Firm foundations session 2. Trusting in God?
Ephesians 2. 1-10 In context. Key verses 8-9.
A fortnight ago we looked at the 1st in our series of firm foundations, which was ‘saved by God’, today we are looking at the 2nd in the series Trusting in God.
Where is our trust placed?
You may have heard that slightly less than true story of 4 men in a plane. That is about to crash over the Atlantic ocean with 4 men and 3 paracutes. The pilot, scientist, minister and a backpacker. The pilot jumps ou first with a parachute leaving the others to argue about the other two parachutes and the scientist jumps and it leaves the minister and the back packer.
The minister said to the Backpacker “I’ve lived a long and happy life why don’t you take the last one son?”
The young man interrupted the minister saying ‘its OK, theirs no need. You see that brilliant scientist just jumped out with my backpack!’
Its easy to assume that we have got the real thing when in fact you might have a poor substitute!
In case of everyday things it doesn’t really matter but in the realm of the Christian faith it is vital.
There are millions of religious people all over this world whose trust is misplaced. (Many individuals do it their own way.) Do-it yourself religion.
In this post modern and pluralistic world the message being propagated….
Message from the world is Frank Sinatra “I will do it my way.” Unfortunately doing things our own way is the problem not the solution, when it comes to being right with God
Paul in this chapter will reveal to us that our salvation is dependent upon God alone.That it is all of Gods grace and no merits of our own so he begins to by revealing to us ….
Eph2.1-3. What we were (past tense)
V1 you were dead in transgressions and sins. (Deliberate breach of law)
V2 you were disobedient in which you used to live, following the world
V3 you were damned at one time (gratifying and craving the sinful nature) by nature objects of wrath.
Eph2. 4-7. What we are (present tense)
V4 A big But because of God’s love and mercy towards us….
V5 you are alive! Christ has brought us to life when we were dead!
V6 you are accepted! Raised and seated with Christ.
V7 you are assured! Might show his riches and kindness towards us.
In these last 3 verses the apostle summarises what he has concluded from the first 7 verses and wants to drive home.
The purpose of these verses is to magnify and exalt the love mercy and grace of God towards us let us reflect upon them.
If this is what we were’ ‘this is what we are.’ How have we become what we are?”
1. A Christian has received mercy V4.
‘Mercy is simply not receiving what you deserve’
Children are often disobedient but how often we show mercy
Many secular humanists like R. Dawkins paint a picture of God as some vindictive being that loves punishing his creation, so when natural disasters, like tsunami strike this gives him great material to blame God for the situation. But how can they blame God?
This of course comes from a faulty understanding or no understanding of the Bible and the character of God. ‘So if you start from a faulty premise you will arrive at a faulty conclusion!’ (Romans 8; 18 – 23.)
Throughout the O.T God was merciful to Israel and they also understood that their God was merciful towards them.
Psalm 78. Lessons from history of the Jewish nation from slavery to David reign. Key verse v38-39 Key verses.
Also Sam 24.14 let us fall into the hands of the Lord for His mercy is great. King David after counting his fighting men.
Neh.9.31 But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
The people back in Jerusalem after Ezra had read the books of law. Jonah. Gods mercy shown to the Assyrians of Ninevah.
Ps145.9. General mercy, The Lord is God to all; He has compassion on all He has made.
We have sung the hymn Great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. Do you really believe it or do you take your life for granted as though it’s owed to you?
Matt 5.45. Special mercy, he causes the sun to rise on the evil and good, and sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Rom. 9.15-16. Particular mercy I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy.
What a wonderful truth that God is rich in mercy to all, but far greater for the individual is to encounter this particular undeserved mercy.
The Lord Jesus requires his people to be merciful towards one another.
Lke.6.36. be merciful just as your Father is merciful.
Matt 5.7. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy
The parable of the unmerciful servant.
Matt. 18:21-22.Peter asked how many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me?
Undeserved mercy: ‘to be merciful to one another’
There is a story about a young man who was court marshalled before Napolean and sentanced to death. The young man’s mother seeks out an audience with Napolean and pleads for Mercy. Napolean replies "Madam your son does’nt deserve Mercy." "Lord" she said, "if he deserved mercy it wouldnt be Mercy!" Gods mercy is not earnt or warranted in anyway, shape or form.
2. A Christian is trusting in the grace of God. V5 v7 v8
‘If mercy is simply not receiving what you deserve then Grace is simply receiving what you don’t deserve
Biblical Grace means; totally unmerited, undeserved favour, which derives from the character of God alone who is gracious
In Exodus; 34.6 God passed in front of Moses. God said, ‘The Lord, the Lord the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.’
Grace is unmerited
The apostle Paul had encountered Gods grace.
1Cor 15.10 ‘by the grace of God I am what I am.’ His past and his present life
The person who has become a Christian realises its all of grace! Totally unmerited favour it derives from the gracious character of God.
Grace is undeserved
B. Graham tells the story of how he was caught speeding.And how later on after the court hearing the judge not only paid his fine but took him out for a meal afterwards.
This illustration doesn’t really hit the nail on the head, when it comes to God grace towards you and me. Because the judge recognised Billy Graham, this influenced his kindness no doubt. Also there was no real sacrifice on the part of the judge.
Grace is Unfathomable.
V7. The incomparable riches of his grace in Christ Jesus
Being communicated here is the depth of Gods grace towards us, it is incomparable.
Imagine if you will a beggar attacks a local millionaire and yet the millionaire overpowers him. And then gives him £1000. This is a great kindness and totally undeserved, but he is hardly aware of it. It’s been no sacrifice. The act is very wonderful, but what would add to it that if the millionaire himself had to make a greater sacrifice himself.
The Godhead is the one who is sacrificing himself, in Christ Jesus. Salvation might be free but it wasn’t cheap! Grace is God’s. Riches. At. Christs. Expense
3. V8 A Christian is not trusting in themselves or good works v8-9
TV show Giligans Island- 7 people – shipwrecked. We also are just like them in that we can invent and build things from space shuttles, Cray super computers, transplant a human heart. Yet we all need somebody outside of ourselves to save us!
Works are a natural outflow of Gods grace(skilled craftsmanship)
V10 we are Gods workmanship created for good works: created for good works a person who has received Gods grace will manifest works what is the motivating factor it is grace and not self promotion.We are His workmanship in us, which He Has prepared. 1Cor 15.10 Grace motivates and gives glory to God
The Christian is trusting in Christ alone! V5, 6,7,10
We are saved by grace brought to us through faith in Christ Jesus alone!
If our faith is placed in any thing other than the person and finished work of Christ alone, your faith is not the Christian faith of the Bible.
4.V8 A Christian is saved through faith
The Christians faith is a gift from God.
We must never consider faith as a theological transaction where God saves us by grace, as we muster up faith to believe in Him. No way!
Both grace and faith have their origins with God and are bestowed upon us as a gift from God. (Acts18.27. Phi1.29.)
Somebody once said, "Faith is when the Soul of a man comes into contact with the Divine living God and receives the gift of faith to believe and walk in His ways."
The Christian faith is unlike the worlds faith
The world sees faith as an irrational commitment to something in spite of strong evidence to the contrary. An irrational decision to believe something, which we are quite sure, is not true.
Like the football manager whose team keeps losing yet cries out ‘keep the faith’.
The scientist, who declares that his faith is in Darwin, even though he admits he cannot prove his theory.
The Christians faith is far removed form this irrational faith of the world.
Heb.11.1. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Also to ‘believe’ something today can be devoid of any personal attachment.
I can believe that 5+5=10 or London is the capital of England both are true, but with this belief there is no personal commitment or dependence on anyone when I believe.
The Christian faith involves personally trusting in Christ.
The Christian belief involves a personal attachment and a dependence upon Christ
Unlike the worlds belief which involves no attachment
It’s not just knowledge or just a belief in Christ although both necessary, but its putting that belief into action and trusting that Jesus can forgive my sins and give me eternal life.
So faith is (Knowing, believing and personally trusting)
Imagine a ship crossing the Atlantic filled with people, in the middle of the ocean there is an explosion. Many die, but a number are still alive.
They begin to run to the lifeboats. One man though doesn’t know about the lifeboats so he doesn’t get aboard. He doesnt have knowledge, so he is not saved.
The 2nd man he knows about the life boat and believes it will save his life, but he is so grief stricken over seeing his wife killed, he chooses not to go aboard and dies with his wife. He has knowledge and belief, but is not saved.
Others on board have the knowledge about the lifeboat, and believe the lifeboat will save them and they get into the boat and are saved, through faith.
However it is not their faith that saves them it is the boat.
Saving faith trusts Christ and it is Christ who saves. Make sure your faith is placed in the right place, if it is’nt come to Him and recieve from him saving faith.
Fianlly saving faith involves coming to him
Jhn.6.37. him who comes to me I will not cast out 7.37.If anyone thirst let him come to me. Also
Matt.11.28-30. Come to me all who labour.
Saving faith involves receiving him Jhn1;12, to all who received him Jhn3.16 whoever believes in him.
Will you do that today will you come to him and receive Him by faith?
