God's Kindness

God’s Kindness

William H. Banegas February 13, 2011

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Desired outcome: “I have chosen to have a bad relationship with God, but He has made it possible to have a right relationship with Him, but I must choose to accept it and live for Him, or reject and face His wrath.”

Theme: Though mankind willfully lives against God, He has mercifully, lovingly, and kindly made salvation from sin available to all who trust in Him and prepared them to live for Him.

Introduction: Has anyone ever been kind to you? I’ve received many kindnesses over the years. When I was in college, I took a history class in which I was kind of having a hard time. I began the class off with not having the text book which really set me behind b/c there were quizzes on the daily readings every class period. This also affected my grade. When the final exam came up I had to pull out a perfect score in order to pull my grade up from a C to a B. When I got my score back, I had made a 96, not enough to make a B in the class. A few moments later I received an e-mail from my teacher who commended me for my hard work and decided to give me a B after all. I thought wow, that was really kind. She didn’t have to do that but she did anyhow. On a much larger scale, that’s how God is with us. He didn’t have to give us Christ but out of His kindness He did anyhow. This morning I desire for us to understand that: Though everyone intentionally lives against God, He has through His mercy, love, and kindness made salvation from sin available to anyone who trusts in Him and has prepared them to live for God.

Because of our consistent and sinful choices, we have made for ourselves a bad relationship with God. (V.1-3)

We sin when we willfully choose to act against God and His standard of doing what is right.

We sin when we live like the world lives.

We sin when we follow after the world’s leader. (Do you lie? Christ says that Satan is the father of lies and those who lie follow after him, John 8:44)

We sin when we take on the world’s disobedient attitude.

We sin when we do whatever we want without regard for the consequences.

Our sin causes us to have a relationship with God’s wrath.

God poured out His wrath in the flood.

God poured out His wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah.

God poured out His wrath on Christ because He became the world’s sin sacrifice.

God will pour out His wrath on unbelievers because of their sin in the lake that burns with fire.

Because of God’s mercy, love, and kindness, those who trust in Christ can have a living relationship with God. (V.4-9)

God has mercifully chosen to make a right relationship with those who trust in Him.

Made alive (changed relationship)

Raised with Christ (hope of resurrection from the dead and eternal life with Christ; I Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. I Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.)

Seated (rest and privilege) with Christ (home in heaven)

Received by faith.

God has kindly given the world Christ as their sin sacrifice.

God’s gift of grace (wherein those who were helpless have received God’s power to be saved)

Man’s reception by faith (Belief and hope; Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. If you believe you will repent; Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.)

God’s Work alone so that no man can boast

Because God has saved those who trust in Him, He has a plan for them to live for Him. (V.10)

Those who trust in Christ are the new work of Christ.

Those who trust in Christ are to do good works for Christ.

Conclusion: You must choose if you will receive God’s Kindness and have a home in heaven or reject God’s Kindness and face His wrath someday soon. If you have received God’s Kindness then put off the disobedient lifestyle of the world and obey God wholly. LIVE FOR HIM ALONE and no other. Love Him more each day for the salvation from sin He has sacrificed to give you and hate sin more that once separated you from Him and His love and made you the recipient of His wrath.