What Do You Mean “Saved?”

What Do You Mean “Saved?”

Text: Ephesians 2:1-13

ETS: The Ephesian believers were saved by grace, through faith in Christ.

ESS: Individuals are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ’s atoning work.

OSS: People will respond to God’s gracious offer of salvation by placing their faith in Christ.

PQ: What does the Bible teach about salvation?

UW: Questions

Ephesians 2:1–13 (NLT)

Ephesians 2:1–13 (NLT)

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,

5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

INTRODUCTION:

A- Summary of last week’s message -

1- The Mission of Christ. Provide Salvation - seek and save the lost.(Luke 19:10)

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

2- Prepare for His future kingdom through His redemptive salvation and transformation of sinners into fit members of the Kingdom.

3- Proclaim the Good News about His work and about the coming Kingdom, inviting people to become a part of that Kingdom through repentance and faith.

B- In order to understand Jesus’ first purpose statement, we need to get a grasp on what Jesus means when he says “saved.”

1- One of the best explanations of salvation is given by the Apostle Paul in our Text.

2- Three questions provide the basis for the answer to the question, “What do you mean- saved?”

I. SAVED FROM WHAT? (Ephesians 2:11-13, 1-3).

A. Saved from hopelessness. (Ephesians 2:11-13).

Ephesians 2:11–13 (NLT)

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

1. Because of our natural condition as the children of Adam.

(Notice the descriptions given in the text)

a) “excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel” – (ἀπηλλοτριωμένοι τῆς πολιτείας τοῦ Ἰσραήλ) – “aliens to the nation of Israel”

b) “you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them” ( ξένοι τῶν διαθηκῶν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας) – “strangers to the covenant of promise.”

c) “living apart from Christ” (χωρὶς Χριστοῦ)

d) “without God” (ἄθεοι) – “godless”

e) “without hope” -(ἐλπίδα μὴ ἔχοντες)

f) “far away from God” – (ποτὲ ὄντες μακρα)

B. Saved from Separation. (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Ephesians 2:1–3 (NLT)

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

1. Separation due to our rebellion against God.

(Romans 8:7-8)

Romans 8:7–8 (NLT)

7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.

8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

(Our lives were characterized by the following)

a) “Living to fulfill fleshly desires”

b) Obeying the devil

c) Spititually “dead” (νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασι καὶ ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις)

II. SAVED TO WHAT? (Ephesians 2:10, 4-7).

A. Saved to the gift of eternal life. (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Ephesians 2:4–5 (NLT)

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,

5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

1. This refers to quantity of life. (John 3:16).

John 3:16 (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

2. This refers to quality of life (John 10:10)

John 10:10 (NLT)

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

B. Saved to a glorious future. (Ephesians 2:6-7).

Ephesians 2:6–7 (NLT)

6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

1. The three tenses of salvation taught in scripture:

a) “Regeneration” – “I have been saved.”

b) “Sanctification” – “I am being saved.”

c) “Glorification” – “I am going to be saved.”

2. The richness of his grace revealed:

a) New, glorified bodies

b) Rewards for faithfulness

c) Reigning with him

C. Saved to a great life here-and-now. (Ephesians 2:10).

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

1. His work of beauty.

a) We are his “masterpiece.” (ποίημα)

b) Gather song: “He made something beautiful of my life.”

2. His creation in Christ (κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῳ)- to “create from nothing.”

3. His purpose is transformation - ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς – “for good works.”

a) Instead of engaging in rebellion, we are recreated to do good works.

III. SAVED BY WHAT? (Ephesians 2:8-9).

A. Not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8c-9).

Ephesians 2:8c–9 (NLT)

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

1. All that we may do in the flesh is worthless.

(Isaiah 64:6)

Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)

6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

(Titus 3:5)

Titus 3:5 (NLT)

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

B. Saved by Grace (Ephesians 2:8a).

Ephesians 2:8a (NLT)

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

1. What is grace?

a) Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is God giving us what we do not deserve. He gives us the richness of his salvation when we deserve punishment for our sin and rebellion! This is made possible by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

(2 Corinthians 5:21)

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

b) Illustration:

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense

C. Saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8b).

Ephesians 2:8b (NLT)

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

1. What is faith?

(Hebrews 11:1)

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

a) We live by faith daily (as we drive cars, walk into buildings, etc.)

2. Steps of faith:

a) Conviction (John 6:44)

John 6:44 (NLT)

44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.

b) Repentance (Luke 13:3)

Luke 13:3 (NLT)

3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.

c) Acceptance (John 1:12)

John 1:12 (NLT)

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

d) Confession (Matthew 10:32-33)

Matthew 10:32–33 (NLT)

32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

Forsaking

All

I

Trust

Him

CONCLUSION: