The Blessing of Salvation

Ephesians 2:4–9 NKJV

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Titus 3:3–7 NKJV

3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 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, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

THE BLESSING OF SALVATION

INTRODUCTION

GOOD MORNING MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS . IT'S ALWAYS A JOY TO GATHER TOGETHER, ISN'T IT?

TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE THE FACES OF THOSE WE'VE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE, THOSE WITH WHOM WE SHARE THIS SPIRITUAL KINSHIP.

TODAY, AS WE START A SERMON SERIES, "COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS," WE BEGIN BY REFLECTING ON THE GREATEST BLESSING OF ALL—THE BLESSING OF SALVATION.

IN OUR LIVES, SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IS DRIVEN BY THE IDEA OF EARNING—WE GET A JOB…..SO WE CAN EARN A PAYCHECK, WE DO OUR BEST ON THAT JOB….AND TRY TO EXCEL…..SO WE CAN EARN RECOGNITION…..IF WE WANT SOMEONE TO BE OUR FRIEND….WE HAVE TO EARN THEIR TRUST BY BEING THERE FOR THEM…IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD………WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUR BOO OR A HUSBAND OR WIFE…….WE PUT ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR…..SO WE CAN EARNING THEIR AFFECTION.

IN LIFE WE TRY TO EARN ALL OF THESE THINGS

BUT THE REALITY OF SALVATION, THE GREATEST GIFT WE COULD EVER RECEIVE, IS THAT IT ISN’T SOMETHING WE CAN EARN.

WE COULD NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH OR WORK HARD ENOUGH TO DESERVE IT.

THE BEAUTIFUL AND HUMBLING TRUTH IS THAT SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT, GIVEN OUT OF GOD’S ABUNDANT GRACE AND LOVE.

IT IS NOT BASED ON OUR MERIT, BUT ON HIS MERCY.

AND THIS SALVATION ISN'T JUST ABOUT SECURING A PLACE IN HEAVEN; IT'S ABOUT BEING TRANSFORMED HERE AND NOW.

DESPITE OUR SINS, GOD'S MERCY AND GRACE HAVE RESCUED US, GIVING US ETERNAL LIFE.

SALVATION IS NOT EARNED BY OUR WORKS BUT IS THE ULTIMATE GIFT FROM GOD, FREELY GIVEN TO ALL WHO BELIEVE.

MERCY MANIFESTED THROUGH SALVATION

IN THE HEART OF THE MESSAGE TODAY, WE FIND OURSELVES STANDING AT THE FOOT OF A MOUNTAIN OF DIVINE MERCY.

WE SEE HIS MERCY….. REVEALED IN HIS WORD….IN EPHESIANS 2:4-9…..

IT IS THE MERCY OF GOD THAT HAS MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN OUR TRANSGRESSIONS.

THIS IS THE MERCY THAT HAS SAVED US.

WHEN WE CONSIDER THE DEPTH OF THIS MERCY.

WE WERE DEAD IN OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, LOST IN OUR SINS, AND YET GOD, IN HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US, CHOSE TO MAKE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST.

THIS IS NOT A SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS, BUT A MONUMENTAL DISPLAY OF MERCY.

IT IS A MERCY THAT REACHES DOWN INTO THE DEPTHS OF OUR SIN AND PULLS US OUT, NOT BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US.

THIS MERCY IS MANIFESTED - THROUGH SALVATION.

SALVATION IS NOT A REWARD FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR, AND IT IS NOT A PRIZE TO BE EARNED.

IT IS A GIFT, FREELY GIVEN BY GOD TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE. IT IS BY GRACE WE HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH, AND THIS IS NOT FROM OURSELVES.

IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.

THIS IS THE MERCY OF GOD IN ACTION, SAVING US NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE, BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS.

BUT THE MERCY OF GOD DOES NOT STOP AT SALVATION.

IT CONTINUES TO WORK IN OUR LIVES, RAISING US UP WITH CHRIST AND SEATING US WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS.

NOT ONLY HAS GOD SAVED US FROM OUR SINS, BUT HE HAS ALSO RAISED US UP WITH CHRIST, GIVING US A PLACE OF HONOR IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS.

THIS IS A MERCY THAT IS RICH AND ABUNDANT.

AND WHY DOES GOD DO THIS?

WHY DOES HE POUR OUT SUCH MERCY UPON US?

i BELIEVE THAT EPHESIANS 2 AND 7

GIVES US THE ANSWER -

Ephesians 2:7 NKJV

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 ORDER THAT IN THE COMING AGES HE MIGHT SHOW THE INCOMPARABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE, EXPRESSED IN HIS KINDNESS TO US IN CHRIST JESUS.

GOD'S MERCY IS A DISPLAY OF HIS GRACE, A TESTAMENT TO HIS KINDNESS TOWARDS US.

IT IS A MERCY THAT IS NOT JUST FOR THE HERE AND NOW, BUT FOR THE COMING AGES….A MERCY EXTENDED TO YOUR GRAND CHILDREN…GREAT GRAND CHILDREN….TO CHILDREN IN YOUR FAMILY NOT EVEN BORN YET…OR EVEN THOUGHT OF

WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, AND THIS IS NOT FROM OURSELVES, THEN THERE IS NO ROOM FOR BOASTING.

WE CANNOT TAKE CREDIT FOR OUR SALVATION, FOR IT IS THE WORK OF GOD'S MERCY IN OUR LIVES.

THIS IS A HUMBLING TRUTH, ONE THAT STRIPS AWAY OUR PRIDE AND LEAVES US STANDING IN AWE OF GOD'S MERCY.

BUT THEN THERE IS A PERSONAL NATURE OF THIS MERCY.

IT IS NOT A DISTANT, IMPERSONAL FORCE, BUT A MERCY THAT IS IN OUR LIVES.

IT IS A MERCY THAT HAS MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST, RAISED US UP WITH HIM, AND SEATED US WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS.

IT IS A MERCY THAT IS EXPRESSED IN GOD'S KINDNESS TO US IN CHRIST JESUS.

THIS IS A MERCY THAT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL, A MERCY THAT TOUCHES EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.

THE MERCY OF GOD IS A POWERFUL, TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE THAT IS MANIFESTED THROUGH OUR SALVATION.

IT IS A MERCY THAT REACHES DOWN INTO OUR SIN, PULLS US OUT, AND RAISES US UP WITH CHRIST.

IT IS A MERCY THAT IS RICH AND ABUNDANT, ETERNAL IN ITS SCOPE, AND DEEPLY PERSONAL IN ITS APPLICATION.

IT IS A MERCY THAT LEAVES US STANDING IN AWE OF GOD'S GRACE AND KINDNESS TOWARDS US.

IT IS A MERCY THAT CALLS US TO RESPOND IN FAITH, TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF SALVATION, AND TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S INCOMPARABLE GRACE.

GRACE GRANTED IN OUR GUILT

WE FIND OURSELVES ANCHORED IN THE REALITY OF OUR GUILT. THE SCRIPTURES ARE CLEAR - WE ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF GOD'S GLORY (ROMANS 3:23). YET, IT IS IN THIS VERY GUILT THAT GOD'S GRACE IS DISPLAYED.

THE APOSTLE PAUL, IN HIS LETTER TO THE ROMANS, PAINTS A VIVID PICTURE OF THIS REALITY. IN ROMANS 5:8

HE WRITES, "BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS: WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US."

HERE, WE SEE THE INTERSECTION OF OUR GUILT AND GOD'S GRACE.

IT IS NOT IN OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT IN OUR SINFULNESS, THAT CHRIST CHOSE TO DIE FOR US.

THIS IS A TRUTH THAT SHOULD HUMBLE US, BUT ALSO FILL US GRATITUDE.

THIS TRUTH IS FURTHER AMPLIFIED IN THE APOSTLE'S LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS.

IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:10, PAUL ACKNOWLEDGES, "BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM, AND HIS GRACE TO ME WAS NOT WITHOUT EFFECT. NO, I WORKED HARDER THAN ALL OF THEM—YET NOT I, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WAS WITH ME."

HERE, PAUL, A MAN WELL ACQUAINTED WITH GUILT, TESTIFIES TO THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF GOD'S GRACE. DESPITE HIS PAST, GOD'S GRACE WAS EFFECTIVE IN HIS LIFE, SHAPING HIM INTO THE MAN HE WAS MEANT TO BE.

IN THE SAME VEIN, THE APOSTLE PETER, IN HIS FIRST EPISTLE, ENCOURAGES BELIEVERS WITH THESE WORDS, "BUT GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. TO HIM BE GLORY BOTH NOW AND FOREVER! AMEN." (2 PETER 3:18).

PETER, LIKE PAUL, WAS NO STRANGER TO GUILT. YET, HE TOO EXPERIENCED THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF GOD'S GRACE.

HIS EXHORTATION TO GROW IN GRACE IS A TESTAMENT TO ITS ONGOING WORK IN OUR LIVES, EVEN IN THE FACE OF OUR GUILT.

IN THE GREEK, THE WORD FOR GRACE IS "CHARIS". THIS TERM IS USED NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT.

IN ROMANS 6:14, PAUL WRITES, "FOR SIN SHALL NO LONGER BE YOUR MASTER, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE (CHARIS)."

HERE, "CHARIS" IS USED TO CONVEY THE IDEA OF GOD'S UNMERITED FAVOR, A FAVOR THAT LIBERATES US FROM THE POWER OF SIN.

IN 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9, PAUL QUOTES THE LORD SAYING, "MY GRACE (CHARIS) IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS."

IN THIS CONTEXT, "CHARIS" IS DEPICTED AS A SUSTAINING FORCE IN TIMES OF WEAKNESS.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT GOD'S GRACE IN OUR GUILT, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON.

THE YOUNGER SON, HAVING SQUANDERED HIS INHERITANCE, RETURNS HOME EXPECTING TO BE TREATED AS A SERVANT.

YET, HIS FATHER, FILLED WITH COMPASSION, EMBRACES HIM AND RESTORES HIM AS A SON.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF GOD'S GRACE TOWARDS US.

DESPITE OUR GUILT, HE WELCOMES US HOME, NOT AS SERVANTS, BUT AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS.

WE ALSO SEE THIS IN THE STORY OF THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY IN JOHN 8:1-11, REVEALS ANOTHER FACET OF GOD'S GRACE IN OUR GUILT.

WHEN THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE READY TO STONE HER, JESUS, FULL OF GRACE, FORGAVE HER AND SET HER FREE.

THIS IS THE GRACE THAT WE TOO HAVE RECEIVED - A GRACE THAT FORGIVES, A GRACE THAT FREES, A GRACE THAT RESTORES.

GOD'S GRACE IS NOT A RESPONSE TO OUR GOODNESS, BUT TO OUR GUILT.

IT IS NOT A REWARD FOR OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT A GIFT IN OUR SINFULNESS.

IT IS NOT A RESULT OF OUR WORTHINESS, BUT A REFLECTION OF HIS LOVE.

THIS IS THE GRACE THAT HAS BEEN GRANTED IN OUR GUILT - A GRACE THAT SAVES, A GRACE THAT TRANSFORMS, A GRACE THAT ENDURES.

ETERNAL EMBRACE OF THE LORD

AS WE CONTINUE TO WALK THROUGH THIS SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE, WE FIND OURSELVES STANDING AT THE THRESHOLD OF AN ETERNAL EMBRACE.

THIS IS THE EMBRACE OF THE LORD

THE LOVING ARMS OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER THAT ARE ALWAYS OPEN, ALWAYS WELCOMING, ALWAYS READY TO ENFOLD US IN HIS LOVE. THIS IS THE EMBRACE THAT SPEAKS OF AN ETERNITY SPENT IN HIS PRESENCE, AN ETERNITY FILLED WITH HIS LOVE, HIS PEACE, HIS JOY.

COUNTING EVERY BLESSING IS THE THEME THAT WILL GUIDE US AS WE NAVIGATE THIS PART OF OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.

IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE COUNTLESS WAYS IN WHICH GOD'S LOVE IS MANIFESTED IN OUR LIVES.

IT'S ABOUT COUNTING EVERY BLESSING, EVERY GIFT, EVERY GRACE THAT COMES OUR WAY AND SEEING THEM FOR WHAT THEY TRULY ARE - EXPRESSIONS OF GOD'S ETERNAL EMBRACE.

WHAT WE MUST UNDERSTAND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IS THE CONSTANCY OF GOD'S PRESENCE.

GOD'S PRESENCE IS A CONSTANT IN OUR LIVES, A NEVER-ENDING STREAM OF LOVE AND GRACE THAT FLOWS FROM HIS HEART TO OURS.

HIS PRESENCE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON OUR ACTIONS, OUR WORDS, OR OUR THOUGHTS.

IT IS NOT CONTINGENT ON OUR WORTHINESS OR OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

IT IS A CONSTANT, UNCHANGING REALITY THAT IS AS SURE AS THE RISING AND SETTING OF THE SUN.

THE PSALMIST DECLARES IN PSALM 139:7-10, "WHERE CAN I GO FROM YOUR SPIRIT? WHERE CAN I FLEE FROM YOUR PRESENCE? IF I GO UP TO THE HEAVENS, YOU ARE THERE; IF I MAKE MY BED IN THE DEPTHS, YOU ARE THERE. IF I RISE ON THE WINGS OF THE DAWN, IF I SETTLE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE SEA, EVEN THERE YOUR HAND WILL GUIDE ME, YOUR RIGHT HAND WILL HOLD ME FAST."

THIS IS THE CONSTANCY OF GOD'S PRESENCE, THE CERTAINTY OF HIS ETERNAL EMBRACE.

OUR SECOND ASPECT IS THE ASSURANCE OF GOD'S LOVE.

IT IS AN ETERNAL REALITY, A LOVE THAT IS AS DEEP AS THE OCEAN, AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS, AS VAST AS THE UNIVERSE. IT IS A LOVE THAT IS UNCHANGING, UNYIELDING, AND UNENDING.

IN THE WORDS OF THE ESTEEMED CHRISTIAN WRITER, A.W. TOZER, "GOD'S LOVE IS MEASURELESS. IT IS MORE: IT IS BOUNDLESS. IT HAS NO BOUNDS BECAUSE IT IS NOT A THING BUT A FACET OF THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF GOD. HIS LOVE IS SOMETHING HE IS, AND BECAUSE HE IS INFINITE, THAT LOVE CAN ENFOLD THE WHOLE CREATED WORLD IN ITSELF AND HAVE ROOM FOR TEN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSAND WORLDS BESIDE."

THIS IS THE ASSURANCE OF GOD'S LOVE, THE CERTAINTY OF HIS ETERNAL EMBRACE.

CONSIDER THE REALITY OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS. GOD'S FORGIVENESS IS NOT A RELUCTANT CONCESSION OR A GRUDGING ACT OF MERCY.

IT IS A JOYFUL CELEBRATION, A DIVINE DECLARATION OF OUR FREEDOM FROM SIN AND GUILT.

IT IS A PROCLAMATION OF OUR REDEMPTION, OUR RESTORATION, OUR RENEWAL.

IN PSALM 103:12, WE READ, "AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST, SO FAR HAS HE REMOVED OUR TRANSGRESSIONS FROM US."

THIS IS THE REALITY OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS, THE CERTAINTY OF HIS ETERNAL EMBRACE.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD REFLECT ON THE PROMISE OF GOD'S ETERNITY.

GOD'S ETERNITY IS NOT A DISTANT FUTURE OR A FAR-OFF PLACE. IT IS A PRESENT REALITY, A LIVING HOPE, A SURE AND CERTAIN PROMISE.

IT IS THE PROMISE OF AN ETERNITY SPENT IN HIS PRESENCE, AN ETERNITY FILLED WITH HIS LOVE, HIS PEACE, HIS JOY.

IN JOHN 14:3, JESUS ASSURES US, "AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM."

THIS IS THE PROMISE OF GOD'S ETERNITY, THE CERTAINTY OF HIS ETERNAL EMBRACE.

SO, AS WE STAND AT THE THRESHOLD OF THIS ETERNAL EMBRACE, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO COUNT EVERY BLESSING, TO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNTLESS WAYS IN WHICH GOD'S LOVE IS MANIFESTED IN OUR LIVES.

LET'S EMBRACE THE CONSTANCY OF HIS PRESENCE, THE ASSURANCE OF HIS LOVE, THE REALITY OF HIS FORGIVENESS, AND THE PROMISE OF HIS ETERNITY.

CONCLUSION

WE'RE NOT SAVED BY OUR OWN WORKS OR OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. IT'S BY GOD'S GRACE, HIS UNMERITED FAVOR, THAT WE'RE SAVED.

IT'S HIS GIFT TO US, FREELY GIVEN, NOT EARNED. WE'VE BEEN MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST, RAISED UP AND SEATED WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS. THAT'S A PROMISE WE CAN HOLD ONTO, A HOPE WE CAN CLING TO.

GOD'S LOVE FOR US IS IMMEASURABLE. HIS MERCY IS ABUNDANT.

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.

AND HIS EMBRACE IS ETERNAL.

HE'S WITH US ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE.

WE'RE NEVER ALONE, NEVER FORSAKEN.

NO MATTER WHAT WE FACE, NO MATTER WHAT TRIALS OR TRIBULATIONS COME OUR WAY, WE CAN REST IN HIS PROMISE, HIS PRESENCE, AND HIS PEACE.

COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS

SO LET'S GO FORTH THIS WEEK WITH HEARTS FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR THE GRACE WE'VE BEEN GIVEN.

LET'S LIVE OUT OUR FAITH IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS THE LOVE AND MERCY WE'VE RECEIVED.

LET'S SHARE THAT LOVE AND MERCY WITH OTHERS, EXTENDING THE SAME GRACE WE'VE BEEN SHOWN.

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LET'S PRAY. "DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE, YOUR MERCY, AND YOUR ETERNAL EMBRACE. HELP US TO LIVE OUT THESE TRUTHS IN OUR DAILY LIVES, TO REFLECT YOUR LOVE TO THOSE AROUND US, AND TO REST IN YOUR PROMISES. GUIDE US AND PROTECT US AS WE GO FORTH THIS WEEK. IN JESUS' NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN."

AND NOW, MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH US ALL, NOW AND FOREVERMORE. AMEN. GO IN PEACE, BELOVED FAMILY, AND LET THE LOVE OF GOD SHINE THROUGH YOU.