Riches of God's Mercy
Sufficiency of Christ: Book of Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:06:53
0 ratings
· 31 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Get out of your graveclothes!
Get out of your graveclothes!
(insert slide/picture, already saved: graveclothes)
Who we are is not who we were, but sometimes we have to look at who we were so we can know who we are today. We, like Lazarus, need to get out of our graveclothes (Jn11:43-44)
43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” 44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Paul has already been showing us what we have in Christ.
Sufficiency of Christ has been proclaimed
Paul had previously preached the gospel, the Ephesians believed the gospel and were transformed by the gospel by obedient faith and they were baptized into the possession of Christ. In Christ we have all things!
Riches of God’s grace through Christ has been shown (Eph1:4-14)
How rich we are because of God’s grace through Christ Jesus. He has given us all things (spiritually speaking) in the heavenly places. - - - remember that the book of Ephesians is written to believers, to remind them who they are in Christ so they can be all they are meant to be as the Church.
Riches of His glory has been displayed (Eph1:15-23)
One thing Paul keeps reminding them is who they are in Christ. It goes well beyond salvation, that is only the starting place. We, like, Lazarus are told to “come forth” to be loosed of our graveclothes in baptism and live a resurrected life. The glory of God displayed in Christ Jesus and in turn through the Christian who has shed his graveclothes.
Graveclothes, Lazarus needed help to get them off. To get rid of the old ways and people were there to help him. We need to help each other and help others to remove their graveclothes too.
From spiritual possessions to our spiritual position in Christ!
We are the Lords possession when we obeyed the gospel. Transferred out of the darkness into the kingdom of the beloved Son. In our passage today Paul goes from explaining being a possession in the Lord to our position in the Lord. We are familiar with the song “Low in the grave He lays” and it is a song of victory for He was raised up so we too could be, were raised up in Him to be His possession and have our position with Him in the heavenlies!
I don’t think Paul gets accused of being, nonchalant, but rather direct and to the point. Our passage is best described as works, let me show you, then we will develop it.
Sins work against us (Eph2:1-3)
God’s work for us (Eph2:4-9)
God’s work in us (Eph2:10a)
God’s work through us (Eph2:10b)
(Read slow, read emphatically)
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in 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 as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
I. Sin’s work against us!
I. Sin’s work against us!
(insert picture- Zoom lens)
In a society that wants to zoom in to look at the littlest details of something it’s all well. But sometimes we need to step back, zoom out so as to get the fuller picture. The fuller picture here in these verses is the depravity, the grievousness of sin. The condition of the one who is unsaved, the horrible spiritual position of that person and some of the characteristics of that person.
The person is spiritually dead (Eph2:1; 1Cor2:14-15; Isa59:2; 1Tim5:6)
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
Dead, and not able to understand spiritual things
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
Dead people are unable to respond to spiritual things. A corpse cannot hear or understand what is going on around it. It’s dead! - a dead person needs Christ to give the breath of life so they can life and be set free from their graveclothes.
The obituary of a spiritually dead person would read
“Cause of death, sin and trespasses”
We know the wages of sin is death (Rom6:23) and we also know that our sins separated us from God.
2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
This world is full of a bunch of dead people. It makes me think of the line from movie Six Sence “I see dead people” holds true, look around in the world and you see many who are spiritually dead, even though they are physically alive.
6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.
(transition) - someone who gives themselves over to wanton pleasure leads us to the next point.
The person is disobedient (Eph2:2-3a; Rom12:2; Jn8:23; Jn17:14; Eph6:11-12; Jn12:31; Jn8:44 and Psm51:5)
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
notice a couple of things in these verses
You formerly walked (this is not who you are now)
You formerly lived (this is not your place of residence now)
these are reminders of who we were prior to hearing believing, obeying the gospel and taking off our graveclothes.
Disobedient to the will of God; whose desires is that all ment might be saved (1Tim2:4) - this disobedience started back in the garden with Eve and her husband. They believed the lie and traded the truth for it.
There are three forces that work together to try to get man to be disobedient to the will of God.
The world
The devil
The flesh
The world wants to conform us but God wants to transform us
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
JEsus is not of this world but has overcome this world so that we too can overcome, but it started with Him
23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.
Jesus in His prayer for the apostles said
14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
See the Apostles, just like us, when we are in the possession of Christ are not of this world! WE need to remember this and be transformed, but not conformed to the ways of this world, but transform the world by the ways, the will of God
God have given us what we need to face the spiritual battles that are waged by Satan and his little pinions.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Though they may have some power in this world, they do not have victory!
31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
Satan is a liar, a deceiver and has been since the beginning
44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
When Satan speaks, it is a lie, he speaks from his own nature for he is the father of lies.
when a person believes and practices, dwells, in the lie, he is a child of disobedience. (expand of this; different gospel, is no gospel at all, offers no salvation they they claim they do)
Next want to touch on the flesh against us:
(illustration/story) - there was an evangelist who titled a message “Why your dog does what he does” - people were curious what that could be about, so many came to hear the message. Well the message was about the nature of a dog, is the nature of the dog, it is what it is, it is not the nature of a cat, so a dog does what a dog does because of it’s nature. A man who is fallen by nature due to sin, does what a sinful man does, sin’s, it is in his nature and he cannot change his nature. We need God to step in and change our nature for only He can do that.
David said it like this
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Paul speaks of this nature more in Romans chapter 7, you can read that on your own.
We cannot change our fleshly nature, we cannot overcome the world or the devil, we need God to do it, we need His help, it can only come from Him.
Person is depraved (Eph2:3b; Lk11:23)
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.
The sinner who is conformed to the world has his mind and flesh depraved. his actions are sinful because his appetite is sinful. Now, don’t read too deep into this, there are people who are not necessarily evil, who do things that have the appearance of good, but when we look at things with the right standard (measure) they fall short (as we all do) and cannot save themselves. Jesus illustrates this point.
13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Good works cannot save you, without God and His help through the blood of Christ you are doomed. (remember again, this is a reminder only to the one who has already obeyed the gospel).
The person is doomed (Eph2:3c; Jn3:18; 2Pt3:8-10
By nature children of wrath, by deed children of disobedience, they are condemned already
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Judgment given, sentenced passed “condemned” but God, rich in mercy stayed the execution of the sentence. Because of His desire.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
But know the day is coming!
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
But God in His infinite mercy, abounding, abundant grace changed everything He did. For He did the work for us!
II. God’s work in us
II. God’s work in us
Understanding the severity of sin helps us to appreciate the work that God has done for us. It it is His work.
For He loved us (Eph2:4)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Rich in mercy, why? Because of His great love for us.
Love of God, for God is love and God is truth and God is faithful
Love of God, for God is holy and God is just
Love of God displayed in His mercy and His grace
Saved by Grace through faith, with His mercy given because of His great love for us.
He quickens us (Eph2:5; Lk7:11-17; Lk8:49-56; Jn11:41-46; Jn5:24 and Heb4:12)
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
So what does quicken mean? It means He made us alive, even when we were dead in our trespasses. It means resurrection, it mans putting off the graveclothes, for someone who was dead has been brought back to life by the breath of life put into them by the Word of God which brought about faith.
Examples of such
Like the widow’s son (Lk7:11-17)
Like Jarius’ daughter (Lk8:49-56)
Like Lazarus (Jn11:41-46)
How were each of thee made alive? Glad you asked, it was by the Word of God.
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
We are made alive together with Christ and for Christ, we are united.
The Word of God brings us life, and it is alive and powerful as noted in (Heb4:12) The Word of God gets to the hart and the soul of the matter.
He exalts us! (Eph2:6)
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
We are not raised from the dead to stay in our graveclothes in the graveyard. We are made to be exalted in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We, like Lazarus have been invited and have accepted the invitation to sit with Jesus.
1 Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.
All of this because of the richness of God’s mercy! - - - We .were dead, but God .made us alive, seated us in the heavenly places so we are able to sup with Him
He Keeps us alive (Eph2:7-9; Eph1:6)
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in 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 as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
More than rescuing us from the grips of hell. He has redeemed us with a purpose, that we might glorify God.
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
The work God does for us, it is a finished work, there is nothing left to do. It was finished on the cross, sealed by the blood of Christ, ratified when He rose from the dead. Then He gave us good gifts when He assumed His throne at the right hand of the Majesty on High, by sending His Spirit.
Sin worked against us, God worked for us, so then God can work in us and through us!
III. God’s work in us and through us
III. God’s work in us and through us
God’s work, through Christ, made us a new person (2Cor5:17) and His purpose to work in us is to make us more like Christ and to accomplish the work He created us to do beforehand.
Work He foreknew (Eph2:10; Rom8:29; Php2:13)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
prepared before hand, and He foreknew
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
and He is faithful to work in you
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Why did He do this? So we can do His will, and His work for His good pleasure.
His work in us is perfecting us (1The2:13)
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
Oftentimes the work includes some suffering (1Pt4:11-14)
Don’t be surprised by the hard times, the fiery trials we face
Share in suffering; knowing the Spirit of God rests on you and you may rejoice in the suffering, for you are blessed.
God’s Word is active, it is alive and at work in us when we put His Word in us. This happens when we study, when we meditate on His Word. For the Word cleanses us, purifies us, nourishes us. His Spirit empowers us and ministers to su in and through all things, including in our suffering.
So be like Lazarus, get out of the graveclothes, get out of the graveyard for there is still work to be done.
We cannot work our way into faith, we cannot fake faith, but faith will produce works as James says. What matters is what kind of works are we going to do.
Works of the flesh (Gal5:19-21)
Works of darkness (Rom13:12)
Or even dead works (Heb6:1)
To the Christian who understands the riches of His mercy and grace, his faith will result in good works.
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Lead to invitation
Insert invitation slide
Insert exit slide