“Saved by Grace”
Ephesians 2:1-10
Today we will be in Ephesians 2:1-10:
- I head to this text because
- lately I have been preaching a lot
- about the need for us to be faithful under times of duress
- to stand for the Lord, even if we have to stand alone
I’ve also been trying to stress:
- some of the sins that are common in our society
- sins that the Lord detests,
- and how we need reject the things of this world
- and live by the Bible
But today I want to go a little different direction:
- partly because the sermons I’ve been preaching
- have been very heavy into personal obedience and
- to some degree obeying the Law and commands of God
And while I believe that obedience is essential to our faith:
- that too many of us have become apathetic in our Christian duty
- and that the trend of society and the Church is
- not to change to conform to the Bible, but rather
- that the Christian faith should conform to society
Today, I feel compelled to explain things from a different angle:
- to be honest it seems a little counterintuitive,
- but I want to remind us that our human efforts
- cannot under any circumstances save our souls…
Yes we should:
- give generously
- study the Bible rigorously
- pray continually
- reject sin and serve willingly
- that we must stand firm for God, even when we stand alone…
And it must frustrate God:
- that much of His church
- is unwilling to do much of anything for His Kingdom
- and rather serves idols made by human hands…
And while we desire:
- Church growth and conversions
- we want the pews filled
- and we say we want souls saved…
While we might say we want revival:
- God wants all that, but that is not all He wants
- He also wants His people to humble ourselves
- to pray and repent of our wicked ways…
That is a long way to go for most of the Church:
- but if somehow we became
- super passionate about our faith
- devoted ourselves to live the best we can
If we gave all our money to the poor:
- and served at homeless shelters
- and went and served on the mission field
Guess what?
- that still is not good enough to get into heaven
- you still don’t have enough credits to pay for your sins
- you would still be headed to Hell outside of Christ…
But you already knew all that, Right?
- you know you can’t gain entrance into heaven
- by your own production of GOOD WORKS…
- so today we will look at God’s grace
All of that brings us to the text today in Ephesians 2:1-10:
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:1-10 (NKJV)
This text is a staple of the Christian:
- it is one worth memorizing
- specifically 2:8-9 that brings into perspective
- that we are the SAVED and NOT THE SAVIOR
Ephesians 2 really clarifies a lot of misconceptions about Christianity:
#1 misconception is that everyone is going to heaven:
- when was the last time you went to a funeral and heard this
- “I’m sure he’s burning in Hell right now”
- I never hear that and yet NOT EVERYONE is going to heaven
While it is true that a good tree will bear good fruit:
- and we could look at a life and say
- that guy drank, did drugs and was wild
- surely he didn’t make it to heaven….
While that would be conjecture:
- what about the guy who
- gives to charity, has a nice job
- is generally moral.
- do we assume he is going to heaven?
What we should be most concerned about:
- is does this person have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ
- have they believed, confessed, repented and been immersed into Christ
- I believe we need to stop seeing people as Good and bad people
- but more critical than good and bad is Saved and Lost people
Misconception #2 is that Heaven is a points system
Often people say ridiculous things like:
- I don’t know if I’m good enough to get into heaven
- I hope I get in, I’m trying
- a lot of times I hear this from Christians.
That is thinking that see salvation based on a points system:
- if I’m good enough I can get a C- and get into heaven
- or if I’m 49% bad and 51% good,
- then I’m golden
We need to be reminded that our salvation, and:
- that our forgiveness of sin
- is not based on the degree of our sinfulness
- neither does it consider our personal righteousness
- as to if we do or do not receive salvation
Misconception #3 is that there is no such thing as sin, and if there is, I’m not guilty
Pay attention as we travel through the text today:
- and notice that God punishes sin
- He forgives sin as well
- but one thing He does not do is OVERLOOK or
- wink at sin and turn away.
The text confronts us with reality:
- that reality is that we are all guilty before God
- because of our choices and actions to sin
- we are guilty
That hits us all between the eyes:
- sure others reject God and rebel against God
- but we aren’t that bad
- in fact, we’re pretty good people
But the Bible says differently:
We’ve all missed the mark
We’ve all gone astray
We have sinned intentionally and accidentally
Through both commission and ommission
The Gospel is specifically confrontational:
- we’ve sinned and earned Hell
- and we NEED to repent, turn directions
- and both seek salvation through Christ
- and change our ways
But by and large society doesn’t want:
- to change
- to repent
- to give up ways of sin
To be honest:
- there are times we don’t want to give up sin either
- it is a struggle
- and at times we seem to be losing the war with sin
With that in mind:
- we turn our thoughts from the unbeliever
- toward the believer who struggles to live RIGHT
- in a world that has gone WRONG
I am reminded of Romans 7:
- where Paul addresses his own struggle
- to live the way God would have him live
- to live the way he wants himself to live
And Paul admits:
- there is a war going on in his life
- and at times he doesn’t do what he should do
- and instead he does things HE HATES….
In despair over his own sin Paul writes Romans 7:24:
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
But Paul’s despair:
turns quickly to delight
in the next verse Romans 7:25
“I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
On the one hand Paul:
- is struggling against sin and the flesh
- he is rightly feeling guilty for his sin
- but in a moment he remembers God’s grace!
For the Christian who is:
- fighting sin and losing the battle
- who is stuck in bad habits and addiction
- there is hope, there is grace, there is mercy, there is forgiveness
God invented the second chance:
- think about the prodigal son
- who rejected His father, turn away and sinned against him
- but that wasn’t the end of the story
Luke 15:17 says:
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”
Many of us are like the prodigal:
- we are dying in a mess of our own making
- alone andbarely hanging on
- desperate for help
WE ought to learn from:
- this rebellious prodigal
- come to our senses
- and remember the goodness of our father.
If you have sinned:
- repent, turn and
- get back to God’s way
- you may need to get some help
God will take you back:
- sometimes we get tired of coming to God
- because we fail so often
- but God never gets tired of us coming to him
If you are sinning:
- and are terribly uncomfortable
- you feel awful, that is kind of a good thing
- because a child of God should not be comfortable in sin
One theme I’ve noticed in society is that:
- if there is a God,
- then He is loving and would never punish sin
- therefore God loves me and will save me
- regardless of how I live.
Then they conclude that if God sends people to Hell:
God is mean and therefore unloving
And since God is loving,
He cannot both be God and punish sin
Make no mistake:
- people are reinventing both
- God and the Bible into a religion
- that is man made and tolerant of what the
- Bible actually calls sin
So to clear the air:
- Ephesians 2 identifies our sin problem, and that
- God is not pleased that Jesus
- provides a superior option
The better option:
- is salvation
Ephesians also emphasizes the power of the cross of Christ:
- the power of God to save sinners
- to change the final story of sinners
- which includes us all
- to change our destination from Hell to Heaven
1. The way we are.
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”
Ephesians 2:1-3
This is the condition we are outside of Christ:
- we have to look honestly at our situation
- and the situation is catastrophic
- the Bible says we are dead in our sins and tresspasses
The first thing we learn is that WE ARE DEAD:
- that is a desperate and permanent problem
- when you are in the ICU and very ill
- there is still hope
In the movie “The Princess Bride”:
- the wizard doctor played by Billy Crystal
- is working on Wesley, the hero of the story
- Wesley seems dead and everyone is in despair
It is then that Billy Crystal’s character says…
“It just so happens that your friend here is only mostly dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead.”
When we chose sin:
- we made a deadly decision
- we were dead in our sin
- not sick from sin, in critical condition
- we are dead
That is a hopeless condition…
We were slaves to sin:
- before we come to Christ
- we pursued sin without even thinking about it
Our previous life was:
- a walk with the devil
- a walk not with God
- but a walk full of sin and tresspasses
We were apart from God:
- we were helpless and hopeless
- we were guilty and headed to Hell
- for Crimes we did commit
In the presence of death:
- there is no joy
- previously there was hope
- that someone would do something or that
- there would be an unexplained healing
But in the presence of death:
- reality has arrived
- and a new truth has entered the room
- Death is final, no one comes back from death…
Or do they?
I’ve heard various internet voices explain their view of God:
- the reject God because the see Him as a villain
- who takes joy in sending people to Hell
- they think God made us up for failure
- and He is a monster for punishing sin
That is not how God is…
2. The way God is…
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:4-7
Who is God?
What is He really like?
Here is a perfect picture of God:
- rather than a vindictive monster
- He is rich in mercy and
- loves us with a great love
God is rich in mercy:
- what is mercy?
- mercy is not getting what you deserve
- mercy is getting forgiveness instead of WRATH
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
The Message version puts it this way…
“God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.”
While some paint God:
- as an angry vindictive monster
- eager to pick people up
- and drop them into the pit of HELL
The truth of the matter is that:
- God is pushing back the time of JUDGMENT
- as far as possibly
- so that more people will take hold over the
- salvation that He freely gives
At this point:
- the question becomes
- why would a person chose their sin
- over God’s offer of salvation…
In reality:
- people love their sin more than they love God
- some would rather walk in the darkness than step into the light
- and they will pay the price for their choice.
Have you ever heard this from a friend “if you need anything, call me”:
- I’ve even said that and meant it
- but when there is a real need
- a lot of times no one is available to help
Some don’t help:
- because they are really busy and unable to assist
- some are able to help, but never really wanted to help
The point is that:
you needed their help, but
they could not or would not help
But that is not the way God is:
- God observes our need
- wants to help us
- is able to help us
- and then MOVES TO HELP US
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
So far we have seen in the text:
- our dire circumstance, we are dead in sin, going to Hell
- we have seen God is rich in mercy
- now we have a choice…
3. The way we can be
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
Because of the saving work of Christ on the cross:
We can be alive with Christ
We can be free from sin
We can have incomparable riches
Once you have become a Christian:
- having believed and obeyed the Gospel
- put your faith in Christ Jesus
By the time you are done with that:
- you know that you didn’t earn your salvation
- you do not deserve your salvation
- that it is a gift of Mercy
We ought to be humble because:
- we can’t save ourselves,
- we need a savior
- and we are all in the same boat, each one of us
If we could invent or create our own salvation:
- we would brag about it
- we could boast
- but we can’t
You are saved by grace through faith
The message is:
- that we don’t have to stay dead in our sin
- that God loves us without limit
- He wants a relationship with us
- He wants to free us from our sin and it’s punishment
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
In the beginning of this message:
- I laid out heavily
- how our salvation is not based on works
- I covered that thoroughly
However:
- after we are a Christian
- there are some expectations
- that we would serve the Lord
WE understand that:
- we don’t serve the Lord
- in an effort to gain God’s favor
- but right here in verse 10
God says He as some things:
- that He wants us to do
- He has planned to connect us
- with projects or jobs or ministry
- He did not save us to sit on the sidelines and “watch the faith”
Someone said that we:
- are not saved by good works,
- but for good works
- So let’s get to work.
When my kids were little:
- I used to do evening prayers and blessings with them
- I miss that.
- I hope it made an impact on them
The blessing was simple:
- and went like this
- You are beautiful, smart and funny, I love you and God loves you
- and he has big plans for you…
My son who was probably 5 years old:
- asked me one night
- “what are they”
- “what are what?”
- “the plans God has for me?”
I wasn’t ready for that question:
- and I think in the moment
- I told him that God would tell him
- what he wanted him to do when the time was right
That was an ok answer:
- but a better answer is that God
- wants you to be saved from your sins
- for you to give Him glory
- and for you to spend eternity with Him in heaven…
I can’t go back and tell my son that:
- but I can tell it to you
- God doesn’t want you to enter eternity without him
- He wants to save your soul….
- He has other plans, but that’s His man plan
God has put a lot of:
- love, effort, blood and sweat
- into us
- He is a master at His craft
It feels right to mention:
- that John 15 reminds us we need to stay
- that our only strength in our connection to God
- and that apart from God we can do nothing…
For us to appreciate God’s grace:
- we have to accept that
- we are bankrupt without Him
- we bring nothing to the table
Ephesians 2:8 says it best…
“For by grace you have been saved through faith,”
I said we bring nothing to the table:
- but that might be wrong
- God provides the salvation
- but we must have faith..
You see there are two parts:
- God’s part and ours
- God’ already done all He needs to do
- How about you?
Will you put your faith in Jesus this morning? Right now?
Invitation:
Credit: Outline from Troy Borst sermoncentral.com
