The Purpose of New Life

OCTOBER 23, 2022 STUDY NOTES EPHESIANS 2:7-10 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES THE PURPOSE OF NEW LIFE INTRODUCTION Paul is telling us that God offers lost and hell bound sinners a New Life By receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are given a “New Life” to live God came to us in His rich mercy when we deserved His wrath (Eph 2:4) God loved us when we were unlovable His love did not give us what we deserved but what we needed the most, “New Life” God gave “New Life” to us when we were spiritually dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1) We were enemies and God saved us and placed us in His family (Eph 2:2-3,5) We were worldly and when we received Jesus, He seated us in heavenly places (Eph 2:6) Why did God do all of that? Because God is love and His love motivated Him, 1Jn 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. Through love God has purposed to do something special for those who are saved God has a plan and a purpose for His people, and it will be revealed throughout eternity The fullness of our salvation will be revealed in the future But today our salvation reveals the truth of God’s love, mercy, and grace From now until the eternal future the saved will exhibit the “Grace of God” EXHIBITION OF GRACE--Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. “That” begins to explain why God saved us and what He plans to reveal through our salvation “In the ages to come” begins for us the moment we are saved and continues throughout eternity It includes this present age and any age that shall come to pass The time-period is now, and the time of our salvation is endless, our salvation is eternal God has included us in His eternal plan as a revelation of His eternal grace The eternal future will not even begin to tell of the eternal riches of His grace That “He might show” is what God is now doing in and through our “New Life in Christ” And what God will do with our eternal life throughout the eternal future Our salvation is a testimony of the grace of God, we exhibit His grace through “Spirituality” We even tell the angels of the grace of God, Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, When Jesus returns all of creation will learn what God has accomplished through grace All will witness what God has done for us in Christ It is not time and eternity alone that will manifest the grace of God It is not even the creation of the universe that will reveal the grace of God It is not the brightness of the sun that shows forth the grace of God It is not the brilliance of the moon or the beauty of the stars It is the life of a Christian that God uses to reveal the truth of His grace Christians are the proof, evidence, demonstration, and exhibition of God’s grace We are saved by grace to be a daily display of God’s grace bestowed upon us Christians will be an exhibition of God’s grace throughout eternity Page 1 of 5 The words translated “He might show” means more than just putting on display It means a demonstration of proof by putting the evidence on display That which is seen is the evidence of something that has taken place The daily Christian life is the display of the grace of God Sin tells the story of Satan, the fall of man, and the life of the old nature Salvation tells the story of God’s love, grace, and the life of the New Nature Sin says that sinful man needs a new life Salvation says that God gave us a New Life because of His grace Paul searches for the right words to express in a proper way the grace of God “The exceeding riches of his grace” Paul describes God’s grace as “exceeding” which means “to go beyond” The thought is that which is overflowing, surpassing, and stands out Meaning “to excel” or to go above and beyond all expectation That which is of supreme measure and results in superlative greatness “Riches” means having more than enough Even time and eternity will never fully reveal the wealth of God’s grace Even though it will be exhibited through the life of every believer forever That truth makes the words that Paul heard from Jesus most meaningful for us, 2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. The personal needs of the Christian will never exceed the “riches of his grace” The wealth of God’s grace goes far beyond the debt of our needs We cannot even begin to estimate the value of the grace of God bestowed upon us Our daily needs continue to cry out to God and His grace continues to supply our needs From one daily experience to another we continue to learn of the “riches of his grace” We learn from personal experience the value of “the exceeding riches of his grace” Which is explained as, “in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” Try to give someone a simple personal testimony of what God does for you through Christ That is what Paul is attempting to do in this passage Paul could have selected many different words in his present statement He could have used generosity, hospitality, benevolence, or goodness But he said, “God looks upon us in his “kindness,” that which is helpful and beneficial to us “Kindness” is the expression of His grace and love in action toward us God’s acts of “kindness” toward us are through “Christ Jesus” Paul has already revealed to us that through Jesus Christ came: Mercy, He is rich in mercy Love, He loved us with great love Spiritual life, we were spiritually dead, and He made us alive in Christ New Life, we were of the world and now we are seated in heavenly places God knows what we need and “His kindness” provides for us what we need today and forever THE GIFT OF GOD--Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Verse 8 is an explanation of verse 7, telling us how verse 7 is made possible How can we exhibit the grace of God throughout eternity? “By grace,” the very same grace that has been under discussion throughout this passage For “by grace” we exhibit grace, for “by grace” we tell the story of grace The truth of our salvation is “For by grace,” grace, the unmerited favor of God Page 2 of 5 “Grace” is God giving us everything for nothing, giving to us what we do not deserve “Are ye saved” literally means that we have been rescued or delivered from danger The beginning of Ephesians 2 revealed that we were spiritually dead and perishing But God delivered us from those conditions in a completed act with continual conditions Our salvation, we have been saved, we are being saved, and so shall we ever be saved But there is a strong emphasis in these verses upon our present salvation, which is “New Life” We are no longer spiritually dead, we are now spiritually alive, we have a “New Life” to live We are no longer in Adam, a child of the fallen race, we are now “In Christ” We are now a “Child of God,” by grace, living in grace, and kept by grace Grace never ends and neither does our God-given “faith,” the “faith” of God’s grace Paul explains that it is all “through faith” Our “faith” is in the Written Word of God and our “faith” is in the Living Word of God Our “faith” is in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ Our “faith” is in the convincing and convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit “Faith” is the channel through which the work of grace flows “Faith” opens the door of the heart and allows the grace of God to come in “Faith” is the commitment and the agreement with God, “faith” says, “I agree” Faith says, God, I want it, I need it, I am nothing, I have nothing, I come with nothing Faith says, I am weak and empty, I am ready and willing, I receive, and I accept God’s grace will not come into the heart when there is doubt, dissension, or denial Grace does not enter a heart of uncertainty or unbelief, or rejection of God’s Word It is “faith” that says, “I am ready for the grace of God to work in my life” But how is it that “faith” is possible? Is “faith” something that we have accomplished? Our salvation is not because of our will, our works, efforts, religion, or righteousness Paul says, “and that not of yourselves,” what is it that is “not of yourselves?” Is it the grace, is it the faith, or is it both? That which is “not of yourselves” refers-back to the whole context of salvation The whole process of our salvation is of God and not of ourselves, remember the old expression “When you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he didn’t get there by himself” When you see a Christian living for Christ, you know that they didn’t get there by themselves If it were not of God, there would be no grace, no faith, there would be no salvation There can be no faith apart from the Word of God, Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Faith comes to us when God’s Word convicts us, convinces us, and persuades us We exercise faith because we believe what God has said, we trust His Word Our faith is when we come to agree with what God has revealed to us through His Word So, grace and faith are both “the gift of God,” every part of salvation is “the gift of God” God planned His “Gift,” Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: God provided His “Gift,” Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, God presents to us His “Gift,” Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: God places His “Gift” within us, Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, God’s gift of salvation is unearned and undeserved, God owes us nothing but gave us everything Grace gave us everything for nothing, nothing that we had done earned the gift of salvation Salvation does not allow us to glory in self, “to God be the glory” Page 3 of 5 TO GOD BE THE GLORY--Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Throughout the ages man has tried to work for salvation, but it has always been in vain Many still think that if I am good enough and do the best I can, it will turn out for good Salvation is of God and not of man’s works, salvation is “all” grace and “no” works We are not saved by works and our salvation is not sustained as-a result of our works Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. “Lest any man should boast” When it comes to the act of salvation, man has nothing to boast about When it comes to proclaiming salvation, man has much to boast about We can boast from now throughout eternity about what God has done for us, Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. GOD DID IT ALL--Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The word “for” takes us back to the previous verses Showing why those previous verses are true, our salvation is not of our good works “For” says, here is the reason why, why we have nothing of self to boast about He says, “for we are His,” which reveals what God has done and not what we have done “His” is the main emphasis of those words, it is God and His work that is presented “His workmanship” states that we are not what we have made ourselves to be We are what God has made us to be according to His grace and kindness Before we received our “New Life,” we were the results of the work of man Jesus explained it to Nicodemus, Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Regardless of what man does with himself, he is still himself, “flesh is flesh” Man can do nothing within himself to allow him to stand righteous before God To stand in a right relationship before God requires the work of God in us, His mercy, His grace Which Jesus also explained to Nicodemus, “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” And that is why Jesus said to Nicodemus, Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The way of New Life is through the New Birth, a spiritual birth from above, of God from God Paul describes that as “His workmanship,” it is all God’s work in us Christians are the work of God’s mercy, grace, love, and kindness Christians are that which God has made, we are the handiwork of God Our New Life is a work of art, we are a living masterpiece One day we shall be the finished product of the redeemer’s art, 1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. We know that the material creation is the work of God, Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: We can look at creation and see the work of God and know that it could only be of God In the creation account we find that God’s work was good, Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. It was good because it was God’s “workmanship” Page 4 of 5 Our salvation is good because it is the “workmanship” of God In fact, the point probably is that the greatest “workmanship” of God is the salvation of man The masterpiece of creation is the New Life that is in Christ Jesus The salvation of a lost hell-bound sinner is the “workmanship” of God in “Christ Jesus” “Created in Christ Jesus, God did it all, but He did it all “in Christ Jesus” In Christ we are a new creation, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The works of man cannot work the work of salvation, lost man cannot be saved by works There is no place or purpose of the works of unsaved man before God? Are the works of man even important to God? Does God consider our works? Man was originally created to work for God, but after the fall of man he could not work for God Sin does not allow man to present his works before God, lost man is separated from God Sinful man must become a new creation in Christ in-order to work for God We are not saved by works but we are saved to work God has a purpose for our “New Life,” it is “unto good works” God has a plan and a purpose for those who are saved, which is our “good works” The “good works” of a Christian are the proof, the evidence of our New Life in Christ “Good works” are the fruit of our New Life, which Jesus explained, Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Jesus said that He is the vine, and we are the branches The branches receive life from the vine and bring forth fruit Fruit then is the result of the life of the vine Illustrating that the Christian is in Christ and receives life from Christ As we allow His life to flow through us, we live a fruitful life Spiritual fruit is the good works of the New Life (Galatians 5:22-23) In Christ we have a “Life to Live” and it is to be a life of “good works” Works that are good, useful, and profitable for all because the “works” are of God God is not depending upon those who are spiritually dead to be fruitful The workmanship of God in us is for the purpose of a fruitful life of good works “Which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” The point is strong, the point is clear, God has a purpose for our “New Life” It is clearly presented what God has done in order that we might do what God wants us to do God planned for us to walk in good works and God’s plan will work But the main thought is upon God and not upon us And that becomes a problem for many Christians when they feel that they have worked for God Many Christians have a problem, it is an “I” problem, identified with a capital “I” “I” did this and “I” did that and if it wasn’t for “I” what would God do? There can be no boasting of “I,” it is not praise “I” it is “Praise God” It is difficult for us to talk about what we have done for God without boasting of self It is easy to praise God when you talk about what “He” has done, even in us If we are walking in good works, we don’t even have to tell others, they will see what we do Remember that our good works are what God had planned for us when He gave us a Life to Live Beforehand, in advance, prearranged in eternity past was the “Purpose of a New Life in Christ” God saved us and gave us a “Life to Live,” it is the life that only a Christian can live Many Christians are looking for a new experience with Christ, God has one planned for you God has a new experience for you, 1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (Walk with Jesus today according to what you have read in the Bible) Our daily prayer must be, “Have Thine Own Way Lord” Page 5 of 5