By His Grace
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Youtube Video
-Salvation Statements of Major World Religions
-Islam:
1.Declare that Allah is the One and only God and Mohamed is his prophet. 2. Pray five times a day. 3.Fast at specified times, especially during Ramadan. 4.Pay the alms-tax. 5.Make a pilgrimage to Mecca, unless one is a cripple or very poor. 6. Engaging in Jihad
-Hinduism:
Hinduism is a religion that believes in reincarnation based on karma. In Hinduism, there are three types of karma: that of past lives, that of the present life, and that of the lives not yet lived. This karma will determine in what entity they will be born in their next life, with the goal of eventually being released from the rebirth cycle to reach moksha.
Moksha is a state of enlightenment that can only be achieved through a series of good deeds from one life to the next. Once Moksha is reached, there is no more suffering and ultimate self-realization comes into focus during that life. From there, with the rebirth cycle broken, the final step is Ioka (heaven).
-Jehovah Witness:
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that salvation requires faith in Christ, association with God’s organization (i.e., their religion), and obedience to its rules.
-Mormonism:
Similarly to Christians, Mormons believe in Heaven and Hell. Where they differ is that Mormons also believe that before the dead can get to Heaven, they need to go through some preparation that involves instructions in the spirit world. After awhile, if all is good, they’ll get the OK, and their bodies and soul will be together again in Heaven for all eternity.
-Judaism:
Judaism differs from many other monotheistic other religions in that there is no set concept of the afterlife. In fact, the Torah doesn’t even mention the afterlife at all, leaving much of what happens to personal interpretation. For the Jewish people, the greatest emphasis is on life itself, and respecting that life.
While some Jews believe in a Heaven of sorts, most don’t believe in Hell, at least not in the Christian sense of it. However, resurrection of the dead upon the arrival of the Messiah is a pretty common belief, as long as you have been good during your life.
-Quick Exegesis of Genesis Chapter 11; Nimrod.
Quick Exegesis of Genesis Chapter 11; Nimrod.
-Catholocism:
When a Roman Catholic priest speaks of salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ, he does not mean the unmerited, free grace of Christ whereby a believing sinner is eternally and completely and once-for-all saved from sin. By “grace,” the Roman Catholic Church means God’s help to live a righteous life.
Consider the following quote from Vatican II:
Consider the following quote from Vatican II:
“All children of the Church should nevertheless remember that their exalted condition results, not from their own merits, but from the grace of Christ. If they fail to respond in thought, word and deed to that grace, not only shall they not be saved, but they shall be the more severely judged” (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, chap. 2, 14, p. 337).
-730 religions in the world.
-With Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity being the three major ones
Hindus-1.08 b
Muslim-1.6 b
Christian-2.2 b
-All of these religions fall into one of two categories
a. Man-Centered
b. God-Centered
-All these religious systems have a foundation that is found in Genesis Chapter 11
1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. 2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. 7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.
(v.4) Lets us build a city with a tower that reaches into the heavens. Something that will get the attention of the gods(plural) right now we are insignificant, but after we build this city we will have a say into what happens with us. We will have a name, and therefore we will be able to dictate our own destiny.
-If we have been obedient to a religious system and followed all the directions of that system and have crossed all our T’s and dotted all of our I’s God will have no choice but to allow us into the heavens, because we have made a name for ourselves. You see man-centered works produces pride, but grace produces humility.
then
In Ephesus
One thing that seems to stay consistence within all groups of ancient Greeks, however, is that of life after death, a small variation of which makes them rather unique in their practice of paganism.
Contrary to other pagan groups, the ancient Greeks believed that souls of the deceased were not reincarnated into another bodily form and placed back on earth, but lived on in either hell or heaven as a spirit. Their after life destination was presumably based on how well they lived their life prior to their death.
Contrary to other pagan groups, the ancient Greeks believed that souls of the deceased were not reincarnated into another bodily form and placed back on earth, but lived on in either hell or heaven as a spirit. Their after life destination was presumably based on how well they lived their life prior to their death.
The ancient Greeks, regardless of the nuances of the religious shifts, believed it was a necessity to live in such a way as to appease the gods and thus diligently sought to offer frequent sacrifices, prayers and hymns, living in constant awareness of the imminent anger of the gods.
The ancient Greeks, regardless of the nuances of the religious shifts, believed it was a necessity to live in such a way as to appease the gods and thus diligently sought to offer frequent sacrifices, prayers and hymns, living in constant awareness of the imminent anger of the gods.
Because the after life scenario was so contingent upon their earthly behavior, the ancient Greeks took special care to stay on good terms with the gods on a daily basis. The sacrifices and such were considered by the gods to be a sufficient means of restitution and so it was with both great care and serious intention that the ancient Greeks followed through with those actions.
More than this, those who passed on were carefully embalmed and placed safely into a tomb or cave with their personal possessions in an additional effort to make one last attempt to be acceptable and pleasing to the discerning minds who would send the souls to their prospective home.
The ancient Greeks believed that food, jewelry, clothing, chariots, weaponry and the like could be carried into the spirit world. In the after life, the individual/s would be able to use their precious belongings.
Thesis: Our Salvation is totally a work of God, whereby God saves a man and changes his disposition apart from any good works by that man.
Thesis:
Thesis: Our Salvation is totally a work of God, whereby God saves a man and changes his disposition apart from any good works by that man.
I. By His Grace
I. By His Grace
I. By His Grace
I. By His Grace
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(v.8) “For by Grace you have been saved” Paul reaches back to (v.5) You will notice that this is a repeat of what he started in (v.5). You guys know when I say “Put some meat on it” That means I want more detail. In (v.8) Paul is about to put more meat on the bone of the original statement in (v.5)
(v.8) “For by Grace you have been saved” It is imperative that we get a working definition of this word. This word Grace(charis) has been used 6x up until this point.
-(v.8) “For by Grace you have been saved” It is imperative that we get a working definition of this word. This word Grace(charis) has been used 6x up until this point.
- , , & ,
a. Grace-The absolute free expression of the loving kindness of God to man finding it’s only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver. Summary: Grace is the divine choice of God to bestow(give) his love/favor/Power to man without regard to man’s performance or behavior.
-Grace is more than just unmerited favor. Within the grace picture is also power to respond to a Holy God. Grace seems to be like a big package of gifts that keeps opening: Predestination, redemption, forgiveness, quickening(resurrection power), progressive changing power, & glorification. Housed within that word “Grace” is everything that a Christian needs for Salvation, Sanctification, & Glorification. When we thank God his “grace” we are thanking him for all of these gifts.
(v.8) “For by grace you have been saved”
a. Saved-is a perfect verb-the perfect tense is a verb that describe something that was totally completed in the past but his continuing results in the present and the future.
(v.8)
-Summary: By God’s loving power(grace) he has saved us(past-making a provision before we were born) by awakening our dead spirits(present). Making us able to see that we were on our way to Hell and needed to saved, so that is when “we cried out to the Lord save me now”
(v.8) “through faith” Faith is the means by which we experience, or the receive the benefit of his Grace.
Saying that faith is critical does not imply that we save ourselves. The act of believing faith describes our decision to accept God’s saving work in us, but it is God who enables us to receive his “abundant provision of grace”[1]
[1] Grant R. Osborne, Ephesians: Verse by Verse, Osborne New Testament Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017), 55.
Analogy: Faith is like the vents in our house. Grace is the furnace that produces the Heat of our House. You are Heated by Grace, but the Vents(faith) direct the heat to each specific room. You cannot take credit for the Heat(grace) nor can you take credit for the (vents) faith. Because you would not have the wherewithal to direct the faith towards yourself without God…Prior to Salvation you displayed faith, but you put it in: money, jobs, relationships, yourself, education and in idols..God’s quickening power(alive) directed you to put your faith in the right object.....
The Grace of God travels first class to your life on the wings of Faith.
(v.8) “and that(this) not of yourselves” Just in case you didn’t get the hint from the passive verbs in the phrase clause Paul said it ‘flat out” Salvation did not come from yourselves, your own intelligence, your own goodness, your ethnic background, nor from your beauty. It came by his Grace. There is an interesting dilemma in this clause though:
(v.8)
(v.8) “it is a gift of God” we need to discuss the pronoun “it” to determine what it refers too:
Does the “this” refer to the grace or the faith. Or does it refer to both? or neither?
(v.8) Based on a complicated greek clue that can’t be seen in the English translation. The “this” or “that” does not refer to either the grace or the faith. It refers to “salvation” so this phrase could be translated to read “and salvation is not of yourselves”
-There is complicated greek reasonings as to why the “it” does not refer to grace or faith. The “it” refers to the Salvation.
-This same thing applies to the final clause which has an “it” pronoun “salvation is the gift of God”
-We need to define “gift” in greek there are two words for gift-Charis(Charity) and Dwpov
a. Charis-A gift of grace, an underserved benefit
b. dwpov- Used of gifts given as an expression of Honor. Like the gift you would give your son, a prince, or a King. That which was at one time dishonorable has been made honorable by the Lord by the bestowing of this gracious gift of salvation.....You remember the story of the Prodigal Son. When he came home with a repentant heart His father hugged him, put a signet ring on him and put sandals on his feet. The ring and the sandals where gifts as he was fully restored to sonship.
-Salvation “as a gift of God” or as something “given” by God is Theme throughout the NT:
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14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
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23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
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15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
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11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
1 JN
-Gift are not something we work for. They are meant to be recieved. The fact that Salvation is a gift rather than a wage ought to make you shout.....let me show you why:
(v.9) “not as result of works” This phrase right here is a game changer.
-You remember early in the introduction when we talked about what “the Greeks” were used to in terms of satisfying the Gods. It was a never ending process of sacrifice. There was never any assurance. They always had to satisfy the gods to make sure they were on good terms so that the gods would not kill them or cause calamity and throw them in Hades.
-The Jews were not different; God gave them 613 covenant commandments to follow as a way to test their love and keep them safe, but they took that system and added more commandments, so that by the time Jesus got on the scene they made this man-centered religious system law that look nothing like Mt. Sinai.
-The OT law was meant to be a Tutor or Schoolmaster. It was meant to drive the people to something beyond themselves. It was a humbler.
-We are by nature prideful, so we like constructing our own systems of religion, then cause others to follow.
Blaise Pascal says “God made man in his own image, and man returned the favor”
-Christianity takes a sledgehammer and bust the foundation of all these man-centered religious systems with this last phrase.
(v.9) “not as a result of works” The Lord is saying you cannot satisfy me with your pitiful acts of philanthropy, and self righteousness. I am too Holy and Perfect to be satisfied by human acts of goodwill.
-In Islam it is man reaching to Allah by performing the 5 pillars of Islam
-In Buddhism it is man reaching to Nirvana by mediation and acts of virtue
-In Hinduism it is man reaching to Brahma by prayers and sacrifice
-In Greek/Roman it is man reaching to Zeus, Ares, Artemis, and Poseidon. by sacrificing and self discipline.
-In Atheism/Agnosticism(Secularism) it is man reaching to himself. I decided what’s right and wrong. There is no God to which I am accountable too.
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3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
-Notice this issue wasn’t the work. It is believing that the work “justifies you or exonerates you, or renders you not guilty”
-In Islam it is man reaching to Allah by performing the 5 pillars of Islam
-In Buddhism it is man reaching to Nirvana by mediation and acts of virtue
-In Hinduism it is man reaching to Brahma by prayers and sacrifice
-In Greek/Roman it is man reaching to Zeus, Ares, Artemis, and Poseidon. by sacrificing and self discipline.
-In Atheism/Agnosticism(Secularism) it is man reaching to himself. I decided what’s right and wrong. There is no God to which I am accountable too.
-In Christianity we have a unique system of Salvation. It is not us trying to reach and build city that reach the heavens. It is the God of Heaven putting on human flesh and coming down to us.
-So you see why in it says “those who seek to be justified by the law” have been severed from Grace. Meaning that minute you start trying to add works to the something God says is free you have be cut off from Grace.
Why did God set up Salvation this way?
(v.9) “so that no one may boast” God is so wise he knew that if he set up a system that man could achieve on his own man would do it, and then Man would spend their days boasting on how good they were compared to their fellowman which would lead to “pride and arrogance” Man’s system elevates man—God’s system elevates God. No one in this room can say I am better, I am smarter, I am more pure, I am more obedient. We all stand level at the foot of the cross.
Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon’s orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the newspapers and became the talk of the town. People flocked to Parker’s church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal. “I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead.”
The crowd was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates three times. Later that week there was a knock at parker’s study. It was Spurgeon. “You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.”
Like Joseph Parker God gave to us not what we deserved but that which Needed “Amazing Grace” who sweet the sound.
Transition Statement: Although we don’t work for this gift, we ought to be motivated to work as a way of saying “thank you God”
II. For His Work
II. For His Work
II. For His Work
II. For His Work
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
(v.10) “For we are his workmanship” We need to do some definition work on this word “workmanship”
a. Workmanship-Something made, a work, workpiece. Or as the Handiwork,,NIV.
-We recognize the ultimately everyone ever born is a creation of God, but this text seems to carry a special designation for those who have saved by God, and the next phrase gives us some clues.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
(v.10) “created in Christ Jesus for good works” this text tells us that from the time you were conceived God has been using your life experiences good and bad to prepare you for a Christ centered work that could not be done by an unbeliever. God has taken all of your achievements, failures, sins, transgression, and triumph has taken the ingredients from all of those things and made it into a glorious creation. There is a spiritual work that has your name on it. That God has spent your life preparing you for.
(v.10) “created in Christ Jesus for good works” this text tells us that from the time you were conceived God has been using your life experiences good and bad to prepare you for a Christ centered work that could not be done by an unbeliever. God has taken all of your achievements, failures, sins, transgression, and triumph has taken the ingredients from all of those things and made it into a glorious creation. There is a spiritual work that has your name on it. That God has spent your life preparing you for.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
(v.10) “which God prepared beforehand” These works are something that God laid out before your life was conceived. Your first birthday and your second birthday(when you got saved) all where planed by God. The family you were born in, the experiences that shape your life. So while we feel like things were just happening to us when we were growing up God was to something…He knew that one day he would awaken you, and then use all of your life experiences which you see with new eyes to advance his kingdom.
(v.10) “which God prepared beforehand” These works are something that God laid out before your life was conceived. Your first birthday and your second birthday(when you got saved) all where planed by God. The family you were born in, the experiences that shape your life. So while we feel like things were just happening to us when we were growing up God was to something…He knew that one day he would awaken you, and then use all of your life experiences which you see with new eyes to advance his kingdom.
-So when you say “God why did you allow such and such to happen to me?” He did it because he “prepared beforehand a work for you to complete.” He knows what you needed to complete the work so that is what he he did. So stop wasting good time and energy thinking about why you were born into the family you were born in, or why you didn’t have certain advantages of others In the life of a Christian there will not be any wasted affliction, trials or triumphs all of them have come for your good and God’s glory so that we could:
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
(v.10) “so that we could walk in them” Look what he says about these works. They are not a one-time work, but a lifestyle of works. He has setup a continual everyday project for you to labor in that has your name written all on it based on what you have gone through.
(v.10) “so that we could walk in them” Look what he says about these works. They are not a one-time work, but a lifestyle of works. He has setup a continual everyday project for you to labor in that has your name written all on it based on what you have gone through.
Sidenote: You will notice that good works follow salvation. Good works are the result of salvation, but they are no longer man-centered but God centered. You are not making them up but they have been ordained by God.
-Notice the text “These works are projects put together by God, not by man” You don’t get to make up what pleases God....God determines what pleases himself then we are to act accordingly.
-Church let’s stop telling God what we are going to do and not do, let’s get on our knees and pray that God would reveal those works that He has prepared beforehand that we should walk in.....
-Dear Church I am speaking from experience there is not greater joy in life than to be walking, living, and working in the absolute perfect will of God for your life. It is free, it is liberating, it is comforting, and it is hard, but you will not find something more gratifying in your life. You are not living until you are walking in the works that God has prepared beforehand for you to walk in.
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