1. What stood out to me from this chapter?
This whole chapter is filled with grace. It's leaking grace from every knothole. It's busting out at the seams with grace. But so is God. In one of the most quoted Bible verses we hear clearly that we are saved by grace through faith. Most Chrisitians believe that and understand that. But I think very few of us (emphasis on the me included) really understand how deep his grace is for people. His unending, unconditional love which compels him to provide for the needs of every person, whether they acknowledge Him or not. It's why Paul sets up the second part of the chapter with the first. Because of God's grace even the "Gentiles" can be included in Salvation and God's promises.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus is talking about loving your enemies, and he talks about how even God sends rain in the righteous and the unrighteous. That is a practical example of Gods grace. Another is in Romans 5:6-8. Here we discover that Christ came to die for us while we were still sinners. When we were still sinners. That's grace. That's getting what we don't deserve.
3. So what does this mean for my life?
Living by grace is much harder than it seems until you practice it and realize that there is no better way to live. I was struck this time through the chapter that grace is the basis and the process for forming unity in the church - across racial, cultural, age, and gender lines.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
I really wonder why God didn't send Jesus sooner to reveal this whole grace initiative. That's not really a question I expect an answer for this side of eternity.
God bless and we'll be in chapter 3 next.
In Christ,
Dan
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