Ephesians 4:6-7: God Our Father

Ephesians 4:6–7
[6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [7] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (ESV)

For years there has been a popular, yet false notion about the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.  It is this basic notion that God is our doting father.  He does not discriminate between good and evil.  All are good.  All are his children.  And we are all brothers and sisters.  No need to worry about hell.  No need to be saved.  We are all his children.  If we just read verse 6 here today, without reading verse 7, we might be tricked into believing the worldly notion of the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man.

I am thankful for verse 7 which brings appropriate clarity.  But grace! Grace is an undeserved gift of God.  It is essential for our salvation.  As Paul has made very clear earlier in this epistle, it is by grace that we have been saved, and not by works, lest we should boast.  Grace was given to each of us.  When Paul writes, "us," he is referring to the Elect recipients of this letter to the Ephesians, and to all believers in Jesus Christ. There is a wonderful story about the great C.S. Lewis, and his description of what separates Christianity from all other worldly religions:

"During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods' appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. "What's the rumpus about?" he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."

There is one God and father of all of us in the CHURCH!  And he is over all of us, and through all of us and in all of us.  And the means for that being a reality in us is through the wonderful gift of grace through Christ!

Do you want to know God as your loving father? Accept his free gift of forgiveness by placing your faith in the finished work of the cross of Christ on your behalf!  If you are already his child give him praise right now!