect His wrath from us who believe and trust in the work of Christ. Christ’s love for God’s created beings so pleased God that He placed Jesus in the highest place, and those who trust in His work with Him.

Our belief in the work of Christ is not normal or possible except that God reveals it to us. We were spiritually dead and separated from God. But by His undeserved mercy and grace, the favor of God, He has opened our hearts and minds to see, know and receive salvation. Recognizing our sin and separation from God, our Creator and Heavenly Father, caused a deep yearning and desire for that salvation which He enabled us to respond to.

That salvation is purchased in the very blood of Jesus Christ. A cost that we understand in the flesh, but cannot fully grasp in the spirit. But! We grab onto it as a saving float in the middle of an endless ocean. Not knowing how it got there, but trusting its ability to keep us afloat until rescue comes.

Even more, we are not alone! All across this ocean are others. Clinging to life in Christ. We work our way to one another to assemble into a greater place, an island of safety, with Christ as our foundation keeping us afloat. And in that assembly, we are built together as a dwelling place of God in the Spirit and in this world.