Saved By Grace: The Gift of God

Preliminary:

Thanks

Invite to Ephesians 2.

Review:

We are in our second sermon in the series: ALIVE IN CHRIST: Exploring Ephesians Chapter 2

Last week we noted that Paul begins this chapter with the reality of the thought -

From Death to Life: The Power of God’s Grace (Sermon 1)

In this we attempted to show:

The Reality of Spiritual Death Eph 2:1-3.

God’s Intervention Eph. 2:4-5.

Rich in Mercy

Even when we were dead, hath quickened us.

I believe that is about as far as we made it. Lets see if we can do a little better today:

I want to begin by reading our scripture passage and I want to read what I spoke on last week as well so we will begin at verse 1 but we will read down to verse 10.

Ephesians 2:1–10 KJV 1900

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 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: 3 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. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

While so far we have seen Paul explaining humanity's dire condition (dead in trespasses and sins, vv. 1-3) and God’s mercy in providing salvation (vv. 4-7).

Verses 8-10 summarize this message by highlighting salvation as a divine work.

That is what I want to talk about this morning with the Lord’s help:

Saved by Grace: The Gift of God

I want to begin by looking at an important textual clue given us in the passage.

Look back to verse 1 -

Ephesians 2:1 “1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

I want you to notice something - now I am not an English language expert, nor am I a Greek scholar - but something that is interesting about this verse is that it is broken.

What do you mean by broken Pastor? Well notice there is no verb.

A verb, you might remember from English class is a word that shows action -

Now some of you might say to me, “but Pastor it says right there, “hath he quickened,”

I also want you to notice that that clause is in italics, it is in a different typeface - this means here and any other time you see that in the Bible - that was added by translators to help it make sense in the English - but that phrase is not in any Greek text we have available to us in that spot.

Many other English translators will leave it out so it reads something like:

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,”

Not only is there no verb - there is no subject - so the verse lacks a subject-verb relationship here.

This is not a mistake, goof-up, or linguistic quirk. It is a deliberate literary tool by the Apostle Paul

It is called an anacoluthon {ana-ca-luth-on}

you could compare it to starting a story but pausing midway, leaving the audience in suspense.

Brother Baber was a master at this although I don’t think it was always intentional - he would start one story that would lead to another and then he might or might not ever get back to his first story to finish it.

Paul is using this literary tool to show how man begins:

Broken, without meaning or purpose, not all there, shapen in iniquity, dead in trespasses and sin

But the sentence doesn’t stay broken for long - when you get to verse 5 Paul finishes it -

in Ephesians 2:5 “5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

It is a delayed resolution - that heightens the impact of God’s intervention.

I love music especially piano - and have been fascinated recently by suspended chords.

You might see it written in music as a regular chord say C chord with a number 4 or 2 next to it

Or you might see the term “sus” next to it.

Now my kids and and our younger adults - when I use the term “sus” in regards to music - I’m not talking about your Among Us lingo - of someone who is untrustworthy or suspicious -

I’m talking about a chord in music that is being suspended and unresolved momentarily.

It creates a special tension and beauty in music and then when it is resolved that tension is released and the song either ends or goes into the next movement.

Illustrate on the piano what you mean (A Csus4 is C, F, G)

Well Paul is bringing a tension release - a resolution to a suspended sentence

Ephesians 2:5 KJV 1900

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

A transition from that helpless, hopeless, spiritually dead condition to life in Christ by the love and mercy of God.

Quickened - means to be made alive - and in this context alive together with Christ

Some parallel scripture

Colossians 2:13 KJV 1900

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

At the school we have an AED an automated external defibrillator. - if someone collapses we grab that little box turn it on and connect it to the person. It detects if there is a heartbeat or not. If no heartbeat is detected it will give a shock to hopefully resuscitate the individual

While I am fascinated by the device I hope I never have to use it on someone.

But we are not talking about resuscitating someone who has simply stopped breathing or heart quit beating within the last minute or two

We are talking dead - no life since birth - but the power of God by grace courses through that spiritual body and in a flash what was dead - is now alive

It is a resurrection - but not only a resurrection - it is also a raising up

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

Made us sit together in heavenly places or in the heavens, some translate it Heavenlies or the “spiritual realm” in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 1:3 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” tells us we have been blessed or given all things we need to succeed spiritually because we are now living in the heavenly realm.

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

We are in Christ in the heavenly realm - because when he quickened or resurrected us he also raised us up to this realm

It is in this realm that when we are in Christ - we are seated together with him in this heavenly realm

Have you ever thought about that - that is shouting ground right there.

Being “seated with Christ in the heavenly realm” is a profound spiritual concept

This phrase carries several significant meanings: Union with Christ

Being seated with Christ signifies our union with Him. It means that believers are spiritually united with Christ in His resurrection and ascension.

This union grants us access to the blessings and privileges that come with being part of the body of Christ

Spiritual Authority and Victory It denotes a position of honor, security, and authority. Just as Christ is seated at the right hand of God, a place of power and authority, believers share in this authority over sin and Satan.

This position reflects our victory through Christ and our ability to live a life empowered by His Spirit.

Access to the Father Being seated with Christ also means we have unhindered access to God the Father. Through Christ, we can approach God with confidence and receive His grace and mercy

Transformation and Sanctification

Assurance of Salvation

With the Word Bible Commentary (Ephesians 2)

From the tomb to the throne. God did not give you life and leave you in the cemetery. He lifted you up to sit on the throne with His victorious Son! Warren Wiersbe

Oh but finish this thought - we are not just enjoying our privelege and blessing of being in Christ and setting in the heavenly realm with Christ - we are going to be displayed if you will and examples the Father has more

Look at this Ephesians 2:7 “7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

The Ages to Come: Picture a timeline stretching infinitely into the future.

I’ve told it so many times you’re probably tired of hearing it - but one of my boys when they were smaller was asking about God being eternal and I used the concept of numbers how you can count infinitely - as long as you have breath and strength you can always add another zero to the end. or you can also count backwards and never get to the end of negatives.

I remember hearing his voice so innocent but begging to grasp the concept as much as he was able - “That’s scary”

Its overwhelming is what I really think he was trying to say

But picture this timeline that begins even before you were born that just goes on and on and on and never stops but along this never ending timeline going forward you find a dot here and a dot there every where a dot dot - just innumerable you can’t count them because they just go on and on forever and you could never fully stop to read them all.

I remember the first time we went to the Creation Museum one of my boys were sick, they had thrown up several times in the night and wasn’t feeling good - but Dr. Bird had given us passes to go so I was going to go.

My son wasn’t feeling well and Angie and I both had been up alot through the night with him and were exhausted, but we were going to go to the Creation Museum.

But as we began we realized there was just too much to stop and read and take in the way we were all feeling so I just went through the halls and exhibits snapping pictures and taking videos as fast as I could - often not even stopping to read what I was taking a picture of we had to hurry through.

For those of you who have been to the Creation Museum - you can’t really hurry through it - but we did and later as I reviewed the pictures some turned out and others did not -

But there was just so much information there -

That is how this timeline is - you are going through it in such a hurry you hardly have time to stop and look at every dot every exhibit of grace there is just so much - but it goes on and on and on from even before you were born through all the ceaseless ages of eternity -

Point after point of God’s exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ.

God’s plan is not limited to the present moment but extends into eternity. His grace and kindness are meant to be a continuous revelation, unfolding throughout all ages.

Exceeding Riches of His Grace: Think of a treasure chest overflowing with precious jewels and gold. This treasure represents the boundless and immeasurable grace of God. Each jewel symbolizes a specific act of grace, a gift given to us through Christ Jesus. But the more you take out of it the more you find in it.

All you have to do get this kind of service, and treasure is to:

Scale Mount Everest saying I’m sorry every step and maybe then you can become a recipient of this .

Or maybe if you give enough money to the church or a ministry surely that will help you out.

Perhaps if I just don’t do anything real bad, and I do more good things that bad things it will tip the scales in my favor?

NO NO NO A THOUSAND TIMES NO!!!!

2. The Gift of Grace (v. 8)

Look at verse 8 Eph 2:8

Ephesians 2:8 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Now I’m afraid sometimes people have the wrong concept of grace and faith

I have heard people preach this text just sorta jumping over the word “grace” and focusing on the word “faith”

They have gone so far at times to say things like, “when you get close enough to getting save, God will give you faith - because faith is the gift of God.”

Now again I am not an English major and I didn’t always do very well at learning how to diagram sentences - but when you look at this entire verse you find that the word “gift” does not modify “faith” rather it modifies “saved”

Salvation is a gift of God’s grace

What is grace - well grace is two-fold in nature

Grace is undeserved merit or favor from God - unearned, undeserved. It is a gift

Grace is also an enabling and active work in the heart and life - Paul says, “I am what I am by the grace of God”

- Salvation is a gift, not earned by works.

Can you imagine the outcry if when Mom was given her plaque and honors at Home Missions service at camp if she would have stopped everyone and said “hey let me get my purse and she rummaged through it and pulled out her wallet and said here let me give you some money for this-

No it was a gift - it was on her to receive it to take it from the giver.

I know what some people mean when they use the term accept - but at the core of the term accept is the idea of approving or consenting or agreeing to negotiated terms

To receive is a more neutral and passive term that means you receive what is given how it is given

-

- Faith is the means or conduit through which we receive grace and the gift of salvation.

Faith is the Means, Not the Cause of Salvation: Salvation comes through faith, which is the way we receive God's gift, but faith itself is not a work or something we generate on our own.

3. **The Role of Works (v. 9)**

Ephesians 2:9 KJV 1900

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

- Clarifying that works cannot save us.

- The danger of boasting in our own efforts.

- Understanding the purpose of good works.

4. Created for Good Works (v. 10)

Ephesians 2:10 KJV 1900

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.The relationship between grace and good works.Living out our purpose as God's new creation.

Believers Are God's Workmanship: Christians are created by God as His masterpiece, which speaks to the transformation that occurs through His power, shaping us for His purposes.

Good Works Flow from Salvation, Not for It: God has prepared good works for believers to walk in, demonstrating that good works are the natural result of being saved, not the means to achieve salvation.