The Work of Grace in Our Lives Ephesians 2:1-10 (NKJV) Paul finishes his prayer speaking about the resurrection power of God when He raised Jesus from the dead. In verses 19-20 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places Ephesians 1:19-20 (NKJV) This was the ultimate example of God s power, when the Father raised Jesus from the dead. But then He gives us another example, another picture of the resurrection power. It s when He raises us from the spiritual death. Notice. Let s read verses 1-10 and then we will make our way back through it. Vs. 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins Notice here that the unsaved man, the unregenerate man is dead in his sin. He may be alive physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, but his spirit is dead. What does dead mean? I like what Norman Gisler said To be dead in our sin means separation without spiritual life, not annihilation. Dead means we are without spiritual life, not without the ability to believe and receive spiritual life. We are incapable of initiating but not believing or receiving. Norman Disler The spiritually dead can still receive salvation. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 1
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name John 1:12 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV) How can dead people believe? Adam did, after his sin spiritual death had entered in but we see him hearing the Lord, responding to the Lord, even receiving an animal skin from the Lord to cover there nakedness. He heard from the Lord, he responded to the Lord and he received from the Lord. You see, the unsaved man still has the image of God. That s why we are not to murder another human because they are made in the image of God. The image after the fall was defaced but not erased. Norman Gisler The Bible uses many different words to describe the state of unsaved man, dead is one of them. Mark 2:17 sick Luke 15 lost II Corinthians 4:3-4 blind Romans 6:17 slave Ephesians 2:12 an alien Ephesians 2:19 a stranger or foreigner Colossians 1:13 under the power of darkness All these are descriptions of the unregenerate. Sick people can respond to the doctor. Lost people can be found. A foreigner can become a citizen. Now, notice the word trespasses. The idea here is that we have crossed a line. The word sins mean missing the mark. We have missed the mark when it comes to God s standards. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 2
We walked across the line of God s law. Notice he goes on to describe this Vs. 2-3 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Our life is often described as a walk or a race. And that can be for the believer and the non-believer. We are all walking through this journey called life. And the Bible is clear; there are two types of paths that we can choose. Psalm 1, my favorite Psalm is very clear about this. BLESSED is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalms 1:1-6 (NKJV) Two paths, the path of godly and the path of the ungodly. One is compared to a tree that is planted by the water that brings forth fruit, nourished by the water of the Word, and the power of the Spirit that has strong roots and bears fruit, his life is prosperous and full. The path of the ungodly is compared to chaff. Blowing in the wind having no root system, not planted, not watered and will ultimately perish. Two paths and everyone has the choice of which they will walk on. Jesus would also comment on this Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 3
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV) Paul is reminding the church the path that they were saved from. Verse 2 according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air. A path that was influenced and orchestrated by Satan. Here he is called the prince of the air. Because the person without Christ is influenced by the world, by whatever is floating in the air. And notice, Satan is actively influencing the sons of disobedience. That s our natural nature outside of Christ; we are rebels towards God and the ways of God. As a Christian community we cannot expect the non-believing community to live a righteous and moral life. It s totally different, there has been no change, the old nature is still in charge, and the flesh is still the one on the throne. It s not only something that we should not expect in them, but it s also something that we should not look down our noses at them. We were once dead, the enemy once influenced us, and we were slaves to our flesh. It should move us to prayer; it should move us to share with them who can set them free. Now, notice what God s heart is in all this. Vs. 4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus Notice what Paul says here, God who is rich in mercy Remember that would you? The enemy enjoys condemning you. He enjoys influencing you to believe that the Lord is not forgiving, the Lord is not willing, His mercy is not abundant but limited, and it runs out. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 4
Let the Word of God clean that up today. Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Psalms 36:5 (NKJV) For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Palms 86:5 (NKJV) But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Psalms 86:15 (NKJV) If I say, My foot slips, Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. Psalms 94:18 (NKJV) For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalms 100:5 (NKJV) The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Psalms 103:8 (NKJV) Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalms 106:1 (NKJV) God in His great love for us showed compassion on us, reached out to us. Even when we were dead in our sin, being influenced by the prince of air, following after the lust of our flesh, He reached out and made us alive in Christ. It s what David would say about his life. I WAITED patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. Psalms 40:1-3 (NKJV) Some of you U2 fans might remember this song; it was called 40 based on Psalm 40, back in the 80 s. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 5
Who brought us out of the pit? Who put our feet upon the rock? Who established our steps? And then He put a new song in our hearts to sing. And the outcome? Many will see it and fear and trust in the Lord. Which brings us to verse 7. Notice. Vs. 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. He raised us up and gave us a seat in the heavens not only because he want s to spend eternity with us, but it s also so that others would look in and see the goodness of God, the kindness of God, and the grace of God. Others will look in and say, Wow, look at what God s grace has done in them. It s what Paul could say about his life This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV) And the Paul would tell us that he became a trophy of His grace for all to look in and see. Notice However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 1 Timothy 1:16 (NKJV) Some of you can look around this room and say the same thing You knew each other before Christ came into your life. And He s not finished yet. Check out what he goes onto say Vs. 8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 6
boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. In verse 10 the Greek word for workmanship is poiema. It s where we get our word poem. Believer, did you know you are God s poem, His song? Your life is His song. Think about all the songs that He is writing as each of us are an unfinished song. Some of you a country song, some of you a rock song, just kidding. Some of us are just getting started, you re a new believer, the song title has been written and verse 1 is just being started. For some verse 1 is written, but the chorus is still being worked out. The valley s, the mountains, the relationships, using your gifts for service, its all part of the song He is writing out or a poem that He is putting together. Maybe you have heard the statement, Jesus loves you just the way you are. That s not totally correct, it s misleading. Its true that He loves you even when you re in sin, but He does not love that you re in sin. If that was true, then we don t need the gospel, the cross, the suffering for sin, we don t need a Savior. God loves us even when we are in our sin, in spite of our sin. But he loves us way too much to leave us that way. It s at salvation He starts to write out this beautiful song of grace with our lives. Notice His plan in all this, verse 10 created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. In other words, He has a plan for our life, it s good, it s always good and it should be our desire to let Him fulfill that in us. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 7
God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. Psalms 139:13-18 (NKJV) Did you notice verse 16? and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me Every verse, every chapter, until one day the book, the song is finished. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 8