The Exceeding Riches of His Grace
Ephesians 2:1-10
I. The Sinners Condition.
V. 1-3, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."
A. You Are Dead In Trespasses And Sins.
Colossians 2:13, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"
B. You Are Deceived By The World.
2 Corinthians 4:4, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
C. You Desire To Be Lustful.
Titus 3:3, "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another."
II. The Sinners Relationship To God.
V. 4, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,"
A. God Loves The Sinner.
Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
B. God Has Mercy Toward Sinners.
Psalm 103:10-11, "He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him."
C. God Is Longsuffering Toward The Sinner.
2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
III. The Sinner's Quickening.
V. 5, "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"
A. You Are Convicted By The Holy Spirit.
John 16:8, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"
B. You Are Converted By The Holy Spirit.
John 3:6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
C. You Are Sealed By The Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
IV. The Saint's Salvation.
V. 8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."
A. It Is Not By Works.
Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
B. It Is By Grace, The Gift of God.
Ephesians 1:6, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
C. It Is By Faith.
John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
V. The Saint's Position In Christ.
V. 6, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"
A. You Are A New Creature.
2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
B. You Have A New Name.
Acts 11:26, "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
C. You Have A New Home.
John 14:2-3, "In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
VI. The Saint's Service.
V. 10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
A. You Should Be Consecrated In Your Service.
Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
B. You Should Be Willing In His Service.
1 Corinthians 9:17, "For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me."
C. You Will Be Rewarded For Your Service.
Colossians 3:24, "Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."
VII. The Saint's Glory.
V. 7, "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
A. You Are Rich In Treasures.
Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
B. You Are Rich In Spiritual Blessings.
Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"
C. You Are Rich, A Joint Heir With Christ.
Romans 8:16-17, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Psalm 50:10-12, "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof."
A Search For The Truth About Salvation
