We are all familiar with before and after stories. Programmes like Garden Rescue and Ground Force tell their own stories of transformations. But the greatest ever story of transformation is found in the gospel, and re-told here by Paul in Ephesians. Pastor Steve Reilly reminds us again of the wonder of our salvation - a wonder that’s the heart of our worship and changes for ever how we see ourselves and the world we live in.

Pastor Steve reminds us that salvation is more than about what happens to us after we die - salvation transforms our lives now. Ephesians 2:1-10 spells this out through a series of contrasts. We were dead in transgressions and sins, and now are alive in Christ. We lived in disobedience, and now we live to do good works. We once followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air. Now we are in Christ and seated with Him in heavenly realms.

Pastor Steve summaries the story of our salvation in three headings.

We have the problem that sin separates us from God and from His life. Sin is a barrier we can neither cross nor overcome. Pastor Steve unpacks what it means for us to be objects of God’s “wrath.” As Paul says in Romans, God’s wrath is against wickedness - a righteous anger which seeks the reformation of people rather than their destruction. Sin creates consequences - it’s like a moral law of cause and effect - as Paul says in Romans 1:24, 1:26, and 1:28. Because God is holy, He cannot tolerate sin, or allow it to corrupt the redeemed world that He will establish when Jesus’s rule is complete. There is a future dimension to God’s wrath, through which we can exclude ourselves forever from His loving presence.

But God, in His love, desires everyone to come to know Him. For this He has made provision through love, mercy and grace, which we can experience through repentance.

This leads us into God’s purpose - that from the new life we live by the grace of God we are enabled to do the good works which He has prepared for us. As Pastor Steve puts it “We are saved to grow in the character of Christ’s likeness.” The person you are becoming, is as important as what you do.

Pastor Steve highlights two practical ways in which we can work this out - engaging with the mission of God and living a life of worship. Through living out a life impacted by grace we make a difference in our world, and as we let the deep truths of what we have been saved from - and saved for - to take a hold of us, we live a life of gratitude for His gracious provision.

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