Grace is mysterious for at least two reasons: first, because we do not understand the depth of our own sinfulness. We do not fully know what it takes for us to be forgiven by a Holy God. Second, because we do not know how great God's mercy and blessings are toward us. But we are assured that however deep our sins go, however evil we have been, God's grace in Christ Jesus and his power to forgive go even deeper. And however great we can imagine the blessings of God toward us who believe may in fact be, their reality is even greater. God is able to do "far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). Today we are exploring the mystery of God's grace toward us who are Gentiles - that Gentile Christians become full members with Jewish Christians in the family of God. There is an application also toward those who come into the church but who do not come from "Christian backgrounds". We only have one class of people in the family of God - all are sons and daughters of God. Regardless of where you and I came from - whether we were notoriously sinful, religiously prideful, or came from a background that was anything but Christian - in the grace of God all are accepted through their repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. – Pastor David Packer
