“You have been saved!” (Eph 2:8) So what?
I asked that question a month ago when we started our series on Ephesians. The answer is not insignificant. Of course, there are the eternal benefits: If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, He has saved you from an eternity of torment separated from God and saved you to an eternity of joy in God’s presence. During the first half of the month we delved into the nature of our salvation. Here’s a few of the highlights in case you missed them:
- Our sin nature makes us enemies of God (Sandra)
- But God chooses to save us (Sandra)
- God alone can bring life from spiritual death (Kristi)
- The Holy Spirit plays a key role in our salvation (Kathy)
- The Holy Spirit and His power are present and active in the lives of believers (Kristi)
But the “so what” of our salvation is not limited to God’s one-time saving act on our behalf and the inheritance we will receive when we get to heaven. Our salvation also matters right now in this earthly life. The wonderful truths that God saved us and that the Holy Spirit lives within us impacts every relationship, every decision, and every circumstance of our lives. That is a great big “SO WHAT!”
Here are some of those “so whats” we discussed this month:
- We aren’t saved by good works, but God plans specific works for us to do (Kathy)
- All believers are equal; each person has incredible value to God (Sandra)
- Living a life of unity with fellow believers reflects the character of Christ (Teri Lynne)
- God desires unity within the church and makes it possible (Stephanie)
- To be like Jesus there are specific attitudes and actions we must “put off” and others we must “put on” (Teri Lynne)
- Godly marriages are marked by love and respect (Julie)
- We find peace in godly parent/child relationships (Julie)
- We have God-given weapons to use in our fight against evil (Kristi)
- God’s Word protects us from the enemy (Stephanie)
Believer, you have been saved! You have been saved to experience an abundant life in Christ for all eternity and for right now!
How does your salvation affect your life today? I would love to hear your “so what” story!
I love digging into a study with you all. Thank you for these in-depths looks into Ephesians this month. It’s been a true, thought-provoking, inspiring blessing.