Praise God's Glorious Grace (Eph 1:6-8)

Praise God’s Glorious Grace for Redemption: Eph. 1:6-8a Pray & Intro: Theological depth for today…. • [if our young people should say] What’s the big deal about grace? I hear all about grace in their biblical chatter but nothing of grace in their demeanor… • Does grace grip you when you see it for what it is? When you realize that you’ve been redeemed and forgiven? Does such grace impact the way you think and talk and behave? Read Passage, then explain, illustrate, and apply: Praise His glorious grace. I’ve been redeemed. I’ve been forgiven.  Let grace change you. I. We must see that it’s all of grace (and not of us) and for his glory (not ours). (v. 6 & vv. 7b-8a) II. I’ve been redeemed. (and forgiven) – Live your daily life in accordance with this truth about grace: I’ve been redeemed. A. Imagine being a black slave back in the dark days of our nation’s history… that still haunt us as a terrible blight on our history and our national conscience – when people with darker skin were treated as less human by people with lighter skin. 1. You don’t have ownership of yourself. No control over your own life. You are someone else’s tool, a workhorse, to be used or dispensed as they see fit. 2. But then along comes someone who sees you differently and values you differently. You haven’t done anything for him to make him do it, but he and his wife buy you out of slavery and give you a real job, empowering you to live your life and have a family and care for them on your own terms. Can you imagine the liberation? B. God redeeming us in Jesus is even more complicated, and an even greater demonstration of glorious grace. – Biblical redemption is being set free from bondage by paying a price (just like in our illustration), only in this case we are in bondage to Satan and sin b/c we are categorically sinners. 1. So then redemption by grace in Christ Jesus means that he sets us free from penalty of sin and the power of sin. (penalty – the wages of sin is death, Rom. 6:23; and power of Satan, see. 2:1-5) 2. He paid with his own life. – Not, I’ll provide for every need that he has so he never suffers. Not, I’ll sell everything I have to pay her ransom. No… I, God the Father, will give my Son as a sacrifice for sinners. I the Son will give up the glories of heaven and willingly lay down my own life for those who will be the cause of my agonizing death and separation from perfect union with the triune Godhead. I the Spirit will refrain from utterly pulverizing every enemy raised against the Son and instead be party to accomplishing the Father’s will. 3. Some people complain at God (or at the empty universe, I guess) that the God of the Bible ordained that sin should be atoned for by death, and that God would sacrifice his own Son to acquire our freedom. – Those are not redeemed people who now have an intimate personal relationship with God b/c of it. Redeemed people don’t complain about it. We’re crushed by the weight of it, yes. We’re befuddled and awed at the truth of it, yes. But above of all, we are grateful. We praise the glorious grace of God! ** C. Side by side with redemption here is forgiveness. The fact that I’m redeemed means I’m forgiven (and free). 1. The fact that I’m forgiven means I deserve the penalty from which I’m being set free.  The word trespasses is a legal reminder that breaking God’s law carries consequences of punishment. – [For you theology-files out there] Christ is the atonement for our sin in penal substitution (satisfying the legal requirement) and by propitiation (satisfying the wrath of God against sin). 2. So then we are forgiven because our sin was imputed to Jesus and his righteousness imputed to us. (That’s the great exchange we talked about recently in another message.) 3. How many trespasses? What size/weight/gravity of trespasses? All of them. a. Rom. 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. b. 1 Peter 3:18a For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  To bring you to God. D. Redemption and forgiveness are according to the riches of his grace.  His grace is the cause of our redemption. 1. Redemption as such is not the chief end, but a part of the whole of what God is accomplishing.  His glorious grace is the cause/source of our blessing in Christ, and the praise of his glorious grace is the ultimate aim. 2. BTW, Grace is a greater motivator than guilt – for love, compassion, forgiveness; for holiness.  Just consider the grace of a father to an adopted daughter, learning to walk. – Preach grace to yourself and preach grace to your neighbors. (I have been redeemed. I am a sinner saved by grace. Are you?) [the Good Samaritan] 3. How should it affect you when walking in the reality that, “I’ve been redeemed”? 4. What about, “I’m forgiven”? 5. The depth and breadth of God’s grace should rush over you again and again as waves upon the seashore. Grace is not some static thing. Nor does it produce inactive recipients. Let grace change you. III. Transition (to the Lord’s table): A. Next week: The final act is written, and you’re in it. Praise God’s glorious grace for summing up all things in Christ and for our guaranteed inheritance. B. Communion – redeemed and forgiven; remember Christ’s death… until he comes