Ephesians 1:6
“To the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.”
Introduction:
• If mercy says, “You may go free,”
grace says, “Come home and sit at My table.”
• In Christ, God does not stop at forgiving sinners –
He adopts them, clothes them in righteousness, and calls them His own.
• That is grace: the free, undeserved, and overflowing favour of God in Jesus Christ.
1. Grace Defined
1.1 Grace as God’s Favour (Romans 11:6)
1.2 Grace as God’s Power (1 Corinthians 15:10)
2. Grace Displayed:
The Cross and the Resurrection (Ephesians 1:3–8)
• Ephesians 1 – with a hymn of praise to the triune God,
centering on “the riches of His grace.”
• “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…” (vv. 7–8)
• Romans 5:8: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Romans 5:2: “Through Him we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.”
3. Grace Deployed:
Transformation and Triumph (Titus 2:11–14)
• “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
training us to renounce ungodliness…”
• Justification: Grace declares us righteous.
• Sanctification: Grace transforms our conduct.
• Glorification: Grace will one day perfect us in Christ’s presence.
• Ephesians 2:7, God saved us “so that in the coming ages He might show
the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
• In eternity, we will not marvel at our faith or our obedience—but at His grace.
4. Grace Distributed (Applied):
Living to the Praise of His Glory
What does it mean to live as people of grace?
4.1 Gratitude
“What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7)
4.2 Grounded
We live moment by moment by the sustaining grace of God.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
4.3 Generosity
• Grace received must become grace given.
• “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matt. 10:8)
4.4 Hope
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” (Phil. 1:6)
Conclusion:
Why we need both Mercy and Grace
• Mercy: God withholds what we deserve– His wrath
• Grace: God gives what we don’t deserve- His favour.
• Christ: God’s mercy and grace embodied- He bore our wrath and bestowed His righteousness.
So we end where Paul begins in Ephesians 1:6:
“To the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.”
Final Exhortation: Draw Near
Hebrews 4:16 gives us the invitation that unites these two truths:
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”