More Than Just Saved...

Ira Yates

Have you ever heard of Iraan, TX?

It was named after Ira and Ann Yates, who bought a piece of land in the early 1900s outside of Pecos, TX.

The land they lived on was not fertile enough to grow crops, so they herded sheep and other livestock.

Though he had a lot of land, he also had a lot of debt and ranching in West Texas was not an easy endeavor.

After a few years of struggling to pay his mortgage payments and taxes, Mr. Yates was in danger of losing his ranch to foreclosure.

He was living on government assistance just to provide the basic needs of his family for food and clothing.

By 1926, things we bleak.

Then an oil company came to the ranch and ask if they could see if there was oil on the Yates’ property.

When Ira had bought the property, he had also bought the mineral rights for everything under the surface.

At 340 meters, they struck oil...and a lot of it.

Since 1926, billions of barrels of oil have been produced from the reserves under Ira Yates farm.

Before 1926, Ira and Ann lived in poverty, barely able to hold on to their property.

All the while, underneath their feet was billions of dollar of oil.

They were multibillionaires and didn’t even know it.

I am afraid we are a lot like the Yates when it comes to understanding the what we receive when we come to faith in Christ.

Barely Holding On

Do you ever felt like you are just barely making it?

Barely a Christian, barely forgiven, barely holding on?

We are familiar enough with verses like Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;”

We know we've sinned, we know we fall short, and we believe that God, in His great mercy, has saved us.

But I think our understanding of salvation is often far too narrow.

What if God’s plans wasn’t just to save us from the fire?

Paul wants us to see that God's work in our lives is not JUST about our salvation, but about our new position and our glorious future.

Ephesians 2:1–9 CSB

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

Ephesians 2:1–9 CSB

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

In Ephesians 2:6-7, Paul reveals three profound truths about God's grace that go far beyond what we can dream or imagine.

1) God doesn’t just save us, He SEATS us.

Ephesians 2:6 “6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,”

Most of us have never been to a dinner party where the position you are seated in really mattered.

Maybe the closest we can get is when we get moved from the “kids table” to the adult table at our family holiday meals.

You move from a place of insignificance, to a place of significance.

And that is exactly what Paul is declaring here.

In order to understand the significance of us being seated WITH Christ, we need to understand the significance of where Christ is seated.

40 days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven, and, as Paul points our in Ephesians 1, He is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

Ephesians 1:20–21 CSB

20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

The right hand seat was a seat of honor, power, and authority.

At the right hand of God, Jesus sit above EVERY earthly ruler or king, every military or government, every power or authority in the universe.

There is no higher place to sit and because of His seat, Paul tells us in Philippians 2 that every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow and confess Him as Lord.

Philippians 2:9–11 CSB

9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So what does it mean that we are “seated with Christ in the heavens”?

If Christ is at the father’s right hand in glory, then in some sense, those of us who are “In Christ”, meaning we are Christians, are there too.

This isn’t a fully realized reality, obviously, but we are so identified with him that if Christ is there, then we there too.

Right now, in the spiritual realm, our position is secure and elevated.

We are not just rescued; we are enthroned.

We are not just forgiven; we are given a place of honor and authority alongside Christ himself.

We are not just forgiven sinners; we are sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ, seated with Him in glory.

This truth should fill us with profound confidence and a bold assurance.

In the face of the temptations of this world, we do not need to be overwhelmed.

When the devil tries to tempt us and lie to us, we do not need to be overpowered.

And in our battles with the desires of the flesh, we do not need to be overcome.

Romans 8:37 NLT

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

We are more than JUST saved, we are SEATED.

And this leads us into the second profound truth...

2) God doesn’t just tolerate us, He DELIGHTS in us.

Have you ever felt like a burden to someone? Like they are just putting up with you because they felt some kind of obligation to hang out with you?

Most of the time we feel that way it is probably not true, but the consequence of our low self image.

But it is the way we often think of our relationship with God.

We know the passages like Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” and Ephesians 2:3 “we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.”

And we believe them.

Yet we also struggle to see ourselves outside of those verses.

We struggle to see ourselves as more than just “sinners”.

But both of these bad news verse are followed by incredible good news verses.

Romans 3:24 CSB

24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

and, of course, the verse we have been looking at the last 2 weeks.

When we miss out on the “good news” verses, we begin to think God tolerates us because He has to.

We believe He forgives us begrudgingly, just because it was part of the plan.

But Paul wants us to see that this isn’t true.

He doesn't just tolerate us; He delights in us. He looks at us, not just as redeemed sinners, but as His beloved children, and His heart is filled with joy.

Paul uses the word "kindness."

The Greek word here is "Chreestotees”, which speaks of His goodness, gentleness, and a tender affection.

God's grace isn't a stern, begrudging duty; it is an overflowing fountain of kindness.

Zephaniah 3:17 CSB

17 The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”

Our God is a proud and doting father who delights in knowing, loving, and caring for His children.

He doesn't just put up with you; He welcomes you with open arms and a joyful heart.

And...

3) God doesn’t just provide for us, He SHOWERS us.

Verse 7 is pointing toward a future reality that has present significance.

“In the coming age” means when Jesus comes back and finishes the work He started 2000 years ago.

Paul isn’t saying that the kindness of God is only for the “coming age”, but that the full display of His kindness will be seen in the coming age.

God’s grace is not a trickle; it's a flood. It is not just enough; it is an "immeasurable riches."

The riches of God's grace are so vast, so deep, so magnificent, that they cannot be measured against anything else in the universe.

When Christ returns, we will see fully and completely just how amazing God’s grace is, as we see how it has shaped all of our lives and all of our eternities.

In Matthew 7, Jesus uses the example of kindness and care of earthly fathers to explain how much better God the Father is to His children.

Matthew 7:9–11 CSB

9 Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

We often get our image of who God is from our earthly Fathers, which can be a good thing, but can also be a bad thing.

By God’s grace, I was given a great dad, who I have never doubted his love for me and have honestly probably been spoiled by him most of my life.

Even with a great example of a good dad, God the Father is so much better.

Every day of our lives, God is graciously and mercifully caring for us, correcting us, guiding us, sustaining us, providing for us, healing us, fulfilling us, moving us, shaping us, motivating us, and drawing us deeper into relationship with Him.

We don’t see even the tiniest percentage of Hid provision, but it is far more than we can ever fathom.

His grace is not just for our salvation; it is for our daily walk, our moments of weakness, our times of struggle, our future trials.

He showers us with His kindness, day after day, year after year, and into all eternity.

Conclusion

So let’s stop living with a narrow view of God’s grace. He hasn't just barely saved you. He hasn't just tolerated you. He hasn't just provided for you.

He has seated you in a place of honor, security, and authority. You are not just forgiven; you are enthroned.

He delights in you with a tender, unyielding affection. You are not just tolerated; you are His beloved child.

He showers you with a continuous flow of incomparable riches. You are not just provided for; you are lavished with grace.

So walk in this truth today. Live as one who is seated with Christ. Live as one who is deeply delighted in by your Heavenly Father. And live in the assurance that you are being showered with His incomparable riches, not just for today, but for all the ages to come. Let's not just be grateful for our salvation, but let's be awestruck by the lavish, extravagant, and overwhelming grace of God.