Ephesians 2:1-10 page 1
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Ephesians 2:1-10 page 1 |
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Miss Hampshire ... is friendly, likeable, and easy to talk to. She has a fine, fair skin, which she admits ruefully comes out in freckles at the first hint of sin. [Chichester Evening News] Fifteen churches have been closed in Dublin City because of swindling congregations. [Dublin Evening Herald] Patricia Middleton sang 'Christians dost thou see them?' at the close of Sunday night's service. Miss Middleton is a qualified vice instructor. [Yorkshire Post] And if I dare say this one in church:
Born to Revd and Mrs David Wilson of St James' Church, a git of a son.
[Croydon Advertiser] The common theme is sin. A theme that can preoccupy Christians during Lent. Some might think it preoccupies Christians all year round! It can be unhealthy, when all we think about is sin and not grace. But to think about sin and grace is to have a realistic view of the human race and not oscillate between optimism and despair. I mean the way some people fluctuate between talking about witnessing a good deed that restores their faith in human nature and wickedness that means they despair of human nature. Neither extreme will do. And that's where Ephesians 2:1-10 comes in. Paul is clear about the nature and extent of human sin. He spares us no blushes in verses 1 to 3. But he is thrilled by God's grace, and takes seven verses to outline it (verses 4 to 10). So that is our theme for this Fourth Sunday in Lent: sin and grace, human nature and divine compassion.
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Copyright © David D Faulkner, 2006 except where other sources are attributed or noted as inspiration. |
