THE GRACE OF GOD
Eph. 2:1-7
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Read Eph. 2:1-7
1. Note: All charts are at the bottom of this sermon.
I. Chart: #1 DEAD -- ALIVE
A. Even though we were dead in trespasses and sins, God made us
alive together with Christ.
1. Each believer thus enacts the grand drama of Jesus' parable,
"For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost
and is found." Luke 15:24
2. Jesus also promised, "...He who hears My word and believes
in Him who sent me...has passed from death into life." John
5:24
B. True love and grace will always find a way to express itself.
1. While manmade world religions have been trying to appease
the wrath of their angry gods, this text shows how eager
God is to display His lovingkindness.
2. Notice that God's eternal kindness is available only "in
Christ Jesus."
C. God has also seated us together in the heavenly realms in
Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:6
1. We have an exalted position with Christ. Each citizen in the
kingdom is even greater than John the Baptist. Matt. 11:11
II. Chart #2 Alive -- Discipleship; Holiness, Service
A. If we were to choose one word to describe this life when we are
alive, what would it be? A life of "Discipleship" is a good
answer.
1. If we were to divide this life of discipleship into two
realms, what would they be? "Holiness" and "Service." James
1:27; Rom. 6:22
a. "Holiness" involves keeping ourselves unspotted from
the world. Heb. 12:14; 2 Cor. 7:1
(1) It is not enough to say no to sin; we must also say
yes to a life of commitment to God.
b. "Service" involves all our duties as Christians: worship,
study, prayer, visiting, etc. Titus 3:14
B. Our holiness and service must be anchored in the grace of God.
1. Every day of the Christian life should be a day of relating
to God on the basis of His grace.
2. We are not only saved by grace, but we also stand in the
grace. Rom. 5:2
III. Chart #3 - Good times (Deserving?); Bad times (Undeserving?)
A. Let me explain here what I mean by good times and bad times.
1. Good times: You get up promptly when the alarm goes off
and have a devotional time as you read the Bible and pray.
a. Your plans for the day generally fall into place, and you
somehow sense that God is pleased with you.
b. To top it off, you unexpectedly have an opportunity to
share the gospel with someone who is truly searching.
2. Bad times: You don't arise at the first ring of the alarm.
Instead, you shut it off and go back to sleep.
a. When you finally awaken, its too late for Bible study
and prayer.
b. You hurriedly gulp down some breakfast and rush off to
the day's activities.
c. You feel guilty about oversleeping and missing your
devotional time.
d. You become more and more irritable as the day wears
on, and you unexpectedly have an opportunity to share
the gospel with someone, which at this time you don't
pursue since you are having such a bad day.
e. Since you have had a bad day, you strongly sense that
you are undeserving of God's blessings.
3. This could be extended to a good week, bad week, good
year, bad year, and so forth.
B. Many of us believe if we've performed well, had good times, we
are in position for God to bless us. If we have not, we are
undeserving of God's blessings.
1. The good news of the gospel is that God's grace is available
even on our worst days. 1 John 1:9; Micah 7:18; Eph. 2:4,7
a. God is rich in mercy. He wants and has expressed and
demonstrated His grace and kindness.
b. All we need to do is avail ourselves of His mercy. We
do this by repenting.
c. Repentance is one of the Christian's highest privileges.
A penitent Christian focuses on God's mercy and grace.
d. No matter how terrible the sin, we can obtain
forgiveness. 1 Tim. 1:9-11
2. God's grace through Christ is greater than all our sin, even
in our worst times.
3. Our worst times are never so bad that we are beyond the
reach of God's grace.
a. And our best days are never so good that we are beyond
the need of God's grace.
(1) "Be not high minded, but fear." Rom. 11:20-22
(2) There is never a day when we can stand before Him
on our own two feet of performance, when we are
worthy enough to deserve His blessing. Luke
17:10; Isa. 64:6; Psalm 50:10-12
IV. Chart #4 (Motivators) Grace: Forgiveness -- Citizenship
A. The joy of being reminded that our sins are forgiven will keep
the demands of discipleship from becoming drudgery.
1. What a blessing to realize that God no longer counts our
sins against us; we have been forever forgiven. Heb. 8:12;
Micah 7:19
2. Also, we have been raised to sit together in the heavenly
places in Christ. We are priests and reign as kings. Rev.
1:5-6
V. Chart: #5 Discipleship (Improper Motivators); Pride
(Performance); Guilt (Fear)
A. Without a continual reminder of God's grace, we can easily fall
into one of two errors.
1. (Pride) Focusing on our external performance and becoming
proud like the Pharisee. Luke 18:9-14
a. We begin to look down on others when we surmise they
are not as knowledgeable, obedient, and committed as
we are.
(1) Thus, in our pride we are happy that we are
spiritually superior to them.
b. However, we must remember that we are standing in the
grace of God.
2. The second error is the exact opposite of the first. It is
the feeling of guilt, laden with fear.
a. We haven't been as successful as others around us
appear to be.
b. We find ourselves dealing with sins such as anger,
resentment, covetousness, a judgmental attitude, or
whatever.
c. We struggle with a sense of failure and guilt, which
causes us to live in fear.
d. We believe God is displeased with us, and we certainly
wouldn't expect His blessings on us. After all, we don't
deserve his favor.
3. The Pharisee-type believer needs to develop the attitude of
the publican. Luke 18:13; Micah 6:8
a. Those who live in guilt and fear need to remember that
God provides release. 2 Tim. 1:7; Rom. 8:15
(1) "Abba" was a special Hebrew term used only by
children in the family toward their father. Slaves
or servants were never allowed use the term.
b. Let the guilt ridden focus on the grace of God.
c. Let the strong and diligent focus on the grace of God.
VI. Chart #6 Paul's example -- Grace: Forgiveness (Christ's love);
Citizenship (Exaltation)
A. We, believers, need to be challenged to a life of committed
discipleship, but that challenge needs to be focused on the
grace of God.
1. Duty and fear may motivate us for awhile, but the sense of
Christ's love will motivate us for a lifetime.
2. If we are to persevere as committed disciples of Christ, we
must keep the gospel of God's forgiveness through Christ
before us.
B. Paul's focus was not on duty and guilt (these were there, but
they were not his main focus). For example:
1. Forgiveness: (Christ's love) Gal. 1:3-4; 2:20; 6:14; Eph.
5:2
2. Citizenship: (Exaltation) Phil. 3:20; James 1:9
a. 2 Cor. 5:1, 6-9
(1) "We walk by faith." Our faith in being present with
the Lord is our motivator.
(2) "Therefore." On the basis of this, we make it our
aim to be well pleasing to Him.
Concl.
A. The good news of the gospel is that God's grace is available
even at our worst times.
1. It is available even to the most guilt and fear laden
Christian.
2. Our worst times are never so bad that we are beyond the
reach of God's grace.
3. Our best times are never so good that we are beyond the
need of God's grace.
B. We should think about and appreciate more and more the riches
of God's grace toward us.
1. If you are not a Christian, think about this--are you dead
or alive?
2. The only way to be alive unto God is to be dead to your sins
through the cleansing that is in Christ.
3. The only way to be in Christ is to be cleansed is by
obedience. Col. 2:11-13
4. Why not obey the Lord now?
Chart #1
Eph. 2:1-7
DEAD ALIVE
By Grace you have been Saved
Seated us Together with Christ
Chart #2
DEAD ALIVE -- DISCIPLESHIP
Holiness
Service
Chart #3
DEAD ALIVE -- DISCIPLESHIP
Good times (Deserving)
Bad times (Undeserving)
Chart #4
DEAD DISCIPLESHIP (Motivators)
Grace:
Forgiveness
Citizenship
Chart #5
DEAD DISCIPLESHIP (Improper Motivators)
Pride (Performance)
Guilt (Fear)
Chart #6
DEAD DISCIPLESHIP (Paul's Example)
Grace:
Forgiveness (Christ's Love)
Citizenship (Exaltation)