But God: When Mercy Interrupts Death

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Ephesians 2:1-10

There’s a story in the Bible about a man named Bartimaeus. Compared to other accounts in the Bible, this story may seem like an abscure one. Combined, the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark, dedicate just 12 verses to Bartimaeus’ story. At first glance it reads quick, speaking of Jesus’ healing of him, then moving on.

However, the account of Bartimaeus is far from abscure and provides us our Biblical framework for this mornings message:

From Scripture we know he was the son of a man named Timaeus and lived in the infamous town of Jericho. Further, Scripture teaches us Bartimaues was a beggar who was resigned to hanging out on street corners asking/begging for handouts (food, money, shelter, etc.). What complicates things more is Bartimaeus was blind, most likely from birth

This left Bartimaeus as a cast-out. He was considered unworthy & undeserving. Being blind & a beggar made Bartimaeus a social leper. Even his name lent itself to his status in life. Timaeus (his father) means “unclean,” so “Bar-Timaeus” carries the meaning, “son of the unclean.” He was living hopeless and helpless, living day to day dependent on the benevolence of strangers and living at the mercy of a fallen world

This was his life—until He encountered Jesus Christ; blind, cast-out, dirty and unclean, and in deep need of a “but God” moment.

Bartimaeus’ story is a vivid picture of man’s spiritual brokenness apart from Jesus Christ. It’s a brokenness each of us is born into and is as unavoidable. What we need to understand about this brokenness apart from Christ is this: unless this changes, unless something happens, this brokenness carries a death sentence; this brokenness is called sin and sin makes us as unclean as one can get.

Sin means to fail, or to miss the mark/goal of God’s standard; it’s a failure to love God with the honor that He deserves. Sin “happens” when, in our selfish wants/desires we are deceived into believing we can justify bad decisions as good. This “nature” is what we are born into and is what carries an eternal weight:

Romans 6:23a states, “For the wages of sin is death...”

In order that we might grasp the richness of God’s mercy towards us, we must understand what the Bible speaks of when it speaks of death.

And this is where we get started in Ephesians 2.

I. (v.1) “you…were dead.”

Ephesians 2:1 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,”

(CONTEXT) This statement prompts a question, “How can a person be living, yet be dead?”

According to the Bible, death DOES NOT mean:

Extinction/annihilation/non-existence, or inactivity, in other words

Man does not cease to exist—a person may die “physically,” however, a person’s spirit/soul lives continues forever

According to God’s Word, death DOES mean:

Separation:

When the Paul writes, “For the wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23), he’s saying sin’s cost is separation from God, set apart NOT to God, but set apart to a ETERNITY APART from God

This death--or separation—is the “natural state” of a person apart from a relationship Jesus Christ, even from birth

David says in Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.”

The Bible also speaks of three deaths

Physical death: this is the separation of a man’s spirit from his body; this is what we commonly call death—when a person ceases to exist on this earth and is buried

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”

Spiritual death: This is:

The separation of a man from God while he is still living upon earth—again, this is the “natural state of a man” without Jesus Christ

No person is born a Christian

No baby or toddler is christened, dedicated, or baptized into Christianity

Baptism itself does not gift a person salvation (outside the baptism of the Holy Spirit)

No person, who’s parents raised them in church, is “automatically” a Christian

In “spiritual death”—outside of being born again,

A person is still seen “in his sins” and is “dead to God”

A person walks without God and Christ—rejecting/rebelling/cursing God—this is spiritual separation from God

A person may walk life as a “religious person,” following rules/works/morality, following their own “moral compass,” or living to their own thoughts/notions—the religious person is spiritually separated from God—he is dead to God.

A person is “dead” while he still lives

1 Timothy 5:6 “But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.”

What are some examples of this?

A person who wastes his/her life in riotous living—is spiritually dead

A person who has not partaken of Christ—spiritually dead

Romans 10:9–10 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

A person who does not have the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) is spiritually dead

A person who lives in sin is said to be spiritually dead

A person who sleeps in sin is spiritually dead

A person who lives in sinful pleasure is dead while they live

A person who does great religious works but does the wrong works is dead

(THIRDLY)-Eternal Death: the separation of man from God’s presence forever

Here the person is in an eternal (forever state) of being DEAD (separated) to God

Here the person is prolonged beyond an earthly grave—and goes on eternally

II. (v.1-2) “you…were dead in trespasses and sins”

Ephesians 2:1–2 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,”

(CONTEXT) We must understand the meaning of “trespasses” and “sins”

“Trespasses” and “Sins”

“Trespass” means

To fall/slip/blunder;

To deviate or turn aside, or wander away..from what is right;

To break a trust

“Sin” is:

To fail/to miss the goal (mark)—

The term most used to describe man’s fallen condition,

The unavoidable condition EVERY person is born with

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Paul here is saying that b/c we fall/slip/blunder and b/c of our condition of sin—we fall short of the glory of God, fall short of meeting God’s standard, and fall short of being accepted by God (and ALL means ALL)

“Dead in trespasses and sins,” reveals that a person apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ

Cannot and does not measure up to God

Cannot and is not on the same level as God

Cannot and fails to, reach up to God

“Dead in trespasses and sin,” also means that man sins:

No husband/wife is free from sin/selfishness and disturbance all the time—not perfectly

No father or mother treats their child like they should all the time—no perfectly

No child obeys their parents all the time—not perfectly

No person controls impure thoughts, selfish thoughts, idolatrous thoughts all the time

“Dead in trespasses and sins,” means that

Man (me and you) are not perfect—we fall short of perfection

Man (me and you) b/c of our imperfection—is separated from God; we are dead to God

Those “in sin” walk after three (3) things

(FIRST) The sinner walks, “course of this world.”—simply stated a person “in sin” follows the world’s

Opinions/wisdom

Life/speculations

Pleasures

Standards/values

Selfishness

Religion

Purposes

(SECOND) The sinner walks under the power of Satan—note how he is called the, “prince of the power of the air.”

What we must understand

Sin & evil were NEVER supposed to be a part of our DNA as man (note the original relationship that briefly existed b/t God, Adam and Eve)

Sin & evil originated from an “alien force” the Bible names Satan or the devil

Satan has access to this world and can influence the spirit of a person

What then happens is this:

Man has free will

Satan (who has access and influence in this world, then uses this influence against the fallen nature/spirit of a man, and sadly

Man often listens to this falls into sin

John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

1 John 3:8 “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

1 John 3:10 “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”

What we must understand in all of this:

Apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ—apart from being born again, a person is under the influence of the devil and is ignorant to the fact that he/she is his accomplice on this earth—and this makes man

An enemy of God

At odds with God

In emnity with God

(THIRDLY) The sinner walks in disobedience;

Simply stated a person

Refuses/rejects/rebuffs obedience to God

Refuses/rejects/rebuffs to do what God says

Simply stated a person

Chooses to what they want instead of he should

Note how God classifies this person, they are called, “children of disobedience;”

They are in the family of disobedience—not in the family of God

III. (v.3) “dead…in trespasses and sin,” is a life with the disobedient of the world

Ephesians 2:3 “among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

Note the phrase, “among whom”—this refers to

The children of disobedience in verse 2

Note it’s the conduct & behavior of the children of disobedient that is stressed

“Lust of the flesh”—more often this refers to

Illicit sex

Gluttony

Intoxication (drugs and alcohol)

Laziness

Pornography

“Desires of the flesh and of the mind”—it’s not just the “actions” its the disobedient thoughts of the mind

Immoral thoughts

Anger

Unbelief

Bitterness

Envy/Jealousy

False beliefs

What’s the point?

The unconverted person lives to the desires of his flesh and mind—it’s all they have to live for

The unconverted person knows nothing but the world and all it’s appeals

The unconverted person, b/c of this, seeks as much of the passing pleasures of sin and this world as they can

The unconverted person has a life of

Self-centerdness not God-centeredness;

World-centeredness, not heaven-centerdness

Selfishness—not selflessness

Self promotion—not self-denia

The unconverted person spends their life

Pursuing the passing pleasures of sin and the disobedient of the world,

Purising their own selfish-sinful desires of their flesh & mind

And note what is said about the world and it’s enticements/allurements/temptations

1 John 2:15–17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

IV (v.3) “Dead…in trespasses and sins,” leaves a person under wrath

Again see the statement, “Were by nature the children of wrath”; the unconverted person

Acts against God—not for God

Rejects God—does not receive God

Ignores God—does not confess God

Denies God—does not acknowledge God

Curses God—does not praise God

Serves religion—does not serve God

Honors self—does not honor God

What needs to be understood

This makes a person a child of wrath—not a child of God

This causes a person to reap what he has sown

What this person has measured God to be—shall be what God measures to him

John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.””

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”

Romans 2:8 “but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,”

Hebrews 2:2–3 “For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,”

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT ALL OF THIS? THERE’S NOTHING IN AND OF OURSELVES WE CAN DO TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OUR SIN LEADS US TO---WE CANNOT FIND ACCEPTANCE AND SALVATION IN

RULES/LAW

The law reveals man to be a sinner in need of a Savior

WORKS

Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.”

RELIGION

Go read Matthew 23 about what Jesus says about Pharisees and Scribes (Woes to teh Scribes and Pharisees)

OUR OWN MORALITY

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT ALL OF THIS? SHORT OF SOMEONE, RATHER SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING, THE UNCONVERTED HEART/PERSON WALKS SEPARATED FROM GOD NOW AND IS AT RISK TO BE SEPARATED FROM GOD FOR ETERNITY

---PART 2---

Verse 4 represents possibly the best transition in all of Scripture...

Ephesians 2:4–7 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Remember: Man—apart from Christ—is dead (separated) in their trespasses and sins

I. (V.4-5) God’s mercy—

Ephesians 2:4–5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”

Note Paul says God is “rich in mercy”—this means God is “abounding with” mercy and abounding means:

“be in excess”

“abundance”

“exceed” or “increase”

“enough to spare”

Note then that the mercy of God’s (which is what we are about to discuss) is in excess, it exceeds, and is “enough to spare”

This means no matter what lie you’ve believed—deceit you’ve been living in/under, what the enemy, the world, or even you have told yourself, God’s mercy is plentiful and it is abundant, and it is sufficient for you

(CONTEXT) The work of God’s mercy is to quicken us with Christ

“Quickened” means to be made alive

In God’s mercy-we are “made alive with Christ”—a person is taken from spiritual death to spiritual life b/c of God’s mercy

Why? Why did God do this? Because of His very nature; Sadly, so many people, in thinking of God’s nature, think His nature is distant & disinterested, unconcerned, vengeful, and fearful—when the reality is, His nature is anything but

God's mercy: Mercy invokes feelings of pity, compassion, affection, and kindness; mercy is seen in the desire of God to draw people to Himself and care for them

God’s mercy carries two essentials

Seeing a need

Being able to meet that needs

God’s mercy then sees our needs and feels for us, and therefore by His nature, God acts upon His mercy

He withholds judgment

He provides a way of salvation

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

He withholds wrath

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

He withholds separation

He withholds condemnation

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

God’s mercy withholds from us what we deserve so that He might bestow on us what we don’t deserve—His grace!

God is love (agape love)—this is a selfless and sacrificial love; a love of the mind, of reason, of the will, and of the heart and affections

God’s love goes so far:

It loves a person even if he doen’t deserve to be loved

It loves a person who is utterly unworthy of being loved

It loves so compellingly, it’s willing to sacrifice itself—even for it’s enemies

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:6 “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Romans 5:10 “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

When did God make us alive to Him?

When we dead in our transgressions and sin

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Paul is teaching us that a person

Cannot clean themselves up before Christ would die for them

Cannot “get it right” before Christ would die for them

Cannot “stop sinning” before Christ would die for them

Paul is teaching that

Christ came to die in the middle of our sin and shame

Christ came to die in the midst of our living to our sin and trespasses

Christ came to die when there was no way out, where no person could find their way out

How? How did God “make us alive?”

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

By and through the cross—a person’s sin stained heart is exchanged for a new heart—a born again heart—a heart that when God looks upon it He sees the blood of His Son covering it—and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin!

1 Corinthians 2:1–2 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

By and through the resurrection—Christ is alive—the grave is empty and by His life, the sting of death has been forever removed from the person who surrenders their life

1 Corinthians 15:55 ““O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?””

II. (v.6) The Working of God’s Mercy “raises up believers together with Christ”

What does this mean when Christ was crucified and raised up thousands of years ago? (Three reasons God raised Christ from the grave)

Jesus Christ lived a perfect & sinless life

God loved man and wanted to save man—but there was a problem

Man had already sinned

Righteousness had already been lost—and perfection could only exist in the presence of God

God knew there was only one way—A man would have to live a perfect/ideal/sinless life—a man would have secure the perfect, ideal righteousness—one who could stand in the gap for all people who would trust in Him

Enter Jesus Christ—He was perfect/sinless—He never broke a single law, nor went against God’s will—NOT EVEN ONCE

Jesus Christ died for man (for you and for me)

Again, God loves man and desires to save man—but there was problem

Man already sinned and broken the law and this had a wage (death/separation)

Man, b/c of this, b/c of his sin—had to die

Again, God knew there was only way out—this perfect/ideal man would have to bear the penalty for man (for you & me)—this perfect & ideal Man’s death could stand for and cover any person who might wholly trust in Him

Enter Jesus Christ—Jesus Christ is full humility stepped out of heaven in full humility and obediently went to the cross to save man from his sin

Philippians 2:5–8 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””

Jesus Christ was raised from grave/from the dead—and as the Ideal Man/Perfect Man His resurrection can stand and cover any person who wholly trust in Him

How does God raise the believer with Christ—by faith

We are not raised with Christ b/c of

Our works/rules/religion

Our morality or goodness

We are raised with Christ b/c of

Our faith in Jesus Christ and the finished work on the cross and the empty grave

In faith, God counts us as identified with Christ, alive with Christ, and as being together with Christ

In faith, you have already been placed, identified, and have been a partaker of, been in union with, and been bound together

In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

III (v.6) The working of God’s mercy places a person “in Christ”

Ephesians 2:6 “and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”

While it’s true the believer physically lives on earth—spiritually he/she has been placed in the heavenlies with Christ

This placement or glorification is an established fact and cannot be removed from the believer

IV (v.7) God’s mercy has ONE great purpose—to show the richness of God’s grace throughout ALL ages

Ephesians 2:7 “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

“In the ages to come”--This great purpose shows the fullness and richness of God’s grace—displayed in Jesus Christ

“AGES” means the ages that will come one after another, roll in one upon the other—it means an eternity of ages

OH I URGE YOU TO GRASP THIS!!!

God’s grace towards us in Jesus Christ is so immense and He has done so much towards us in Christ, it will take an eternity to show it all off!!

---PART 3---

IF A PERSON DESIRES TO BE SAVED—THESE VERSES TELL HIM HOW TO BE SAVED

SALVATION IS THE WORK OF GOD—OF GOD’S GRACE AND GRACE ALONE. IT IS NOT OF MAN—NOT TO ONE IOTA OR DEGREE IS A WORK OF MAN

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

I. (v.8-9) You are saved

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

(FIRST) You are saved by God’s grace—

“Grace” is:

The favor and kindness of God—yet there’s a uniqueness about His favor and kindness—it is given despite the fact that it’s undeserved and unmerited—this is a thing UNHEARD of among men.

God’s grace is given despite:

People cursing/rejecting/rebelling against Him

People’s hostility/denial/neglect of Him

People’s half-hearted commitment to Him

People’s worship of idols instead of Him

People’s worship of religion instead of Him

People’s sins and trespasses

Grace is

Given—NOT EARNED!

A gift—NOT A RIGHT

The gift God did not have to give but by His nature—He freely gave

Grace is the gift of:

Jesus Christ--God did not have to give His Son—He could have wiped man from the earth—we are good for it/we deserve it

God’s nature—His nature was bound to shower His grace upon man—b/c His nature is of grace and mercy

God’s grace is proof that

He is not

Far off and distant

Uncaring and unconcerend

Disinterested and one who’s left man to fend for himself

He IS

Immediate and present

Man’s great Savior and Redeemer

Man’s great Deliverer and Restorer

You are saved by God’s grace in that

Christ took your place

Christ was your substitute

Christ took your sins/shame/guilt/wrath/separation/condemnation and BORE IT ALL

Christ took your penalty and became sin for you, so that you might not taste death

You are saved by God’s grace b/c you cannot save yourself

Romans 5:6 “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

“Without strength”

“Ungodly”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

“Sinners”

Romans 5:10 “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

“Enemies”

This is God’s grace—grace He showered upon the hearts of sinful men—lost and condemned to the world and it’s evils.

This is God’s grace—grace He showered upon us through His Son—Jesus Christ

(SECOND) You are saved through faith:

What does this mean?

Christ died for us

Christ bore our sin and punishment for us

Where does faith come in?

When a person really, truly, authentically believes—God takes our faith and credits us with salvation

You are not saved of yourselves

Man is not perfect and therefore cannot live in God’s presence—not in and of ourselves

Man, thinking he can find approval from God through rules/works/religion or morality is only securing themselves an eternity of condmenation

You are saved as a gift of God—not of works

We cannot make God OWE us—there’s no work we do where God is indebted to US

We cannot bring perfection to God—everything about man is imperfect, corruptible, and decaying

We have NOTHING TO OFFER God

We have NOTHING TO GIVE God—other than the total surrender of our hearts to Him to Jesus Christ

We cannot make God forgive us—man is who has done wrong, offended and hurt God

We have broken the relationship with God—therefore we are NEED of His forgiveness

We cannot heal God’s heart—our sin breaks His heart and our only recourse is to cast ourselves upon His love, mercy, and forgiveness

II. (v.10) You are God’s workmanship

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

To the believer who surrenders their life—their is spiritual birth (this is the point of this verse)

God creates him in Christ

Our spirit is made alive—where it once was dead to God

God causes the believer to be “born again” spiritually

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

John 3:5–6 “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

God places His divine nature in the heart of the believer

2 Peter 1:4 “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

God makes a new creature of the believer

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

God creates a new man out of the believer

Ephesians 4:24 “and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

God renews the believer by the Holy Spirit

Titus 3:5 “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,”

(WORSHIP)

Contained in the arc & story of the Gospel is a single red thread. A red thread that points and directs us to Jesus Christ and the cross He bore for our sins.

“By His stripes we are healed,” the Bible teaches us

Some people struggle with God’s grace and mercy

Some people struggle with fear over what it might cost them in surrender

Some people struggle with thinking they’ve gone too far, their sin is too deep and too gross

Some people struggle with thinking God could never love someone like them

But let me remind all of us the beauty of God’s grace—about the measure of His mercy—and the power of His love:

God’s grace, mercy, and love:

Will meet you at your lowest moment

Will see you at your very worst

Is what is heard when disappointment is expected

When you think, “my sin is too deep”—God’s grace, mercy, and love says they’re deeper

When your shame is wide—God’s mercy is wider

When your guilt is great—God’s love is greater

When sin has left you naked and ashamed—God grace, mercy, and love says, “I’ll cover you”

When the darkness of your sin seems to overwhelm you—God’s grace, mercy, and love says, “I will pull you out”

When shame tells you a story—when fear sells you fiction—when guilt lies and says your too guilty for His grace—the cross says they are wrong---

Because the blood of Jesus Christ, poured out on Calvary says YOU ARE LOVED!

Jesus Christ is God’s gift to you—It has been wrapped up as a gift of God and handed over to you. But note—a gift is not yours until we believe it is ours and take it & receive it

(CHRISTMAS or BIRTHDAY GIFT)

If I (we) were to hand you a Bible and say “Here, this is yours—it’s a gift and it will change your life.” What is necessary for it to be a gift—to become yours?

You have to reach out and take it, receive it and believe it

If you say no thank you, I don’t want it, I don’t have time for it, or I don’t believe in it” then it never becomes YOUR gift