The Apostle Paul shows the church who they were and who they had become. He had to ordain elders but puts the emphasis on the children of God behaving themselves in subjection and showing meekness to all men. Sometimes men think they are exempt from the laws of men being "a cut above them" in the church of God. He would have them look in the mirror and not forget how they got to where they are...with humility! He becomes bold giving us the words of our text here.

Undeserved: Paul is very very personal here employing the personal pronoun "WE were..." in verse 3 and says we are the ones saved by grace and treat the world in kindness. We understand those things he speaks of have part of our old man and those which we have to struggle against OURSELVES. We are NOT a "cut above the world" but it is utterly amazing that we are the very children of God! Recipients of the kindness and the mercy of God! In Christ it all has become plain. The washing of regeneration by the Holy Ghost! "A light went on" and we were touched in our heart to come to the knowledge of our salvation!

Gracious: We too were in the darkness and did not know the Light until it shone in the darkness. Our Lord's broken body and shed blood...His own Son and the cross of Calvary! We can then look back and see that we were no better than the world.

Effective: Then and then only can we move about in this world THANKFUL for what God has done in our life! "All loss for the knowledge of Christ my Lord!" Who are we that God has set His love and kindness upon us whereby we believe and take hold of what God has done for us?!