Ephesians 1:7-8
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
If there is one thing that resonates in throughout the book of Ephesians, it is the theme of grace. It is, without question, both the overarching point Paul is making but it is also the mortar and glue that hold his entire message together. We cannot worship, we cannot pray, we cannot serve, we cannot love, we cannot replace sin with righteousness, we cannot love our wives and husbands and parents and children nor can we stand against the spiritual forces arrayed against us without the grace of God. So, Paul makes it abundantly clear that God's grace (and love and mercy) are prior. Prior to us believing. Prior to us repenting. Prior to us seeking. Prior to us even acknowledging. And yet, even as believers standing on this side of the Cross, we seem to resist this reality. For some reason, we want to resist the irresistible grace of God.
Why is this so? What is it that makes us want to run and / or hide from the grace of God? There are a few things that come to mind, but I'm confident that this is by no means an exhaustive list.
First, the irresistable grace of God scares us. In saying this I don't mean it scares us like a horror film. Nor do I mean it is like the fear one might feel in an abusive relationship. What I mean when I say that the grace of God scares us is that it is beyond us and we cannot control it. It extends to people we may not wish it extended to. It covers sins we may not want covered. It is freely offered where we wish a price were attached. When all is said and done, irresistable grace is a staggering reminder that God is God and we are not. And this scares us.
In addition to being scared by the irresistable grace, we also resist it because don't really believe it. Whether we espouse an "its too good to be true" attitude or a "what about personal responsibility?" mindset, we all tend to try and limit the limitless grace of God. And even if we do get to the point of actually believing and trusting that God's grace is boundless and free, we often continue to trip up on the irresistable part. Can grace itself really affect a change in me? And if this is so, what does it say about my vaunted automony?
One final aspect of God's irresistable grace that causes resistance in us is that means God is in control and we are not. If he will save whom he will, what merit or contribution do we bring to the table? If we are redeemed 100% by the grace of God, then we really are spiritual begars and paupers. And, if this grace is irresistable then God is truely sovereign and I am not.
As I've considered these realities in my own heart and mind, I think this final truth might be the most difficult to embrace. I want so much to be in control, to be contributing, to be making a difference. But it only takes a little peeling of the onion to discover that these desires really mask a still prideful heart that is reluctant to give all the glory to God. And yet, that is exactly what irresitable grace does. It places all the glory where it belongs: with God.
To God Alone be the Glory
