Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 31
Tuesday


RESCUED

READ:
Ephesians 2:1-10
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God, who is rich in
mercy,.... made us
alive together with
Christ.
__Ephesians 2:4-5
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Lauren nervously yet excitedly hopped into a one-person kayak for a white-water rafting experience. After strapping herself in, she headed down the river with a group of kayakers and guides.

Lauren became even more nervous when she laid eyes on the falls ahead. Suddenly, as the kayak tossed and turned in the white water, it flipped over. She had ben instructed on how to get out quickly if this were to happen. But she became disoriented as she hung upside-down in the water and couldn't find the release bar to get out. She knew she couldn't hold her breath much longer and thought she would soon be in the Lord's presence. Then help came just in time and she was saved. Lauren was very grateful for her rescue from physical death.

An even greater rescue has been provided for us--rescue from spiritual death has come in the Person of Jesus Christ. While we were drowning in sin, God sent His Son Jesus to bring life through His own death and resurrection (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:5). He did so because He is "rich in mercy" and because of "His great love" (Eph. 2:4).

Out of gratefulness, we can help others by telling them of the rescuer they so desperately need. __Anne Cetas
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```````````````Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,`````````````
``````````````Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;```````````
```````````````Weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen,```````````
````````````Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. __Crosby````````
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Those who've been rescued should be ready
and willing to help in the rescue of others.

************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 2:1-10************

1 And you He made alive,
who were dead in trespasses
and sins, 2 in which you
once walked according to
the course of this world,
according to the prince of
the power of the air, the
spirit who now works in the
sons of disobedience,

3 among whom also we all
once conducted ourselves in
the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the
flesh and of the mind, and
were by nature children of
wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in
mercy, because of His great
love with which He loved
us, 5 even when we were
dead in trespasses, made us
alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been
saved). 6 and raised us up
together, and made us sit
together in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, 7 that
in the ages to come He
might show the exceeding
riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us in
Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace
you have been saved
through faith, and that not
of yourselves; it is the gift
of God, 9 not of works, lest
anyone should boast. 10 For
we are His workmanship,
created in Christ jesus for
good works, which God
prepared beforehand that
we should walk in them.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Salvation is God's gift and can never be earned. Twice in this passage
Paul makes this abundantly clear-- "by grace you have been saved"
(vv.5,8). Elsewhere Paul adds, "So it is God who decides to show
mercy" (Rom. 9:16 NLT). While we are not saved by our good works,
Paul reminds us that we are saved that we can do good works
(Eph. 2:10; Matt. 5:16 2 Cor. 9:8; Col. 1:10). __SIM KAY TEE