God's Abundant Mercy (Eph. 2:4-9)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
· Please turn to Ephesians 2. Title of today’s sermon is “God’s Abundant Mercy.”
· Review last week: You and I were dead in our trespasses and sins. Had a pattern of rebellion, actively defying God as we followed the well-worn paths of this world and did Satan’s bidding. Under God’s wrath, storing up judgment. But thankfully, that is not the end of the story.
· Bon Appetit Magazine ran an article several years ago called, “10 Essential Kitchen Tools for Beginner Cooks.” Subtitle: “Because you really don't need an avocado slicer.” At the top of the list were a stainless steel 10” skillet, a good chef’s knife, and some measuring spoons. Now, if you want an avocado slicer or baby yode ice cube mold, then add it to your wish list. This passage this morning is a “go to” passage for both beginners.
· Read Ephesians 2:1-10.
· The story is told of a powerful politician who hired a photographer to take some pictures. After the photo shoot was over, the he receiving a copy of proofs, took one look at them, and was outraged. He stormed back to the photographer and said: “This picture does not do me justice!” The photographer replied, “Sir, with a face like yours, you don’t need justice, you need mercy!” (IBP) In the same way, when it comes from God, we don’t want justice, we need mercy. And thankfully, mercy is what God offers us.
· We notice FOUR FEATURES OF SALVATION…
The God of Your Salvation (4)
The God of Your Salvation (4)
· James Montgomery Boice: “If you understand those two words—‘but God’—they will save your soul. If you recall them daily and live by them, they will transform your life completely.” Yesterday, I listed to a sermon by Martin Lloyd Jones just on those two words.
· A sudden change. Divine reversal. Just when things are at their worst, and there seems no hope, God intervenes. God specializes in divine reversals. Seem to be in dire circumstances, and then he intervenes.
· Abraham, in a supreme test of faith takes his son Isaac and climbs mount Moriah. They carry firewood, a piece of flint, and a sharp dagger, but there is no lamb, for Abraham’s only begotten son Isaac is to be the sacrifice. Abraham prepares the altar and lifts the blade, But God at the last moment provides a substitutionary offering. --- The Israelites escape Egypt after 400 years of bondage. They are pinned down between the chariots of Egypt and the waters of the Red Sea. But God opens up the sea so they can walk across dry land. --- A beggar is lame from birth, lying outside the temple. He begs for alms, hoping to get enough to survive another day. But God heals him, so that he jumps up, using his legs for the first time in his life.
· This phrase, “But God” is a favorite expression of Paul’s.
· 1 Corinthians 1:26–27 … not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
· Romans 5:7–8 … one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
· Ephesians 2:3–4 [we] were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy,…made us alive…
· Why did he do this? Because of his great mercy and abundant love. Mercy is sparing us the just judgment of our sin. Love is affection and sacrifice toward others.
· 1 John 4:7–8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
· 1 Cor. 13 is the love chapter. Notice how God is love, and how he is embodied in these verses. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 Love is patient and kind…Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
· >>This God is unlike any other God, and his salvation is unlike any salvation…
The Gift of Your Salvation (5)
The Gift of Your Salvation (5)
· If you are taking notes this morning, I want you to write the letters “DO” on your paper. That’s what religion is. Duties and ceremonies, rituals and acts of merit. Now write DONE. That’s what true Christianity is. It looks to the finished work of the cross.
· We are saved by grace through faith. v. 5, v. 8.
· Acts 16:30–31 Paul and Silas in prison. Great earthquake. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
· A free gift. No hidden costs. No fine print. No strings attached. No catch.
· Paul’s battle with the Judaizers. Galatians 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
· Salvation is NOT of works. Cf. Roman Catholics adding merit. Baptism. Eucharist. Hail Mary’s. Giving Alms and Attending Church. Praying to Saints. Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
· But we must take this a step further. Salvation is also NOT of free will. “Free will” teaches that people freely choose to accept or reject Christ. It seems logical doesn’t it? Some people believe, while others don’t, so it must be free will, right? Well, let me as you this? Did you choose God, or did God choose you? Or how about this, Did Lazarus have free will to come out of the tomb? No, he was dead. And spiritually, so were every one of us before God intervened.
· This takes us into a realm of theology known as the doctrines of grace. Conversation with Bruce Dellinger in parking lot about Calvinism.
· Total Depravity. Every part of us has been corrupted beyond repair by the fall. Romans 3:10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
· Unconditional Election. Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love…
· Limited Atonement. Particular Redemption. Christ died for all in the sense that there is no partiality. But his sacrifice really accomplished something, and was toward the elect. Sufficient for all, efficient only toward the elect. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
· Irresistible Grace/Effectual Call. Romans 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
· Perseverence of the Saints. 1 Peter 1:5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
· Salvation, from beginning to end, belongs to the Lord.
· Jonah 2:9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
The Glory of Your Salvation
The Glory of Your Salvation
· A rapid ascent from heaven to hell. Palm Springs Tram is “the world’s largest rotating tram car.” Over the 2.5 miles of cable, you climb an elevation of 6,000 feet. Travel through 4 different ecosystems in just 10 minutes.
· Here in the span of two verses, we take a “quick ascent” from the fires of hell to the glories of heaven. One moment, we were dead in our sins. The next, we find we are seated and reigning with Christ!
· A glorious progression: dead > alive > raised > seated > immeasurable riches in the coming ages.
· Our wonderful future. 1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
· But a present reality. All of this because of our union “in Christ.” Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
· Again, note the union. It is not that we were made alive, and then attached to Christ. We are alive because we were united with Christ, who is life. It is not that we were raised up, and then God joined us to Christ. No, we were joined to Christ, and because he was raised up, we were raised up., etc.
· Cf. 1:4 he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. V. 7 in him we have redemption through his blood.
· Christ is the vine and we are the branches. There is no life apart from him. He is the conduit of all God’s blessings.
The Goal of Your Salvation
The Goal of Your Salvation
· To glorify God with good works. Come back next week!
· We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works.
· To fear God and keep his commandments. To pursue holiness and Christlikeness. To bear the fruit of the Spirit. These are the signs of true repentance.