Live Out Loud – Our GRACE April 22, 2007
Ephesians 2:1-10
Recap: We’re in a series in Ephesians entitled – Live Out Loud. The intent of this series is to help us learn how to live in the grace and power of Christ in us so we might experience the abundant life Jesus promised. In reflecting on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we find a cliff notes view of the basic elements of the Christian life – God, Jesus, H.S., salvation, morality, marriage, parenting, work, and warfare. It’s all in there!
Note: Last week we focused on a prayer offered by Paul that we’d grasp the depth of what it means to be a Christian and have the power of God available to us – that we’d realize WHOSE are and WHAT we have.
Trans: Today we turn our focus to the instigator of these truths – GRACE. We have access to God’s abundant love/mercy b/c of His amazing grace.
Insert: One of my favorite all-time hymns is “Amazing Grace.” Every time I sing the words, I am humbled before God b/c of His free gift of grace. But what exactly is grace and what makes God’s it so amazing?
Trans: I believe to fully understand the grace of God we must first understand our condition and need.
I Our CONDITION – DEAD
Text: 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Trans: Paul begins his discussion on grace by talking about our innate spiritual dilemma – we’re all sinners condemned to death. In fact, he deals w/ the predicament, penalty, and power of sin.
A The PREDICAMENT of Sin – Everyone is a Sinner
Trans: In considering the predicament of sin, one needs only to understand on simple reality – we’re all born sinners; we’re all destitute and depraved.
Verse: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away… For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Rm. 3:10, 23
Word: transgressions (paraptoma) or trespasses. It means to slip, stumble, deviate, or go the wrong direction. It means to choose a different direction from God. This is what Adam did and we are all condemned (Rm. 5:12).
Word: sin (harmartia) to miss the mark. It is failing to hit the target of God’s righteousness and holiness.
Note: B/c our nature and propensity is to sin, we find ourselves separated from a loving God condemned to die eternally and incapable of saving ourselves.
Insert: Imagine that we’re here on stage and God is at the back door of the church and everything in b/w is boiling acid. The only way to safety is to jump across the acid. We’d all be in trouble b/c no one can span the chasm. And while you might be able to jump farther than others, the result will be the same for all (ssss!) No matter how far one can jump, they still fall short. Why? B/c no one can jump that far – both are equal failures. We all fall short of God’s glory. Since we can’t redeem ourselves we need Jesus.
Quote: The only thing that a man can contribute to his redemption is the sin which he needs to be redeemed. William Temple
B The PENALTY of Sin – Wages of Sin is Death
Note: Sin is costly; it requires death. When the Bible speaks on the topic of sin and death, it refers to separation. In this text, Paul is dealing w/ our condition. He says that we’re physically born spiritually dead.
Note: The Bible uses two words for ‘dead’: (1) nekros – physical death – when the body separates from the soul; and (2) thanatos – spiritual death – when the soul is separated from God. In this text, Paul uses thanatos to explain that we’re born spiritually separated and condemned from God b/c of sin.
Verse: The wages of sin is death… Rm. 6:23 You will die, die.
Quote: We’re not dead b/c we’ve committed sinful acts, but b/c we are sinful. Sinful acts don’t make us sinners, we sin b/c we are sinners.
Insert: A man doesn’t become a liar b/c he tells lies; he tells lies b/c he is a liar. He doesn’t become a thief b/c he steals, he steals b/c he is a thief.
Truth: Unless you’re born twice; you will die twice. If you’re born once; you will die twice. But if you ‘re born twice; you will only die once. Unknown
Trans: Here is the issue. Throughout history, man has thought that his goodness could earn God’s favor. But that isn’t what Paul says. He says we are born thanatos spiritually dead and that no amount of human goodness or achievement can solve the sin problem. Our sphere of existence as sinners isn’t changed one bit by our behavior.
C The POWER of Sin
Note: When I speak of power, I am referring to the influence of sin and its ability to kill INNOCENCE, IDEALS, and INCENTIVE.
Note: Paul tells infers that sin is incubated by three influencers – the world, the devil, and the flesh. If you remember, a few weeks ago in our series on voices, we spoke about how these three influencers are constantly screaming for our attention.
1 The Influence of the WORLD
Note: The three elements that most characterize our present world system are humanism, materialism, and hedonism.
• Humanism places man above all else believing that man’s abilities and achievement are the measure and end of all things.
• Materialism places money and things above all else believing that what you possess is the measure and end of all things.
• Hedonism places passion and pleasure and passion above all else believing that what you enjoy is the measure and end of all things.
2 The Influence of the DEVIL
Note: Satan’s influence is seen in every realm. He roams around like a toothless lion lying in wait seeking who he might devour.
Insert: Colin loves animals, especially lions. It’s not uncommon to hear him roaming around the house roaring. A few months ago he discovered Animal Planet and as a result I’ve been learning a much about lions as I watch TV w/ him. Here are a few facts I’ve learned about lions. Lions prefer hunt at night. They don’t like to hunt alone. They look for the weakest animal and attack their weakest area. They cunningly sneak up on their prey and pounce at the most opportune time.
3 The Influence of the FLESH
Note: Simple reality – this carcass we drag out of bed everyone AM has but one ambition – to gratify itself. It can do good things when it has to, but generally speaking, our flesh is only in for self.
Trans: Let’s face it. We’re born sinners and we need a cure for our problem!
II Our CURE – GRACE
Text: 4 But God b/c of his great love for us, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive w/ Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up w/ Christ and seated us w/ him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Note: Possibly the two most important words in the Bible – but God. When we were depraved, devilish, and destitute – but God gave grace.
Insert: It’s been said that GRACE stands for God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. I like this description. God gives us what we don’t deserve – His love and favor, and w/holds what we do deserve – punishment.
A His MOTIVATION
Verse: When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not b/c of righteous things we had done, but b/c of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the H.S., whom he poured out on us generously through Christ our Savior, that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Ti 3:4f
Note: God’s grace is motivated by His love and His mercy.
Note: These qualities speak to the nature and goodness of God. I find it odd that people view God as a grandpa in the sky just waiting to zap us when we do wrong. He is just the opposite. He is not seeking to condemn, but to rescue us. This grace is motivated by His overflowing mercy and love.
Verse: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already b/c he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. Jn. 3:17-18
Trans: God’s grace has been extended to us through a single means – the cross.
B His MANNER – Grace
Note: Jesus is God’s single means of forgiveness and redemption. People want to have God on their terms, but that will never happen. The cross is God’s cure for the cancer of sin.
Verse: He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Is. 53:5, 6
Note: No one else has been dispatched from heaven on God’s account to rescue man from his condemnation save Jesus. No one else has endured the pain of the cross and the price of sin. Jesus is the only way, truth, life.
C His MISSION
Trans: Let me share w/ you what occurs in the instant you receive God’s grace and mercy by faith.
1 He MADE Us
Note: When we were spiritual dead, Jesus made us ALIVE. He breathed life into our spirit. We who were dead are brought to life.
Insert: Can you imagine being present when Jesus revived Jairus’ daughter or Lazarus from the clutches of death. Jesus brought that which was dead to life. How much more important is it that while we are spiritually separated from God dead in our sin – in salvation Jesus breathes life into us. We were dead, but now we are alive.
Verse: If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, the old is gone (the dead) and the new has come (His Spirit). 2 Cr. 5:17
2 He RAISED Us
Insert: When you see a turtle on a fence post you know he didn’t get their on his own – it is obvious someone had to put him there. Christians are like turtles sitting atop a fence post of salvation – they were put there by God’s grace.
Note: God wants to do more than just give you life – He also wants to give you liberty. Let’s consider Lazarus. Jesus didn’t just bring Him to life from death, but he set him free from his grave clothes to experience life abundantly. Jesus said, “Loose him and let him go.” They took those grave clothes off and suddenly, he could move and was alive again.
Note: If you’ve been born again, you don’t have to remain bound by the old grave clothes of your past vocabulary, past habits, or past relationships. God wants to raise you up, give you liberty, free you up so you can be who Jesus wants you to be.
3 He SEATED Us
Note: seated – the act of being seated is a sign of completion. When a person finishes a task, they sit down to rest. When Jesus finished His work on earth, He sat at the right hand of the Father in heaven declaring that His work was finished. In raising us up and seating us, God is stating that His plan of redemption in us is finished – we’ve been transformed.
Story: I love the testimony of Iris Blue, who for over 20 years was a prostitute on the streets of Houston. All her life was abusive and she just wanted to be a lady, but nobody would treat her like one. She didn’t look feminine—she had been hurt and rejected her entire life. One day she was approached by some men from a Baptist church who were out sharing the message of God’s grace. She said, “No, I can’t take that. I’ve been too bad! I’ve made too many mistakes. God cannot love me.” They said, “Yes, God can love you.” So, one night, Iris Blue knelt down on the sidewalks in downtown Houston, Texas and by her own testimony said, “I knelt down a tramp and I stood up a lady!”
III Our CALLING – WORKMANSHIP
Text: 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Note: God says that once we receive Him as Savior, we become tools in the hands of the Master. He says that he doesn’t just save us for eternity, but also to serve Him until His return. This means that we are on mission for Him. That He has a prepared purpose for our lives – that our focus and activity always seeks first His kingdom and righteousness.
Note: If you are saved, then you no longer live for yourself, but for the one who died for you. Anything less is less that God has planned.
CONCLUSION
Story: It reminds me of a story I heard of a pastor in TN who had a lady in his church who was in her mid - 80’s. She was living in a nursing home. Now, she was one of these whose body was weak, but her mind was still as sharp as a tack. She said, “Pastor, I know I’m not going to live much longer, but before I die, I’d really like to see the ocean. I’ve never been out of TN, and I’ve never seen the seashore. The pastor shared this story to a couple of his deacons and they planned a trip. They went to the nursing home and loaded her in a van, and drove 12 hours from TN down to the Gulf of Mexico near Ft. Walton beach. They parked as close as they could to the beach, and lifted this dear saint out of the van into a wheelchair and took her to the top of a sand dune. It was one of those beautiful spring days when the water was blue and the sky was blue and you could hardly tell where the two met on the horizon. The pastor said he looked at this dear woman and her eyes were moving from side to side trying to take it all in. As tears streamed down her wrinkled cheeks she turned to her pastor and said, “It is so good to find something that there is enough of.”
Note: As I stand looking out at the shoreline of the God’s mercy into the ocean of His grace, looking at the skyline of his love, I think the same thing. “It is so wonderful to find something that there is enough of.” Of all the sinners in the world, of all who have ever lived, there is more than enough grace, more than enough love, more than enough mercy for all of God’s creatures.
RESOURCES
Sermons: Jeff Ward – Alive – Ephesians 2:1-10
David Dykes – Series in Ephesians
Books: Max Anders – The Good Life
John MacArthur – Commentary on Ephesians
