QT 27/08/2024 Tue. Ephesians 2. Salvation is God’s work and gift. Good works are our way of saying "Thank you" to God. 救赎是上帝的工作和恩赐。善行是我们向上帝说 “谢谢 ”的方式。

QT 27/08/2024 Tue. Ephesians 2. Salvation is God’s work and gift. Good works are our way of saying "Thank you" to God.
https://www.esvbible.org/eph2

We were spiritually dead but made alive in Christ by God’s love, mercy and grace (Eph 2:1, 4-5). If God raised Jesus from the dead with His great power, would He not also be able to raise us up with Christ?

It's amazing that God showed us His grace in the work of Christ (Eph 2:6-7)! Since it is by His grace that we receive this gift of God (salvation) through faith (Eph 2:8-9), we cannot claim any credit. So what’s up next for us who are God’s handiwork in Christ? Do good works (Eph 2:10).

REFLECTION (1): Are there good works that God has graciously done in your life? What are the good works that God has prepared for you in Christ?

A message of peace was brought by Christ through His sacrificial death to Gentiles (who were far away) and to Jews (who were near). The mystery of God (Eph 2:11-22, cf Eph 1:9 & Eph 3:6). God built a church through the cross.

REFLECTION (2): Are there people who seem ‘far away’? Are you helping them to get “near” by your testimonies and good works?

星期二 2024年8月27日 今日读经：以弗所书2章。救赎是上帝的工作和恩赐。善行是我们向上帝说 “谢谢 ”的方式。
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians 2&version=CUVS

我们的灵命本是死的却因着神的爱、怜悯和恩典，在基督里复活了(弗2:1,4-5)。如果神以祂的大能把耶稣从死里复活，祂岂不是也能将我们与基督一同复活吗？

神显明他在基督耶稣里赐给我们的恩典，是多么的丰盛(弗2:6-7)!既然我们得到神的礼物(救恩)是靠着祂的恩典和信心(弗2:8-9)，我们不可以讨任何的功劳。所以接下来身为神在基督里的创造的我们，当如何呢？行善事(弗2:10)。

反思(1):你的生命里是否有着神为你成就的善事呢？神在基督里为你预备了哪些好事呢?

基督借着他的牺牲为外族人(在远方)和犹太人(在近处)带来了平安的信息。这是神的神奇之处(弗2:11-22, 也见Eph 1:9 & Eph 3:6)。神借着十字架建立了教会。

反思(2)：有没有人是在“远方”的？你是否借助你的见证和善事把这些人引“近”？