We, at times, don’t like the real us! Now before you attack that statement, listen to the latest statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons: since 1997 there has been an increase of 444 percent in the total number of elective cosmetic procedures. Surgical procedures have increased by 119 percent, nonsurgical procedures (mainly Botox injections) are up by 726 percent.
We, at times, don’t like the real us. We buy contraptions to make some curves smaller in certain areas and bigger in others. In 2006, the hair color industry garnered just over $1 billion. People with brown hair want blonde and people with blonde hair want red and people with gray hair don’t care what color it is as long as it’s not gray. People with straight hair want theirs curly, people with curly hair wants theirs straight and people with no hair don’t really care as long as there is hair. And the list goes on and on proving that we really don’t like ourselves very well. Otherwise, why would we want to go to such extremes to change our appearance? But I don’t want to talk about our physical appearance this morning. I want to take a look on the inside. What do we look like there? Do we like the REAL US?
My Pa Rube was not a very educated man, but he had more common sense than any man I’ve ever known. And one thing he didn’t like was people who were not genuine, people who put on heirs and tried to be somebody they weren’t. I once remembered him saying about his Ol’ Mule named Rock, “You know Timbo, I can put a tuxedo on Ol’ Rock and he’d still be a mule.” In other words, it doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, it’s what is on the inside that counts.
I know that there are times when we don’t like the real us. We don’t even want to think about the real us. Because deep inside we know that the real us, at times, is someone we don’t like very well. And this morning I want us to look at the real us. I want us to examine who we are and what we need.
One of my favorite books in the Bible is Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. It is a very practical guide to Christian living. And what Paul wrote to the Ephesians a couple thousand years ago, is still pertinent to us today. And Paul, in no uncertain terms, lets the Ephesians know exactly what they are. Read with me in Ephesians 2:1-10.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 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. 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. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 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. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
I want us to take a long hard look at ourselves this morning and glean some truths from Paul’s words. I want us to look at our condition, our need and what God has done to meet that need and then our response to God’s actions.
I. Our Condition—Guilty!
A. Look at the first 3 verses of our text. Paul is pretty plain about what he wants to convey: we are sinners! We are guilty of sinning against God!
B. The Real Us, WE are all sinners! We are all guilty.
C. Romans 3:23 says it about as plainly as it can be said, “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
D. But if you need a backup, look at Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”
E. Our condition is grave, we are all guilty of being sinners. Now there are some who say, “So what?” What’s the big deal about sin? It’s everywhere, it’s not that big of a deal. In fact, we just prefer it if you didn’t use that word, SIN, because of the connotations associated with it. Let’s call them indiscretions or something else, sin is so Old Testament, wrath of God stuff. Let’s make it modern so we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
F. And folks, it is that kind of attitude that has caused a great decline in our moral world. We want to sweep sin under the rug like dust bunnies and not think about it. WHY? Because we don’t like the thought of sin and because it reminds us that we are sinners!
G. What does sin do?
1. Sin kills! Look at how Paul describes a life in sin….DEAD! You were dead in your sins when you lived under the rule of Satan. Sin kills.
b. Sin is the ultimate killer. Sin can not only destroy you physically, but it can also destroy you spiritually. When we are, as Paul puts it, “gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts” we are ultimately pushing God out of our lives. And sin is contagious, we keep coming back to the well when we allow ourselves to fall victim to the temptations of Satan.
c. Dr. Ralph Sockman writes about an experience he had while standing on the edge of Niagra Falls one clear, cold March day. Wrapped in white winter garments, the falls glistened in the bright sun. As some birds swooped down to snatch a drink from the clear water, Sockman’s companion told how he had seen birds carried over the edge of the precipice. As they dipped down for a drink, tiny droplets of ice would form on their wings. As they returned for additional drinks more ice would weigh down their bodies until they couldn’t rise above the cascading waters. Flapping their wings, the birds would suddenly drop over the falls.
d. And so it is with us, we keep coming back for more, all the while Satan is throwing ice on our wings. What can sin do to us?
e. We need look no further than Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.”
II. And that leads us to our need – Grace
A. We stand guilty before God in our sin, not able to pay the price for our salvation. But Paul tells us that because of God’s great love, we are saved. And how, through grace.
B. Oh, that amazing grace of God. A gift, not a reward. An act of love so amazing that it boggles our human mind. A gift that, because of God’s rich mercy, allows us to be elevated to the heavenly realms, seated with Christ. What an awesome thought.
C. To think that the creator of the universe, looked down on me, guilty of sinning against Him so many times, and loved me anyway. Loved me enough to extend His grace to me and allow me to be called His child! What an awesome God!
D. When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, "That’ll be ten dollars -- a dollar for every mile you went over the limit." Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. "You have violated the law," he said. "The fine must be paid--but I am going to pay it for you." He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! "That," said Billy Graham, "is how God treats repentant sinners!"
E. We are guilty! The fine must be paid! It has been and the gift of grace has been extended to ALL who will accept it.
F. When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award--yet receives such a gift anyway--that is a good picture of God’s unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God.
G. God did not give us what we deserved; he gave us what we needed. Our greatest need is GRACE!
H. And what does grace do for us? Paul says it makes us ALIVE! We were dead in our sin, but alive in grace. Saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are now alive to do God’s will.
I. Paul’s letter to the Romans says it much better than I when in chapter 5 verses 15-17 he wrote, “But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam’s sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God’s gift of grace to many people. There is a lot of difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God’s gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times. Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings. (CEV)
J. Because of our need, God grants us grace. And I think it is very important to stress today that God does this without our input or our help. Paul points out clearly that it is by grace and not by anything we have done that saves us. Not by our works, not by our kindness, our deeds, our money, but soley a gift!
III. And what should be our response to such a wonderful gift? GRATITUDE!
A. How many of you have received a gift that you weren’t really all that excited about? How do you react to that gift if the person who gives it to you is right here when you open it?
B. We probably respond with a nicety because we don’t want to hurt their feelings. Usually when we get a gift we don’t really care for we say what it is, “Oh, socks.”
C. But then turn that around, have you ever gotten a gift that just blew you away? How did you respond? “WOW, I love it!” Hugs and kisses, jubilant jumping up and down, high fives and victory laps. We, at least that’s how I respond.
D. Folks, we have been given the greatest gift possible, the gift of God’s grace and how do we respond? “Oh, grace.”
E. And yet we should be screaming, “God, I love you” followed by jubilant jumping up and down, high fives and victory laps….what a gift!
F. Paul says that we show our gratitude by doing good works! Not working to earn our salvation, that is a gift, but works to share this good news with others. Works to ensure that this congregation remains a light in this community. Works that shows others that we are grateful for what God has done for us. Works that God has already prepared in advance for us to do, Paul says.
G. It is time for us to realize that coming to church on Sunday morning, singing a few songs, putting a few dollars in the collection plate, and suffering through a 25 minute Tim Carper sermon is not enough to show our gratitude for the marvelous gift of grace that God has extended to us. That just won’t cut it!
H. You can do something for this church! God has given you the ability and the talent to work for Him. And God has prepared you to do that work in advance. How do you show gratitude for the wonderful gift of grace? You prove that you are God’s workmanship and get involved in the good works of the Oak Grove Church of Christ so that others can be reached for Christ. There are a lot of great things happening here at Oak Grove. We are growing by leaps and bounds, but with growth comes larger responsibilities. To whom much is given, much is expected.
I. So I challenge you today, find your outlet and plug in to the work here at Oak Grove. Not because the preacher says to, not because the elders expect it, not because your neighbor depends on it, but to show your gratitude to God for His amazing gift of grace! Give him the honor and glory and praise due him by being the kind of “workmanship” God created you for!
J. How can we say thanks, for the things God has done for us? Things so undeserved, yet He gave to prove his love for us? The voices of a million angels could not express our gratitude. All that we are, or ever hope to be, we owe it all to God!
K. Live your life as one grateful to God for His love, His grace and His mercy!
I remember as a kid going to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. And one of my absolute favorite acts was the trapeze artists. Watching a trapeze show is breathtaking. We wonder at the dexterity and timing. We gasp at near-misses. In most cases, there is a net underneath. When they fall, they jump up and bounce back to the trapeze.
I think of the Christian sometimes in the same fashion as a trapeze artist. In Christ, we live on the trapeze. The whole world should be able to watch and say, "Look how they live, how they love one another. Look how well the husbands treat their wives. And aren’t they the best workers in the factories and offices, the best neighbors, the best students?" That is to live on the trapeze, being a show to the world. What happens when we slip? The net is surely there. The blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, has provided forgiveness for ALL our trespasses. Both the net and the ability to stay on the trapeze are works of God’s grace.
We are sinners in need of grace. And thanks be to God, He supplied our need.
Amazing grace will always be my song of praise, for it was grace that bought my liberty. I do not just why He came to love me so, He looked beyond, my faults and saw my need. I shall forever lift my eyes to Calvary, to view the cross where Jesus died for me. How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul. He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.
The Real Us? You are a sinner. I am a sinner. But thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! We offer you that gift today. The gift of grace, the gift of salvation, that comes through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
