Ephesians 2:1-10
Saved by Grace through Faith
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Matthew 9:9-13
Jesus Came for Sinners
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Jesus is full of grace and proves it by LOVING us...His Grace is our gift...Sometimes we may wonder if we are forgiven and receive His Grace, but we do...But grace and forgiveness is the Jesus Way...Because of God's Great LOVE for us, He, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Jesus even when we were dead in our sins—it is by grace you have been saved...Jesus came to earth to call on sinners and help us, and be our Savior...We are all God's handiwork and created in His Son to do good works and help others...
Priest Brennan Manning wrote about Jesus' Grace this way...“Living by grace inspires a growing consciousness that I am what I am in the sight of Jesus and nothing more...It is His approval that counts...Making our home in Jesus, as He makes His in us, leads to creative listening: Has it crossed your mind that I am proud you accepted the gift of faith I offered you?...Proud that you freely chose Me, after I had chosen you, as your friend and Lord?...Proud that, with all your warts and wrinkles, you haven’t given up?...Proud that you believe in Me enough to try again and again?...Are you aware how I appreciate you for wanting Me?...I want you to know how grateful I am when you pause to smile and comfort a child who has lost her way...I am grateful for the hours you devote to learning more about Me; for the word of encouragement you passed on to your burnt-out pastor; for your visit to the shut-in; for your tears for the retarded...What you did to them, you did to Me...Alas, I am sad when you do not believe that I have totally forgiven you or you feel uncomfortable approaching Me.”...