Sermon Tone Analysis

When were you first connected to Jesus?

Was it later in life or were you born into a family who was already connected to Christ?

The Ephesians came to believe in Christ when Paul brought the Gospel to them.

Paul describes their lives before faith in Christ like this:

Dead, following the course of this world and the prince…at work in sons of disobedience, by nature children of wrath.

Galatians 3:23 (ESV) — 23 before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

That’s describes every soul, every life before faith.

It makes me wonder why would God waste his time and love on such a lost, self-centered, godless humanity like they were, like we were?

Paul answers my question in the next three verses:

LOVE! God’s great love!

God’s merciful heart.

He took us from being dead in our sins and made us alive by His grace.

Saved by grace through faith.

Your salvation by grace through faith was a gift from the triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It was the love of the God the Father that sent His only Son,

John 3:16 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son…”

It was the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who willingly went to the cross to face bitter sufferings, and death.

1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,

It was the Holy Spirit, who made you alive

Titus 3:5-7 (NIV) “…through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Saved by Grace, through faith.

You believed

The entire Trinity of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – was involved and working to save you.

You were Saved by grace, through faith, for works.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are God’s workmanship – physcially - He created us.

Psalm 139:13–14 (NIVUK84) — 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

We are also His workmanship spiritually when God the Holy Spirit in our Baptism, brought us

God has pre-planned good works for every believer to do for the sake of Christ, for the sake of his Kingdom.

Here are two examples from Holy Week.

One more.

On Good Friday morning,

Simon gets the call to carry the cross for Christ.

You should be wondering and asking in your mind,

“What good works has God pre-planned for me to do for others in the name of Christ?

Know this: every good work we do, even the smallest good work, noticed.

Jesus said,

All good works that please God originate from believing hearts.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him…”

There are no good works without faith.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

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

This past week in ONE Chapter A Day we read the word “Walk” seven times in Ephesians.

Here are the ones that apply to our Christian Walk.

Ephesians 4:1 (ESV) —walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, as a follower of Christ.

As Christians we are called to walk, to live in a manner worthy of our calling, striving to be humble and gentle like Christ.

Being patient like Jesus with people and showing love to those who need love the most.

We are called to

Ephesians 5:2 (ESV) — walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Our feet take the same loving, sacrificing steps for one another as Christ’s did.

Love and sacrifice define our steps and sends us marching in the name of Christ.

Ephesians 5:8 (ESV) “…you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light.

We are to walk, to live in such a way so that the light of our faith in Christ illumines a world in the darkness of sin.

We are to let our light shine in our good works so that God our Father is praised and Christ is visible in the world through us.

Ephesians 5:15 (ESV) — 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,`

Which means nothing less than, We are called to walk in wisdom.

We choose to walk, to live our lives so that our words and our works align with the Word and will of God.

Grace alone by faith makes it possible for you and me to walk, to live our lives in Christ…

“…strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen.

Ephesians 3:16–21 (ESV)