The Gospel Of Grace (Ephesians 2:1-10) Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD, USA

www.mycrossway.org

View this and other messages at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/channels/8118

A Sunday School teacher had just finished telling her third graders ... how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb and then rose again on the third day. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, she asked: "What do you think were Jesus' first words when He came out of that tomb?"

A little girl in the back of the room shot her arm into the air and shouted excitedly "I know, I know!" Extending both of her arms high into the air she said: "TA-DA!" (Sermon Central: Jeffery Smead)

The resurrection of Jesus is indeed a power, powerful word. To a child, it could be, simply put, “Ta-da!” But the word we would use to describe the work of Jesus on the Cross, his death, and resurrection is “Gospel.” The Greek for this is euangelion, which we commonly say means “good news.” While that is a partial definition, it is not complete. It is not just “good news” but the pronouncement of good news.” What I want you to understand this morning is the gospel is not a thing it is what we do; it is the message of the church to the world that Jesus is Lord.

In recent history, there have been tragic attempts to redefine the gospel as some kind of social movement. Some have tried to attach certain causes to the gospel. If somebody wants a certain ethical issue, has a social or moral idea, or some other kind of ideology, they will label it as a gospel issue. The Bible warns against such things because it confuses the gospel and adds to the gospel.

I’ve said before, we live in an age of biblical illiteracy in the church and it shows. In a recent survey, 50 percent of the Christians surveyed believe that salvation is earned by good works. Less than half of believers say is their responsibility to share their faith with others. At the same time, according to Barna, only 6% of Americans share a biblical worldview.

The gospel is not about any behavior. It is not about any activity, any social cause, ethical cause, moral cause. The Gospel is a message - a life-saving invitation - from the King of Glory. We are commanded to preach it and proclaim it. But sadly, many even within the church do not know it, understand it, or believe it (much less proclaim it). Now with that in mind, let’s continue to read Ephesians starting in Chapter 2 verses 1-10.

1. The Gospel is Good News Because it First Identifies Our Sin (vv. 1-3)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV)

The moment we fail to recognize the massive weight of the smallest of sin in our lives and our powerlessness to overcome it is the moment we succumb to its strength. Detreich Bonhoeffer wrote, "If my sinfulness appears to me to be in any way smaller or less detestable in comparison with the sins of others, I am still not recognizing my sinfulness at all."

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ESV)

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8 ESV)

Paul wanted to remind us in the first verse of the serious nature of our sin. Not to condemn us but to keep us closely connected to the context of the Gospel. Sin is a matter of life and death - literally. If all we talk about is grace and never share grace against the backdrop of sin, God’s grace is diluted. If the church does not speak on the issue of sin and its curse, the gospel has no power.

20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20–23 ESV)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

What we first fail to understand is that sin isn’t an issue of what we do, it is a condition of the heart. How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats his way out. Sin, like the worm, begins in the heart and works out through a person’s thoughts, words, and actions.