JESUS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
EPHESIANS 2:1-10
Introduction:
In Jeremiah. 13:23, we read, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" The truth is, man is a sinner, lost and undone, separated from God by a wide chasm of sin. He needs something done in his life that he will never be able to do for himself. He needs what Jesus and Jesus alone can do. It is Jesus who makes the difference in the lives of fallen men and women.
This passage is all about the great difference that Jesus makes in the hearts and lives of fallen men and women. I want us to look together at these verses and consider for a few minutes, just How Jesus Make the Difference.
I. THE PITIFUL NATURE OF MAN’S SIN (vv. 1-3)
A. Lost Men Live A Wretched Life (Verse 1)
• They are dead and separated from God by a sea of sin (Isaiah 59:2)
• Theirs is a wretched condition (Ephesians. 2:12)
• They are dead to God and to everything He represents and is able to do for them. They are Dead!
B. Lost Men Live A Wayward Live (Verses 2-3a)
• According to these verses, the lost man is not in control of his life.
• Men have this great desire to control their own destiny, yet they are really just little pawns, pushed about by the whims of the flesh, the world and the devil.
• Every lost sinner is a wretched, wayward soul this evening – Isaiah 53:6.
6 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.
• The end of their waywardness is death – Romans 6:23a
23For the wages of sin is death
C. Lost Men Live A Life Under The Wrath Of God (Verse 3b)
• At this very moment, every person outside of the shelter of the blood of Jesus is under the wrath of God.
• The only thing that keeps you from dropping off into Hell at this very moment is the grace and mercy of Almighty God.
• He doesn’t hate you, but He does hate your sin. His holiness demands that the sentence on sin be carried out, and it shall be, in His time and in His way!
D. What a Pitiful situation
• Some of you may be there or know someone that is, Lost and undone without Jesus and headed to Hell.
• I am grateful for those two words, in verse 3: "But God!"
• That is all that stands between the sinner and Hell this evening!
• In them, we find the supply for our need, blessings without end and glories beyond description.
II. v. 4-6 THE GLORIOUS PROVISIONS OF OUR SAVIOR (Verses 4-6)
A. He Gave Us Love (Verse 4)
• God loves the sinner with an everlasting, undying, never ceasing love – Romans 8:38-39
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• It was this great love of the Father that propelled Him to send His Son Jesus to die for our sins on the cross.
• It was this love that bound Jesus to that cross.
• Thank God for the awesome love of God for sinners this evening!
• The world may not care if you live or die, but Jesus cares for you! He died to save you from sin and He lives to make you free!)
B. He Gave Us Life (Verse 5)
• When we received Jesus, He made us alive in Him!
• We died to sin, and Satan, and self, but we became alive to the Lord.
• His Word, His Glory, His Music, His People, Etc. All these things became precious to us when we were saved. What a difference Jesus makes!
Lazarus – In that cold, dark tomb, Lazarus was oblivious to the turmoil going on just outside. He didn’t hear the mourners, he didn’t know that Jesus and the disciples were there. He knew nothing, because he was dead! But, just a word from Jesus and everything changed! No longer was he dead, but he was alive and walking about looking for someone to set him free from the grave clothes!
• When Jesus comes in, He gives the believer "New Life" in Himself. This is what being "Born Again" is all about!
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The life Jesus gives is no ordinary life! It is abundant, free, and everlasting!
C. He Gave Us A Lift (Verse 6)
• According to this verse, we have been seated in the heaven realms with Jesus Christ!
• I have never been to Heaven, but my head has been seen over there!
• When a sinner comes to Jesus, he is baptized into the Body of Christ.
III. PRECIOUS PROMISES TO THE SAINTS (Verses 7-10)
A. A New Destination (Verse 7)
• This verse reminds us that one of these days, we are going to finally be home in glory!
• When we arrive there, we will have eternity to enjoy the blessings of the Lord.
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B. A New Designation (Verses 8-9)
• These verses tell of the only way of salvation. It is through faith and grace alone!
• Religion, good deeds, church membership, baptism, clean living, family associations will all fail to produce salvation.
• It takes the blood of Jesus applied via the avenue of faith to save the sinner’s soul!
• No one will ever get to Heaven and be able to brag about how they got there!
o In Heaven every story will end the same, old blood bought sinners will point to the throne and say, "Right there sits the reason I am here!"
C. A New Direction (Verse 10)
• After Jesus comes in and saves the soul, He changes the life and sets the sinner on a new path.
• He saves us to put us to work for His glory!
• He never saved anyone just to fill up 18" of pew!)
• This verse says that we are His "Workmanship."
• This word literally means that we are His "Masterpiece."
• We are the crowning achievement of Almighty God! Just let that sink in for a moment! God Almighty has determined that He will receive His greatest glory from taking old sinners from the gutter of life, saving them by His grace and them putting them into His work.
• He delights in displaying us for the entire world to see.
Conclusion:
No force in this world has the awesome power to make the changes we have mentioned here tonight, except the grace of God!
When I remember where I was when He found me, I rejoice that He still loves old sinners!
I praise His name that He can take them from where they are, save them by grace and make something out of them for His glory!
What a Savior the redeemed have this evening!
