But God..

Introduction

Who do we accredit our salvation too? The Bible teaches that it is God who saves but do we have any active part in this process. The question that I am asking is that is it 100% God in our salvation, part us and part God, or 100% our decision? The text that we are going to look at today will answer this question. Before we look at the text, I want you to consider these two situations roughly similar to the ones Dr. R.C. Sproul presents when attempting to answer this same question.

Situation 1: There is a guy in the hospital and he is in bad shape. He is on his death bed and dying and all he has to do is take the medicine and he will be saved. The problem is that he cant move his arms so the doctor has to take the medicine and put in his mouth and its on him to swallow it and be saved.

Situation 2: There is a guy in the hospital bed and he is completely dead. Unlike the first situation, this guy has no opportunity to even swallow the medicine if the doctor were to give it to him. His only chance of living is if the doctor were to inject him with the medicine that could bring him back to life and save him.

Which one of these situations do you believe that is most like what happens in our salvation?

Before we open our Bibles and find the answer to this question, let us go to the Lord in prayer.

Read the Text

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, 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 coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not 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, that we should walk in them.

Exposition of the Text

Verse 1

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.

What is meant by dead here? Does it mean we were physically dead? No, this passage is not talking about that kind of death but in this text we are talking about a spiritual death. Lets go back to Genesis and see when this death took place.

After Adan was made by God, God gave him the commandment and the results would be either life or death. Gen 2:16-17 says, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” If you were to read further into that story, you will see that Adam and his wife Eve did end up eating the fruit, but they did not physically die. What did God mean by death in his statement? We do see that after they ate the fruit and saw God walking in the garden, they hid themselves. They were ashamed and their sin had disconnected them from the close fellowship they had previously shared with God.

So back to our text, we see that we were dead here in this passage, which was a result of what happened in the garden with Adam. Adam represented all of mankind in that sin. As a result, everybody that is born is born a sinner, spiritually disconnected from God. The text we are reading also says dead in the trespasses and sins. Trespass and sin sound a lot like the same thing and they are. Back to the example of Adam. God gave Adam that law and was told not to break it. We can think of the signs we see today that say “Do Not Trespass.” When we see a sign like that, we know that we are not legally allowed to enter that place or it results in a legal penalty. Adam was told not to trespass Gods law and eat the fruit of the tree but he did and it resulted in a sin that had legal consequences.

The trespassing of Gods law has resulted in sin that has left us spiritually dead from the womb since the time of Adam.

The theologian John Calvin makes this statement when talking about this verse.

“Let this, then, be held as a fixed principle, that the union of our soul with God is the true and only life; and that out of Christ we are altogether dead, because sin, the cause of death, reigns in us.”

John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 220.

Verse 2

“in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.”

“in which you once walked” claiming that there is something different in the people that Paul is writing. They once walked in one way which is different from the way that they are currently walking.

What way was it that they were walking?

“following the course of this world”

You may be asking yourself what exactly is the course of this world? The course in which the natural sinful men walk. If we understand that men are born in sin, rebellious to God until salvation, we have to understand that a majority of the people in the is world are continually living in sin. Consider this passage in 1 John.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

We are to live in the world but not be of the world.

“following the prince of the power of the air”

The prince of the power of the air is Satan. Everybody that follows the course of this world is thereby a follower of Satan himself. Back to the garden once again, did not Satan tempt Adam and Eve to rebel against God as he had also done. Even since then, one thing hasn’t changed. He is still presenting temptation in the world that tempts men to transgress the holy law of God thereby causing them to rebel in sin. It doesn’t take much to see that this world is contrary to the word of God. How hard is it to find a movie or series on Netflix that isn’t filled with sex and nudity? Why is abortion, the murder of children, praised and promoted in wordly culture? Why does the world promote sex outside of marriage as a good thing? And also the breakdown of the nuclear family? All these things are contrary to the word of God making those who practice these things rebels to their very maker.

“the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience”

The sons of disobedience are simply those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been given the command to repent and believe but many have been disobedient to this command and continue to follow the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air.

Verse 3

“among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind.”

“among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh”

I think its very important here that the apostle Paul here writes that we all once lived in this manner, even including himself. The only exception being the perfect Lord Jesus. What is meant by the passions of the flesh?

English Standard Version Chapter 5

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

“carrying out the desires of the body and the mind”

We had all of these passions and there was nothing to stop us from pursuing them. Do you notice how none of these things are condemned by the world but are condemned by God? This is why the text can say, “Do not love the world.” The law is what stops most people from pursuing things that are wrong. When the worldly law does not condemn these activities, they freely pursue them with no remorse. When one comes to fear the law of God, they realize they are in sin practicing these things and repent.

“and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind”

All those who break Gods law are under condemnation and will face his wrath on judgement day. Everybody that is born is under sin and therefore are born under condemnation, with the penalty of Gods wrath for it. Everybody is born this way. He says like the rest of mankind, showing a separation of the new man and the old man.

From these first three verses we can easily gather that we are in bad shape. We were dead in trespasses and sins, we followed satan and the course of this world living in disobedience to the commands of God, we practiced wicked things that were in direct conflict to the moral law of God, and were naturally deserving of the wrath of God against sin on judgement day. This should cause you to look at yourself if you are not saved and realize these Scriptures are talking about you. If you are saved, this should cause you to look at yourself and see that this used to be you. And now, to one of the most glorious Scriptures in the book.

Verse 4

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us”

But God, But God, But God. WHOA!

We were set in a course leading to destruction, BUT GOD!

There is a lot to be said about these two words. This is showing that had it not been for God, we would have continued in this path. Even though we were sinful and rebels against the thrice Holy God, But God! What does this say about God?

“being rich in mercy”

Do we ever think of God as being rich in mercy? I know that Atheists tend to always picture this mean and wrathful God, and rightly so because they will meet this side of God due to their unbelief. But we as believers meet a God who is rich in mercy. Abundant in mercy. Wealthy in mercy. Praise God for this. Had God not been abundant in mercy, we would be abundantly burning in the lake of fire.

“because of the great love with which he loved us”

Not just normal love, but great love. It takes great love to show mercy to those who don’t deserve it. It takes great love to show mercy to those who are in rebellion against you. It takes great love to send his son Jesus Christ to die for us, WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS. Why does God love us? Is there something special inherently within us the deserves the love of God or even merits it? Are we better than others so God looked on us to save us? Absolutely NOT. This is strictly due to the great love of God. Did we just not read that WE ALL LIVED by nature as children of wrath. NOBODY deserves the mercy and love of God, But GOD!!!!

Verse 5

“Even when were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved”

“Even when we were dead in our trespasses”

We were dead, spiritually dead that is, disconnected from the very source of life in Jesus Christ. Even in this condition, God looked upon us with mercy and love and did what?

“made us alive together with Christ”

PRAISE GOD!

From spiritual death to spiritual life, which we find only in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was crucified and died to sin and on the third day raised from the dead by the work of the Holy Spirit. What happens in the life of the believer? They are dead in their sin but God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes them alive together with Christ.

“by grace you have been saved”

What is grace? When we talk about grace we are talking about unfavored merit. Grace is undeserved and we were undeserving. From being spiritually dead, and brought to life together with Christ, this is completely undeserved. We deserved the exact opposite. We were children of wrath under condemnation set to face the judgement of God. But God, because of his richness in mercy and great love with which he loved us, showed grace to us and brought us back to spiritual life.

Verse 6

“and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”

This verse here has a range of meaning. What does it mean to be seated with Christ in the heavenly places. First of all, for the believer, this verse means that we are so surely set to be seated with Christ in heaven, it is as if we are already there now. Second of all, we must realize that Christ is reigning on his throne from heaven at this very moment.

RC Sproul in his commentary on Ephesians writes:

The Purpose of God: Ephesians The Grace of God

When Paul writes that Christ is seated, he means that Jesus is on the throne and has dominion over all things. But Paul also stresses that believers, who are united with Christ in a spiritual resurrection, have also been given dominion over the world. Of course, they do not rule in their own right, but because they are co-heirs with Christ. One way in which they are involved is through prayer when they make petitions to him concerning different areas. But it is always Christ, and not believers, who makes the final decisions.

We are so surely seated in heaven with Christ as believers and we are ruling with Christ as co-heirs having been given dominion over the world. This is good news.

Verse 7

“so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus”

What does this mean? When we are talking about ages, we can conclude the apostle here is speaking of the present evil age and the age to come. The current age we are in now is the present evil age and the age to come is the new heavens and the new earth.

“the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus”

What a great statement.

Since the fall, we have been set to die and face judgement, spiritually dead. We have been facing the effects of the sin in the world. All the hate, the murder, the lies, the deception, war, and on and on and on. There are a lot of cruel things that happen to us in this world. If Christ Jesus never came to this earth, born through a virgin, lived the perfect life under the law, died on the cross, and rose again from the dead, we would have absolutely no hope. Nothing but misery. Live in an evil and sinful world and then spend eternity in hell, separated from the love of God forever.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he sent his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

He didn’t have to send his son and his son didn’t have to come, but he did. They were in perfect agreement. It wasn’t as if the Father needed the son to come and do this and he wasn’t willing, so he sent him down to die against his will at the hands of sinful humans. Not the case to the least. God so loved the world. Jesus being God, in perfect agreement with the Father, came to this earth to save his people from their sins. This is immeasurable riches of grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. We couldn’t save ourselves. Apart from Christ Jesus, we are without hope. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

All that we have talked about in this verse is regarding this present evil age. He has given us hope in this age. In the next age, he will wipe away every tear. We shall see him as he is.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

We could go on and on and on about the riches of the grace kindness and love of God, but overall, Jesus Christ has saved us from the wrath of God by facing it in our places and imputing to us his perfect righteousness to stand before God with on judgement day by grace through faith.

Verse 8

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

“For by grace you have been saved through faith.”

Allow me to present in this case my thesis as to why all of salvation is of the Lord. Many would agree that the grace is from God but some would say that they at least brought the faith that made the grace possible.

Consider this.

You have no faith while you are dead. The very meaning of dead in this passage is spiritually disconnected from God. There has to be some work inside of you before you can even even understand the things of God. What is my basis for these claims?

1 Cor 2:10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Wow this is big. We don’t even begin to comprehend the things of God apart from the Spirit of God. The natural person “the dead person” does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. This is why the apostle Paul can say in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us that are being saved, it is the power of God.”

So we are taken from death to life by God. When we are given life, we are able to understand the things of God through the Spirit of God that is given to us and thereby believe the message of the cross. Not everybody is made alive because if they were, they would all believe this message of the cross and there would be no unbelievers. Finally, people might say doesn’t the Spirit come to everybody? If the Spirit of God came to you, you would be alive. The Bible teaches that the Spirit of God is a guarantee of our heavenly inheritance. That means once the Spirit comes to you, it is with you forever. I could get into a whole different sermon on the Holy Spirit but time doesn’t permit it this time.

This is why the apostle can say in the next sentence “and this is not your own doing it is the gift of God” because had God not made you alive, you never would have had faith in the first place because you would still be dead.” Some people find joy in the idea that they have contributed to their salvation but the Bible teaches that salvation is wholly of the Lord, so let all of our praise be to God in this matter.

Verse 9

“And not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

How many people have heard the phrase “I have to be good so I can make it to heaven?” This passage here is stating that salvation is not a result of works so no matter how good of a person that you think you are, it will not be good enough to get you to heaven. If salvation were based on any contribution of man, such as works, can you understand the boasting that would come with that? You would think that you deserved some kind of credit because you have done this this and this while the other person has only done this. I have another great thing as a result of this. Because salvation is not of works and not your own doing, there is no way that you can lose it by works or your own doing. Salvation is wholly of the Lord from the beginning to the end. Some teach you have to believe and then do good works to keep your salvation but this is not consistent with Scripture. The Bible teaches that saving faith is accompanied by good works. This is why the apostle James can say that “faith without works is dead” because a dead man being brought to life and understanding the work of God in his life cannot stay the same. We do the good works because we are saved, not to be saved.

Verse 10

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

“For we are his workmanship”

We are Gods creation in the beginning in Genesis but also in the new creation at spiritual birth. It says now that we are created in Christ Jesus. The old man was created in Adam and was a slave to sin. The new man, created in Christ Jesus, a slave to righteousness. Even our good works have been prepared by God. We literally can take no credit for any good thing that we do or that happens to us but God must get the glory in all things. If we believe in the sovereignty of God, we must believe that just as sure as God ordained before the world was created the Christ would die on the tree, that he also ordained that Saul of Taursus would be saved and be the apostle Paul to the Gentiles. The great mystery of the Scriptures lies in how we reconcile Gods sovereignty and providence with our will, without us being robotic. It is interesting how we can only blame ourselves for the wrong in our lives but can only credit God for the good things that happen in our life. This is because the only good in us is God himself and all good that we do is because we were moved by the Holy Spirit to do so.

In summary, we see that we were dead in sin, helpless, unable to do anything good towards our own salvation, BUT GOD intervened and made dead people alive in his son Jesus Christ, that they would walk in the good works that he prepared beforehand.

Remember the two situations mentioned before we began the exposition of the text. We saw one guy fighting for his life who was saved and another guy who was dead brought back to life. It is clear after looking through what the Bible teaches on this matter, that we were the dead guy and Christ, the great physician, brought us back to life.

I am hoping that after this message you might look at the Lord Jesus Christ as way more glorious, powerful, and majestic than you ever have before. I am also hoping that we can see ourselves for what we really are which is absolutely nothing apart from the amazing grace of God.

This passage right here is a beautiful text explaining the great gospel of God. I know there are some here who have already placed their hope in the great savior Jesus Christ and some that have not. I am asking you today after hearing this message to place your faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. If you believe on the Lord Jesus you will be saved from the judgement and wrath to come. Outside of Christ, we are set for punishment on the day of the Lord. Our last breath could be any minute and it is a gamble to go on any longer not having been forgiven of your high treason against the most high God. Rest in the Lord Jesus. For his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

Lets pray!