CHRISTIAN'S PARDON PT 1

EPHESIANS 2:1-10

Have you ever met someone who would not let go of the past? Either a hurt or a failure – they tend to define themselves by that mistake, failure or hurt or even defining others by the hurt. They can be imprisoned by the past. That is why several times in the NT that anyone in Christ is a New Creation – the old is gone and the new has arrived. Today as we walk through Ephesians 2:1-13 – we are going to look at what the past – before Jesus – had for us – the Power and the Pardon.

As we being let us pray!

The Christian’s Pardon

Ephesians 2:1–10

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

I. THE PAST—vv. 1–4

1. Problem—v.

v1 – And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Before salvation came into the world we were doomed to hell.

Your sin separated you – alienated you from God

2. Past—v. 2 – in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Before salvation, lived in sin – influenced by 3 entities – the world, satan, the environment

Jews called their laws of Conduct Halakah – meaning – walking – Paul is saying your conduct your walk was in sin – our walk contrary to the very nature of God – selfish desires – worldly desires –

Following the course of this world – dehumanize and remove the image of God – imago Dei – from people – create an amoral society –

Following the prince of power of the air – repeated in other Scripture referring to satan, the devil – yes he is real, hell is a real place – those not sealed will join satan and his demons, his fallen angels in hell – his job is for us to question God, questioning even to the existence of God and follow him instead of God

Spirit that is now at work – this is a spiritual battle as well as a physical battle – the Greek word for working is energeo – where we get our word energy – meaning at work –

Only two choices – walk in the Spirit aligned with God or in satan’s spiritual realm in direct conflict with God

This describes every human that has ever lived and every human that will live –

Paul continues

3. Passion—v. 3 – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Notice the change in word choice – v2 you walked – v3 we all lived – Paul makes it personal, 1st person – including himself with all of them and all of us

When left to our own devices – we go to wrath, to sin – the safety of the jail cell – (GOD NOT DEAD 1) – “Sometimes the Devil allows people to live a life free of trouble because he doesn’t want them turning to God. Your sin is like a jail cell… except it its all nice and comfy and there doesn’t seem to be a need to leave. The door is wide open…. until one day… time runs out and the cell door slams shut. And suddenly... its too late."

Romans 7:15 – For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

4. Pleasure—Though in sin, God still loved us. –Mercy and Love – win

v. 4 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

But – that is a huge but – But God stepped into the mix

Romans 5:8 – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Mercy shows us how kind God is towards us – rich in mercy – not stingy, not poor (amount)

Love – His motivation - His great Love – Agape – love above all – while all creation bears His fingerprints – only man bears His image -

That was our past – now we have

II. THE POWER—vv. 5–7

1. Spirit—v. 5 –even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Sin leads to death – causes death – kills the soul – Jesus is life, gives life, restores life

He suffered for our sin even though He never sinned – to bring us into eternal life

Made us alive together

Saved by Grace – not earned – free and unmerited favor of God that bestows undeserving, unearned blessings

2. Salvation—v. 6 – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Raised us up with Him – past tense verb – ties to the new creation

Raised from sin to heavenly places – not only do we get 1:3 – with blessings in heavenly places – we reside with Christ in heaven –

Colossians 3:1–3 – If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

3. Showing—v. 7 – so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Why did God make us alive in Christ – so He could show His immeasurable riches of His grace in Kindness

As a church – as a sealed believer we should be the display model – the exhibition of

III. THE PARDON—vv. 8–13 – Pardon is defined as the action of forgiven for an offense, - Merriam-webster goes further to say it is to be absolved from the consequences of a crime, to pass without punishment

Gerald Ford granted Nixon a full and unconditional pardon for any crime

That is the pardon we receive from God the Father when we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and are a follower of Jesus Christ

1. Saved—vv. 8–9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Note salvation is by grace, through faith. Not by good works, but God’s grace!

Just like the Pardon Nixon received – it was nothing he could do or earn

We could never earn – never do enough good to earn God’s Pardon – it is through His Grace Mercy and Love for us that we are gifted it

Salvation is not earned – it is gifted – like a pardon

2. Sharing—v. 10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

His workmanship. While we are created in His image, after salvation, He continues His work and continues to molds us bearing His fingerprints at a deep level and He continues to mold and shape us – work out the world and impute His image

Once a believer we need to decide to sit on the pottery wheel and allow God to remove the blemishes we acquired by living of the world – allow Him to create and allow our new image to come through

If you are saved what are you doing with your salvation? Are you endulging the world following the world – gourging your selfish desires knowing you can just ask for forgiveness or living in the immeasurable riches God wants to bestow on those that follow Him –

If your not saved, haven’t made the decision, haven’t been baptized, haven’t given your life over to God – what is holding you back

Let us pray!