Spiritual Gifts Of Grace Series

EPHESIANS 2:1-10 (p.814)

Every person deserved wrath, punishment. But god, who is rich in mercy, gave us grace instead. Even though we were dead, God raised us up, not because we’re good. It was a gift.

[I watched this show the other day where a father had purchased his son a 1968 Corvette, a present, a gift, for his return from Vietnam. He never came home. The gift sat in the garage for 48 years until it was sold at Mecham’s Auto Auction with 13 miles on it.

Here’s the powerful reason I mention that show. A gift is not complete until it’s given and received. That car was purchased but never became a gift. The Father had a plan for it. It would’ve been wonderfully joyful to have seen that gift given and used. It wasn’t death that defeated the gift.

Our heavenly Father has purchased our salvation through Jesus. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace, ‘that He lavished on us.” (Ephesians 1:7-8)

That gift is extended to each one of us, but sadly it remains unaccepted, parked in the garage of grace, unreceived, and eventually defeated by death.

Jesus made this gift available to “whosoever will.” God is not wanting anyone to perish. He wants “everyone to come to repentance.” But, the gift isn’t a gift unless you and I receive it, open it, use it.

These talents, these gifts are for more than a show. The gift of grace is given to save us. The gifts of Christ to His church are for “Body Building.”

II. 3 ESSENTIALS FOR A HEALTHY BODY

You remember there are 5 food groups you were supposed to eat from to have a healthy physical body?

SHOW FOOD PYRAMID PICTURE

1. Grains 2. Vegetables 3. Fruits 4. Milk 5. Meat & Beans

I grew up in a home where if it wasn’t fried, it wasn’t food. We put gravy on everything, including our Jello! A healthy physical body is important. I’m trying to eat better, and less often.

But, Paul tells the Ephesians the 3 essential for a spiritually healthy body. The body of Christ, the Church, are unity, maturity and stability.

Unity: If the body of Christ is not being built up, if it’s not growing in faith and knowledge, it’s dying, it’s deteriorating, sitting and absorbing. Knowledge is great. Sunday School...Small groups...Preaching. But knowledge without application “puff’s up,” builds our egos. Knowledge with application builds our Faith. It builds the body. I think you’ll learn a lot about Jesus in your Sunday School class. I think you’ll learn to be like Jesus reading to a student at James Lane Allen on Thursdays. And, when we all start exercising our knowledge about Christ in “works of service,” there’s unity of purpose, God’s purpose. Love God...Love People...Serve Everyone!

Then we’ll have:

Maturity: Evidently, like every single church that’s ever existed, Ephesus had some “babies.” The word that’s used there is “infants.” The Greek word is “Nepios,” literally “not able to talk,” helpless. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church and “got real” with them about this issue.