INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• How do you define yourself?
• Do you define yourself by your vocation (I am a teacher)? By your accomplishments (I am in the Hall of fame)? By a title (I am A CEO)?
• How do you define yourself?
• What kinds of labels do we use on one another? Thin, fat, smart, dumb, attractive, athletic, old, young?
• What happens to us once we get caught up in the label game? We allow the labels to define us. One of the areas we recognize this is in football. If you are a coach or quarterback, and you are African American, you will be called an African American Coach or Quarterback. It is if we cannot tell that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffith III is African American or that Bears coach Lovie Smith is African American.
• I remember when the Washington Redskins went to a Super Bowl with Doug Williams as their quarterback. Mr. Williams is an African American. One reporter asked him how long he had been a black quarterback. Think about that one for a moment.
• When we allow the world to define us, it will lead us to become thirsty in our souls because we may not like how we have been labeled, maybe we cannot live up to the label we have been given.
• In life we can get stuck in allowing the world to define who we are, One of the more difficult things we need to do in life is to ignore what the world has to say about us, how the world would define us and instead to listen to what God says about us.
• He tells us who we are. We are defined by grace.
• Pillar
• Let us turn to Ephesians 2:4-9 together this morning as we see the wonderful picture of whom we are from the Apostle Paul. Today we are going to look together at the 5 Pillars of God’s Grace.
• These pillars of God’s grace are what we should allow ourselves to be defined by instead of the labels the word tries to tag us with.
• SLIDE #2
• Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV) 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved
• SLIDE #3
God’s grace that defines us because by God’s Grace:
SERMON
I. WE ARE SPIRITUALLY ALIVE. (5)
• God’s rich mercy has allowed us to be reconciled to Him. If we are not right with God, it is not God’s fault.
• If you are not walking with the Lord today, it is not because of God, it is because of your choice as of now.
• When we come to the WELL that God offers to us, part of the refreshment is being spiritually alive!
• We need to realize that…
• Those who were dead in their sins have been brought to new life by God’s grace.
• In verse 4and 5 we see that even though we were dead because of our sins, we have been given new life because of God’s love and mercy.
• SLIDE #4
• Romans 6:4 (ESV) We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
• Why do we need this blessing from God?
• First of all, we were dead in our sins. (Ephesians 2:4)
• Verse 4 tells us we were dead in our sins. When Adam and Eve committed their first sin, they died spiritually and they started the process of dying physically.
• In part Genesis 2:17 literally reads, “dying you shall die,” when God told them they would die if they would eat of the forbidden fruit.
• Because of sin, physical death entered into the world also. We will all die because of Adam’s first sin.
• We will all die a physical death because of Adam, but we will die a spiritual death when we commit OUR first sin.
• But through Jesus we receive a GREAT blessing!
• We are alive in Christ!
• Because of Jesus, we are a new creation and our spirit is alive. Because of this we are again sensitive to the things of God. We are dead to sin.
• SLIDE #5
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
• WE also receive another gift from God as a result of belonging to Jesus!
• God’s grace empowers us to live for Him! (Romans 6:11)
• Since we are alive to God, since we know that God loves us so much, it helps us to have the power and strength to live for Him! We can stand firm knowing that His Spirit is within us.
• Many lose their battle with sin because they feel powerless to defeat it. When you give someone hope, they can do anything!
• SLIDE #6
• Romans 6:11 (ESV) So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
• Romans 6:8 (ESV) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
• SLIDE #7
• Ephesians 2:6 (ESV) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
• SLIDE #8
God’s grace that defines us because by God’s Grace:
II. WE ARE HEAVENLY POSITIONED.
• When you belong to Christ, do you know where you are going?
• Before Christ you were in serious trouble.
• SLIDE #9
• Romans 6:23 (ESV) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• We had a death sentence; we were not going to be able to go to heaven!
• We are no longer slaves to sin, destine to die. We are made right in God’s sight. We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 2:6)
• Jesus is holding our spot in heaven. Even though we are not “literally” sitting in heaven right now, Paul uses a verb tense for the word “seated” treats this seating as such a sure thing that it has already taken place.
• This is a thought that should change the way we live. We are citizens of heaven RIGHT NOW!
• SLIDE #10
• Ephesians 2:19 (ESV) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
• Talk about something for your thirsty soul! Imagine if you knew you were in the process of inheriting Bill Gate’s fortune! Think you would be excited. Just imagine how much better the gift we possess is!
• God’s grace opens a heavenly home for us!
• SLIDE #11
• Ephesians 2:7 (ESV) so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
• SLIDE #12
God’s grace that defines us because by God’s Grace:
III. WE ARE BILLBOARDS OF MERCY.
• This is an awesome thought! Think about it for a moment!
• Verses 7 reminds us of a great blessing!
• God’s mercy is demonstrated in our lives. He has made us “examples of the incredible wealth of His favor and kindness toward us.” (Ephesians 2:7)
• He wants people to catch a glimpse of the world to come!
• His mercy is available to us all the time! (Hebrews 4:16)
• SLIDE #13
• Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
• When people see the blessing that Jesus has been in our life, others will want to share in those blessings also!
• SLIDE #14
• Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
• SLIDE #15
God’s grace that defines us because by God’s Grace:
IV. WE ARE CONNECTED TO GOD.
• The is nothing much worse in life than thinking you are alone, thinking you have no one in your corner, thinking the whole world is out to get you.
• Many people thirst because they feel alone, unloved and unwanted.
• I have some good news for you!
• When you come to the WELL of God, you have a VERY special blessing!
• We are not alone. By God’s grace, we have been made one with Christ. He abides in us, and we abide in Him. (Ephesians 2:6)
• BY the grace of God, we are one in Christ!
• SLIDE #16
• Romans 12:5 (ESV) so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
• This is where we can gain strength knowing that we are NOT alone, other people DO care, that others DO LOVE you!
• This connection should help us to remain faithful to Him. (Hebrews 3:14)
• SLIDE #17
• Hebrews 3:14 (ESV) For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
• When we know we are connected with Jesus, it helps us to realize that what we do, Jesus does with us.
• When I sin, in a sense I am dragging Jesus through the sin with me.
• What I watch, Jesus watches, what I listen to, He listens to also.
• We have a special relationship with Him.
• SLIDE #18
God’s grace that defines us because by God’s Grace:
V. WE ARE HONORED CHILDREN.
• God saved us by His special favor (grace), and has made us His own Children. We are heirs to hope and life through faith! (Ephesians 2:8)
• Being an honored child makes you special!
• Other will want to have what you possess!
• We enjoy a special connection to God because by His grace we are granted the honor of being one of His children!
CONCLUSION
• I hope that for those who are struggling with their identity.
• I hope that for those who are struggling because they have let the world tag them with a LABEL, that you will remember something very important!
• God’s grace defines you. As grace sinks in, earthly labels fade. Society labels you like a part on an assembly line.
• WHATEVER THE LABEL YOU HAVE BEEN HIT WITH THAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK, realize that God’s Grace allows you to break out and tear those labels down!
• As grace infiltrates, criticism disintegrates.
• You know you aren’t who they say you are.
• You are who God says you are. Spiritually alive. Heavenly positioned. Connected to the Father. A billboard of mercy. An honored child!
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