Daily Reflection / Produced by The High Calling
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Ephesians 4:7
As we have seen, the opening verses of Ephesians 4 emphasize the unity of God's people, a unity founded on the very nature of God and on the core elements of Christian faith. There can be no doubt that God cares deeply about the church and will use the church in his restoring of all things in Christ.
But this does not mean that God overlooks you as an individual. Though God prizes the community of his people, he is not caught up in some kind of groupthink. Rather, God cares for each person. God gives gifts to each Christian. God enlists each and every one of us in his cosmic work.
Ephesians 4:7 stands in sharp contrast to the previous verses, though it continues to use the key word "one." Yet now the emphasis is on each singular individual, rather than that which all Christians share in common. Thus we read, "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." The Greek sentence emphasizes the word "one," now with the meaning "each one of us as an individual."
We're told that Christ has given his grace to each one of us. The precise referent of this truth isn't yet clear. We might be inclined to think Paul is talking about the grace that saved us as individuals when we put our faith in Christ. Or, we might remember Paul's explanation in chapter 3 that he "became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace. . . [T]his grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles. . ." (3:7-8). As we'll see when we read further in Ephesians 4, it is this second expression of grace that Paul underscores in verse 7. He's not talking about grace that saves us so much as grace that empowers us for Christian service.
As we continue on in Ephesians, we'll see just how much God values the church and empowers it for his purposes. But, today, we focus on the fact that God's grace is not handed out only in mass quantities to masses of people. Rather, through Christ, God gives grace to each individual. Even as God knows you as a distinct person, he also empowers you in your uniqueness to serve him in the world.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: Do you believe that God has given his grace to you individually? Do you live with this thought in mind? Do you believe that you matter to God, and that God has chosen you for his purposes?
PRAYER: Thank you, Gracious God, for the gift of your grace. Thank you for giving this grace, not just to your people as a group, but also to each one of us individually. Thank you for giving me the grace to put my trust in you. Thank you for giving me the grace to serve you in the world.
May I be filled with gratitude when I consider the grace you have given me. And may I be a faithful steward of this grace as I serve others for your glory. Amen.
Image courtesy of Laity Lodge, one of our sister programs in the Foundations for Laity Renewal.
FAQs
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
What did Jesus say about works and faith? ›
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.
How does faith relate to work? ›
“Faith gives you a world and life view that shapes the character of your work, without which work could master and use you.” All well-done work that serves the good of human beings pleases God. He gave us work to benefit us and to benefit others at the same time.
What does the Bible say about working your faith? ›
You can't work for your salvation because Scripture is clear that God's salvation comes solely by grace through faith in Jesus' finished work, not by our works. It is a gift of God that can only be received by faith (Eph. 2:8–9).
What does it mean when someone says he has faith but does not have works? ›
James 2:14-18 New Century Version (NCV)
My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them? A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. If you say to that person, “God be with you!
What is the meaning of James 2 8? ›
James 2:8–9. “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well” (James 2:8). One of the temptations to which all human beings are particularly prone is the temptation to view some groups as better than others.
What is a powerful Bible verse for faith? ›
Top Bible Verses about Faith
Luke 1:37 - For nothing will be impossible with God. 2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we walk by faith, not by sight. Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Can you have works without faith? ›
Just as “God is one,” so faith and works are one. To drive a wedge of abstract theory between them is an aberration of the gospel, and to oppose one against the other is to disregard the teachings of Christ.
What is the meaning of James 2 17? ›
That's what those who trust in Christ begin to do. In other words, we are saved only by faith, and this faith which saves will produce good works. According to James, those who lack works are not saved—not because they lack works, but because their lack of works proves that they lack saving faith.
What does James 4 14 mean? ›
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:14). Living knowing that your life is a vapor is different than just living. Things here are passing away. You've got to hold on to what will stand. Savor what matters.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.
What is the meaning of James 2 26? ›
A body without breath is dead. A person without "the Spirit" is spiritually dead. James ties together a lack of breath, a lack of spirit, and the presence of death with the concept of a works-less faith. Bodies which don't breathe are dead.
What Scripture talks about God always being at work? ›
Romans 8:28 ESV He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
What is the quote about faith and good works? ›
Let it ever be remembered that genuine faith in Christ will ever be productive of good works; for this faith worketh by love, as the apostle says, and love to God always produces obedience to his holy laws.
Does the Bible tell us to work? ›
In addition, work is not God's way of punishing us. In fact, He blesses us with the ability to work so that we can honor Him. Colossians 3:22 says, “You who are servants who are owned by someone, obey your owners. Work hard for them all the time, not just when they are watching you.
What does James say about faith without good works? ›
James 2:14 is arguably the centerpiece of his argument, so we will consider this section before moving on: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?” James bluntly answers his own question by stating, “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (James 2:17)—as ...
What is the difference between faith and works? ›
Many Christians have blurred the line between faith and works, and need to see that there are dramatic distinctions between these two things. Faith is a gift of God, and the Christian's work is something that God has prepared for us because we have been saved by faith.
What is the meaning of James 2 22? ›
According to James, Abraham's faith saved him, but his actions—his works—demonstrated his faith in God. In this verse, James makes that all the more clear: Abraham's obedience showed his active, working faith. In fact, his obedience completed, or "perfected" his faith.
What is the meaning of James 2 24? ›
James is saying that one can demonstrate before men (or can vindicate or justify oneself, 2:24) that one has been declared righteous by God. One can do this by doing good works, just as Abraham did by sacrificing his son Isaac long after God had declared him righteous (James 2:21; cf. Gen. 22:9-12).
