R sbc
June 5th 2005
Sunday Morning
Series: The Sum & Substance of Bible Is Christ
Sermon # 45
Subject: “ Christ People In The Light Of Grace”
Text: Eph 2:1-10
Intro: This is no doubt one the most beloved passages of the word of God. It really reveals the truth about us and about the salvation that we possess this morning if we are saved. Grace is the springboard of it all.
Christ is the source of it, and the provider of it, the sustainer of it, the able one of it, the great one of it, the worthy one of it, the all together loverly one of it. This eternal union is clearly expressed in this passage.
The three main thoughts in the text today that I will concern myself with.
I... “THE DEATH OF GOD’S PEOPLE”...VS 1-3
(1.) In what we are sinners dead: vs 1
In our trespasses and sins: What does Paul mean by this? The word trespass means to fall away from: Sins means to miss the mark. When we look at the meaning of the word then we get a clear picture of it:
a. Sinners trespass in that we fall away from the LORD... Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Spiritual death does not mean inactivity, neither does it mean ceasing to exist. Men die a natural death every day, but they don’t cease to exist. All sinners are born and bent toward trespassing before they can ever walk or talk..
Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
(2.) Sinners are dead in their course of life: vs 2
The word walked, means the conduct of one’s life. It is the natural way of a lost person.
Two things that dominate the sinner in this verse:
a. The world:
1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. Not the planet but the system of the minds and hearts of wicked people. They love sin and it’s fun.
b. The prince of th world:
This is non other than Satan... Some people do not believe in him or should I say believe that he exist...listen to what the bible says...
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
57 verses speak of the devil in the Bible he is real and he has a work and he is persuading people who know not the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
(3.) Sinners sin from the inside: vs 3
He mentions two deadly things: Lust and fulfilling the desires of the flesh. These are normal actions of sinners who are not saved. We all have done them, we still do them and we have the power over them and we might ought to exercise that right less GOD punish us severally.
II... THE RESCUE OF GOD’S PEOPLE: VS 4-5
If you are lost this morning then in my mind you need to be rescued from your sins, from yourself, from your religion, from all that would draw you away from the LORD. This great salvation begins with:
1st. The mercy of the Lord: vs 4
Psalms 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; Where else could I point you this morning but to his mercy.
Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
2nd. The love of God: vs 4
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
John also speaks of the manner of the love of God: What is meant by manner? “Means what sort it is. The kind of love God has.
a. It is a blessing love: Deuteronomy 23:5 Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.
b. It is an endless love: Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
c. It is an inseparable love: Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
d. It is a constraining love: 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
3rd. The quickening power of the Lord: vs 5
Salvation has an order just like all things of God has order. Quickening means to be made to live. Being born again means to be brought forth. You cannot have one without the other. But life proceeds all things.
Who quickens us? The Holy Spirit of GOD, who brings us forth, the gospel of Christ is the instrument of birthing. We preach so that men might be saved that born again, who can look into the heart of sinners but the Lord, and when he does a work in their hearts then they are able to attend unto those things that are spoken.
The word of truth is dead unless it is proceeded by the Holy Spirit of GOD in quickening the sinner. Our Lord Jesus used a good parable to explain this:
Mark 4:14-20
III... “THE HIGH POSITION OF THE LORD’S PEOPLE”.. VS 6-10
(1.) The Position: vs 5 The union is clear...in Christ Jesus. The place: heavenly places..what is meant here? Good question let us see if we can answer it.
This means that as far as God is concerned in purpose and plan for his Son and his Son’s people whom he saved they are seated with him, they reign with him, not actually but Spiritually. Then one day we will fully realize it.
This is what Paul meant in Romans: Romans 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
(2.) The intended purpose: vs 7
The greek here, means, the ages that are coming. From this point in Paul’s letter he is referring to the great gospel age after age. Paul used this term again in another of his letters...
Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
(3.) The privilege ..vs 8-9
The grace of the LORD shed on us. The only way the Lord hath saved any people is by his grace. When they were discussing law and grace, the church at Jerusalem said these words...
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Be assured this morning that if you are saved it is a privilege, not an obligation that GOD had. You and I do not deserve to be saved. We are saved at the expense of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
(4.) The persuasion vs 10
Since we were dead, since we have been saved, since we have a high position, since it is the Lord that worketh in us, let us be persuaded this morning that we have a duty to perform...
a. Good works are of the LORD:
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
B. Good works are assured in us: “God ordained them”
The Lord Jesus Christ taught them: Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The Lord intends for us to do them: Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Peter said: 1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.