A Christian's Testimony
Notes
Transcript
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
Uganda overview (thank you)
3 villages reached
341 professions of faith
1 Church launched
New believers class
57 in first baptism
Pastor training
50 pastors in training (English)
Survivor blind fold game
II. We were the walking dead. (vv. 1-3)
II. We were the walking dead. (vv. 1-3)
v. 1
“dead in our trespasses and sins”..
How do you know if someone is dead? There are no signs of life...
trespasses and sins are signs of death.
vv. 2 - 3
“formally walked”
The world
The devil
“if you are not following God you are following the devil”
Not fully possessed...
Exalting Jesus in Ephesians We Were Disobedient (2:2–3a)
He lays out the bait, and sinful people take it, disobeying God.
The lust of the flesh
Galatians 5:16-21
Romans 8:8 (NASB95)
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
III. We were “made alive” by God. (vv. 4-7)
III. We were “made alive” by God. (vv. 4-7)
v. 4
“But God” (2 sentences 1-7; 8-10)
God is the Subject - “In our testimony, God is the subject of the story and not us.”
“His great love” Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
v. 5
“We were dead” - repeat of our state...
“made us alive” - the main verb of the sentence.
Lazarus come out...
Doctrine of regeneration - “Christianity is not about becoming a nicer person, nor is it about starting a new religious routine. It is about becoming a new person (2 Cor 5:17).”
Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), Eph 2:5–7.
Nicodemus - John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
v. 6
“seated with Christ”
Christ’s authority (Ephesians 1:18-22)
v. 7
“Riches of His grace” in “Kindness toward us in Christ”
Exalting Jesus in Ephesians God’s Work (2:5–7)
The reason God has showed us such grace is so we might be the demonstration of His grace forever. We will be His trophies of grace.
IV. We are walking in good works. (vv. 8-10)
IV. We are walking in good works. (vv. 8-10)
v. 8-9
“by grace you have been saved through faith”
perfect tense: you have been saved, you are being saved, you will be saved.
“it is the gift of God” and “not a result of works”
we cannot earn
Paul prepares to talk about works...
v. 10
“His workmanship”
works are important
speaking of Paul - “He states that works simply are not the root of our salvation. They are the fruit of salvation”
Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), Eph 2:10.
Creation (material creation) vs. “saved sinners” (spiritual creation)
Romans 1:20 (NASB95)
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
“Created for 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.
Faith, however, is a divine work in us. It changes us and makes us to be born anew of God (John 1); it kills the old Adam and makes altogether different men, in heart and spirit and mind and powers, and it brings with it the Holy Ghost. Oh, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith; and so it is impossible for it not to do good works incessantly. It does not ask whether there are good works to do, but before the question rises, it has already done them, and is always at the doing of them.
- Martin Luther, Romans, xvii
“God prepared beforehand” Purpose
“Walk in them” Obedience
Fruit of the spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
V. Conclusion
V. Conclusion
How are you walking?
What is your Testimony?
I am not what I ought to be—ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be—I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be—soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”
- John Newton (Christian Spectator, 186)
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home
And Grace will lead us home
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Was blind, but now I see
Survivor example : Listen for God calling your voice.