Eph 2:4-10- The Love of a Father
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· 8 viewsThe grace every believer enjoys is brought to us by unmerited favor and love.
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Fathers Day- thankful
Fathers Day- thankful
As America celebrates Fathers Day this weekend it is fitting for our text this morning
When we think about great examples of Biblical father figures Abraham comes to mind
Abraham- the Father of many nations
Abraham who was the pagan idol worshipper turned God-fearer
However with Abraham his calling is unique and so is his faith
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
this is the call of God to him
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
This is his response
Obedience to God’s word is a hallmark of God fearing men and fathers
We see this again after he has his son that God had promised, Isaac
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Then we see the response of Abraham
So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
But his faith here in this account is fueled by none other than his faith in Gen 15
Abraham is worried he will not have a son to carry on his lineage but as God speaks to him, Abraham not only takes him at his word but
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
He took all of the eggs and placed it in one basket
Obedience is to Gods word is a hall mark of Godly men and fathers
Another father that we see to be an excellent example is a father in law
Jethro is the father of Zipporah- the wife of Moses
Its Moses who will live in wilderness of Midian after leaving Egypt
No doubt influenced by Jethro as he tended sheep for 40 years
We see Jethro bring Moses’ wife and children back to him after the Hebrews cross the Red Sea
Its Jethro whom Moses greets lovingly and retells all of what God has done in Egypt
Jethro in turn professes his faith in God and offers burnt sacrifices to God
But beyond that- we remember Jethro for his Godly wisdom
Moses is trying to handle all of Israels civil issues and finds himself listen to people all day long with no time for anything else.
You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.
So Jethro’s idea was to set up trustworthy men to listen to issues and Moses would only deal with the hard ones that the others couldnt handle
If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
Godly wisdom is a second hallmark for Godly men and fathers
A third father that came to my mind was Joseph- Jesus earthly father
Joseph was placed in tough situation as Mary was found to be pregnant by a miracle of the HS
The typical man could have her stoned to death
“Conceived by the HS, right, she betrayed me- the law is the law”
But thats not what Joseph does
And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
His character was one that showed a third thing hallmark of Godly men and fathers
3. Godly men and fathers do the hard things most will not- they extend mercy, grace and trust
He loved Mary, he was just and to protect her even though in the eyes of the world he had been disgraced
But more than his own character- he valued godliness
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Godliness often involves doing the hard things like extending grace and mercy to your own personal detriment
But Godly men and fathers do just that
Thats all we will hear about Joseph character as he fades to background and his wifes son becomes the centerpiece of Scriptures and all time.
We could pull more out from the Scriptures but our time wont let us
But what we see is Godly men and fathers are only modeling after the love and grace they have recieved from the Heavenly Father
We have no better place than to Eph 2:4-10 to see this at
Vs 4- From the depth of our sin and depravity we see our only hope emerge
-we were running the wrong way, we had no hope, we were dead in sin, we loved that sin, we continued after that sin and then come vs 4
“But God”- acting in our interest, for our sake and out of his mercy and love alone towards us
No other action compelled the Father to act this way, except his mercy and love
Vs 5- Dead in our trespasses
-We need to clarify to whom these trespasses were against
-If I sin against you or vice versa- I can seek forgiveness from and find it and be ok on our terms
But the problem with any sin- isnt our action against another person- its our action against God
All sin is against God- everyone of them deserves Gods wrath
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Those sins have left us dead in trespasses
But God extended his grace and mercy to those who were against him and deserving of his wrath
And in doing so- brought all of his people back to life in Him through Christ by way of grace alone
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
The dead are raised to life in Christ by virtue of grace of God alone who was willing to satisfy what his eternal holiness demanded in his own Son on the cross for us
Thats the wall of hostility that he is speaking of- OUR sin vs GODS holiness
Vs 6- Just as Christ has been raised to life by Gods power and sits in power and authority in heavenly places
We too, for all those who have been saved, because we are in Christ enjoy those same privileges
So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Why would God ever do this?
You ever ask that question? Why would God ever go through with plan? He is sufficient and needs nothing
Vs7- answers that very question
-So He can show us His immeasurable riches of his grace in the time to come
-Our hearts break we see cross now as believers
-We understand thats should be our penalty not his
We also see Gods beautiful grace being extended to remedy this problem- Christ in our place
But Paul says- God acted in this way towards dead people so that in future time we may see the immeasurable grace that he actually poured out
“Ill never know how much it cost, to see my son upon a cross”
That is a true statement- Because whatever wrath my sin demanded-His mercy and grace was more
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
There will never be a day in eternity were our bucket drags the bottom of Gods well of grace
All made possible because of Gods kindness to us on Christ behalf
So we see clearly again- the grace applied to us isnt because of us at all- it is because of those who believe are in Christ and those blessings are past to his people
Which is why the Gospel is exclusive not inclusive- its say repeatedly that salvation is found in no one others than Christ and without him, we are dead in sin
To you, me and anyone who reads it or doesnt read it
No multiple paths or methods- Just by grace only, through faith alone, in Christ alone and for the Glory of God alone
Vs8- Think back to the last gift you recieved
-Why did you get that gift? because someone else choose to give it to you at their own cost
Have you ever offered to pay someone back for a gift?
The problem is that we cannot pay a gift back because the moment we repay the first penny, it is not longer a gift but what is due you
Paul reminds the Ephesians- your salvation- and ours today- is a based solely on the love gift of God and the Son
Its not our own doing- but a gift- God doing to the hard things so those who should get justice, get mercy and grace
Vs9- Why has God so designed it like this? so no person may boast
No one comes to cross and says “I did it” but instead everyone must come and say “I cant but Jesus can”
If there is any boasting- its the Trinity who has the right to boast
As God calls, Christ purchases and the HS seals for eternity
Vs10- Lastly- how is are people to love in light of all God has done
-the answer must be- For the Glory of God alone
We are reminded here that we are the handiwork of Gods grace
That as we live life now, this side of grace, we are to be full of Gods works
We are created for that very thing- to be fruit bearing followers of Jesus
Matt 7 says you will know them by their fruit
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
That is how you were created- thats your identity now
Believers are the workmanship of Christ- which he so predestined to get- and we are live like that
Its as clear as it gets in verse
You been given a gift, you are no longer dead but alive, and God did so that would glorify him with your life as He so planned before the world was even formed
In light of such a loving Father- who did the hard things so we could have grace and mercy- do we live like it
It seems that every Sunday that we get to the application and in some way it revolves around does your life faithfully resemble Christs?
This is fundamental- if no fruit, no life
If our life is better identified to sin, then most likely we are slaves to sin still and hell is waiting
Its a simple test- dont over think it- Am I a follower of Christ and does my life prove it?
We see God move for our sake to redeem an unworthy people never so they will be like him
Fathers- we have seen Abrahams be obedient, Jethro use wisdom, Joseph be selfless but all flow from the Love of God for his people
Dad, is your life known for Jesus? If ours isnt, how can we expect our family to?
A life of obedience to Gods word, a life marked by godly wisdom and a life risked doing the hard things so that grace and mercy can be seen and given.
Beloved, may we look to our Heavenly Father and imitate Him so as to lead and bear fruit with our lives.