Introduction
• Wouldn’t it be great if God gave you a holy zap and everything was made new!
• We have been saved by grace through faith and in salvation everything has been made new
Eph. 2:1-10
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in 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. 3All 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. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1. The Need for salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:1-3)
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in 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. 3All 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.
A. We were dead in transgressions and sins
Paraptoma and Harmartia words for trespass and sin
1A. This is the doctrine of Total depravity
• We lived in the ways of this world
Aion and kosmos; culture and world system
• We followed the ruler of the Kingdom of the air…Satan; 2 Cor. 4:3-4
• We lived gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature
• We followed the lusts of our thoughts
• We were objects (children) under God’s wrath
• Paul explains the bad news before the good news
2. The Blessing of salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:4-9)
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
• Salvation is because of God’s love, mercy and grace; He saved us
The Trinity is involved in our salvation:
God the Father
Eph. 1:3-5
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
God the Son
1 Cor. 15:3-4
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
God the Spirit
Titus 3:4-7
4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
• Salvation is full identification with Christ’s death and resurrection
• 3 actions preceded with the preposition sun
Made alive with Christ; raised up with Christ, seated with Christ
These correspond to answering the consequences of sin. God gives us a new nature, forgives us and gives us the hope of eternal life.
• God saved us by grace
3. The Result of salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:10)
“10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
A. We are God’s workmanship
Poiema: that which is made, a poem, a work of art, a masterpiece
• God is the one who sovereignly chose us, made us alive, raised us up and seated us with Christ and who works within us
B. Created for good works
• God created us to do good works
• God ordained these works in eternity past
Pro-etoimasen: prepared beforehand
C. We can step into the good works that God prepared for us
Phil. 2:12-13
“ 12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
• Because we are alive in Christ, we can trust and obey and see God produce fruit through our lives
What are the good works God has prepared for you?
1. Baptism-Acts 2, 8, 16
2. Love God and love your neighbor-Mt. 22
3. Seeking first the Kingdom-Mt. 6
4. Resist sin-Rom. 8:13
5. Worship-Jn. 4:23-24
6. Serve-1 Cor. 15:58
7. Visiting widows and orphans-Js. 1
8. Tithe-2 Cor. 9:6-11
9. Witness-Acts 1:8
10. Husbands love your wives; wives submit to your husbands-Eph. 5
11. Fathers raise you children in the fear and admonition of the Lord-Eph. 6
12. Honor your Father and mother-Eph. 6
13. Doing your work heartily for the Lord-Col. 3
14. Bearing one another’s burdens- Gal. 6:1-2
15. Seeking to fulfill the Great Commission-Mt. 28
John 15:7-8 promises that if we abide in Christ and His word abides in us we can ask for whatever we wish and it will be done for us and we will bear much fruit, glorify God and prove to be Christ’s disciples.
Conclusion
• Salvation is by grace through faith
• We need to be saved by grace through faith because of sin
• When we are saved by grace through faith we are completely identified with Christ
• The result of being saved by grace through faith is that God is at work in our lives and we can step into good works which He has prepared for us