Rob's Expository Sermon Preparation | Ephesians 2:1–10 (2)

Introduction:

· Spiritual lessons in Barnes and Noble:

LET’S LOOK AT WHAT WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM; HOW WE’RE SAVED, AND WHAT WE’RE SAVED FOR.

I) What Do We Need to Be Saved From?

A. The First Way We Rebel: (vv. 1-3)

i. Sin is Breaking All the Rules

1. ILLUSTRATION: High School, I thought of the “bad crowd”

2. Our sin-nature isn’t just behavior, but “walking”, “following” (vv. 2)

ii. Understanding the nature of sin

1. EXAMPLE: Defining morality by desires rather than objective standard

2. Sin: We’re driven by our passions that we justify with our minds(vs. 3)

B. The Second Way We Rebel: (vs. 3)

i. Moral people are also hostile to God

1. Surprisingly, Paul includes himself in those who were dead

2. Like Steve Johnson, Morality can reflect hostility to God

3. APPLICATION: Suffering (àbitterness) Critical/Judgy; God “owes” us

ii. Both are “dead-ends”

1. To live apart from God is death because we are rejectin God altogether

2. keeping the rules is death we’re using God to get things from him

THAT’S JUSTICE – WE DESERVE DEATH. BUT LOOK AT VERSE 4.

II) How Are We Saved? (God graciously unites us to Jesus)

A. We are Saved by God’s Grace

i. God’s character: rich in mercy (vs. 4)

1. Mercy is “not getting what we deserve” and this is God’s character:

2. God didn’t save us because he saw a good effort; because we sees us trying; because he sees strong faith… he saves us because he loves you

ii. God displays his grace

1. Mercy: not getting what we deserve; grace: getting what we don’t deserve

2. EXAMPLE: Have you ever been loved when you didn’t deserve it?

B. We are Saved by union with Christ (vv. 5-7)

i. God joins us to Jesus in death, resurrection, and ascension

1. Paul “invents” words here – “co-dying”, “co-rising”, “co-ascending”

2. Union with Christ Means:

i. Our sinful nature died with Jesus on the cross

ii. We walked out of the tomb with Jesus as new people

iii. We ascended into heaven with Jesus (Col. 3:1)

Colossians 3:1 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

ii. In Christ, We are “being saved” (vs. 8)

1. A “participle” – an ongoing work of God in our life, saving us from sin

2. Because you are joined to Jesus, His work continues

C. We are saved by faith

i. …Faith is the means by which we take hold of God’s Grace

1. Faith is the “hands of the heart” (given by God!) (vs. 8b)

ii. From Self-help to surrender

1. Back to Barnes & Noble: We want to know what to do/contribute

2. Death ALSO means inability: Dead people don’t resuscitate themselves

3. APPLICATION: “judgy” people: I’m no better; What do you boast in? (vs. 9)

ONE FINAL POINT – WHAT’S THE POINT OF IT ALL?

III) Why Are We Saved?

A. We are saved to display God’s Kindness

i. God’s purpose is displaying his kindness in us (VS. 7)

1. Displaying God’s kindness means demonstrating his grace

2. Unfortunately, many who profess the doctrines of grace, are so ungracious

ii. God’s work illustrates Who He Is

1. When people see: how you talk? Social Media? Etc. do they see Christ?

2. APPLY: Not a stick to beat us up with… but a prayerful pause

B. We are saved to be God’s workmanship (vs. 10)

i. We are God’s Workmanship

1. The word Paul uses speaks of artistic masterpieces

2. APPLICATION: Agriculture; athlete; etc.

ii. A work of art displays the glory of the artist

Transition:

Conclusion

As you contemplate the art, later, you marvel at the artist