Well this evening we'll continue
our meditation in the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians in the
second chapter and we'll read this evening just verses six
and seven. So Ephesians chapter two reading
verses six and seven. And hath raised us up together
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in
the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace
and his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Last Friday we spoke about the
fourth and the fifth verses and of course the fifth verse ended
with that statement by grace ye are saved and because of that
wonderful statement The Apostle then goes on to tell us, and
hath raised us up together. That means we are raised up with
Christ. This was, of course, a prophecy
or a statement with regard to that which would come to pass.
We know that the Saviour had already risen from the dead,
and that we shall be in that great, wonderful day of judgment
the last time when time is no more to be raised up together
with him when he comes to judge the world when every eye shall
see him so he comes in the clouds and so this statement is a wonderful
thought to the true believer but of course it's a terrible
thought to those who are unbelievers Because there will be no blessing. They will be raised but not to
be with Christ. And not to be amongst those who
sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Truly the Saviour
will be in the midst. He will be the great attraction
to all the saved sinners in glory. And to think this is a most sure
and certain thing that As we now today walk upon this earth,
there will be that time when we will be raised up together
and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So it is a wonderful thought
and a wonderful prospect to the Church of God to realize that
as we press on through this world with all the difficulties that
it contains day by day, the many things that we strive against,
the many evils which beset us without and within to realize
that one day by God's favor we shall be found in this situation
raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus and so he goes on then to expand this and say
that in the ages to come and those ages to come of course
are very much less than they were the ages to come he might
show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus. Because the ages to come is when
the Lord does return. But in one sense, of course,
the apostle is also speaking here of a time of eternal blessing,
when there will be no separation. we shall be by the grace of God
forever with the Lord. And so we're told that in the
ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace. It's a very wonderful statement
isn't it, to think that to unworthy sinners, those who have no merit,
those who deserve no favour, it is because of his grace. It's because of his wonderful
love and wonderful favour he gives to unworthy sinners to
receive these blessings. Unmerited favour is the grace
of God and we are told here he will show the exceeding riches. Well we can compare perhaps in
some small way, the riches of this poor world, the fading riches
of this poor world, which will never do us any real spiritual
good. They may help us perhaps in this
world, but they will never help us in the worlds to come. And
so here the Apostle speaks in these glorious words, exceeding
riches, something which is so great, it's exceeding. It exceeds
that which perhaps our minds can comprehend, because we cannot
really understand the riches of glory. We cannot really understand
the eternal favours which God has prepared for those that love
Him, for those who He has loved with everlasting love, exceeding
riches of His grace, this great grace. Isn't it great grace? That's why we're going to sing
in a moment our second hymn, Amazing Grace, how sweet the
sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now
am found. It is grace that sets me free,
and it is only the grace of God. Surely tonight we have great
reason to thank and to praise God for his grace. Blessed be God. And we're told
here of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. And of course his kindness really
means loving kindness. His loving kindness toward us. It's a thought which is exceedingly
great. The exceeding riches of his grace
and his kindness toward us and it's centred through Christ Jesus. It only comes to us through what
the Lord Jesus Christ has done on our behalf. In satisfying
the holy law of God, in paying the ransom which we were unable
to pay, order to redeem our souls. What a price it was, the price
of the Saviour's life through Christ Jesus. Such a thought
should really bring to our minds the exaltation of this great
and blessed God-man who was so willing to come into the sinful
world in order to redeem our souls, so that by His grace,
one day we shall be with Him, with all the saints of God, in
glory forever and ever. Oh, what matchless condescension
the Eternal God displays. It's a wonderful thought, isn't
it? And so tonight, may we rejoice
in such a statement as this. In the ages to come, He might
show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus. It's all centred through Christ. May we exalt his name together. May we praise and bless him for
that great and glorious work of salvation and indeed be so
thankful that we are redeemed with a precious blood of Christ.