INTRODUCTION
Sketch.
1. Condition of man before his call by grace
2. Condition of Man during His Call to Grace
3. Condition of man after his call to grace
Observations.
1. This lesson is presented to answer the question of whether salvation is by grace through faith; – or by grace ONLY? Or is the recipient of this grace required to exercise true faith and obedience to obtain God’s grace? I will not discuss the preparatory work of Deity in the redemption of man before the foundation of the world. This lesson will deal entirely with man’s response to God’s gift of grace and mercy at the moment of his call through the gospel. This lesson will establish the position, the moment and the Person who grants “salvation by grace” to the believer at the moment of conversion. This will be a two part lesson; the first two points this morning and the last point tonight. How many plan to be here tonight? Thank God for your and your family’s interest in this lesson on grace.
2. First, in our lesson text, Paul addresses the condition of man prior to his gracious call. He describes him as “dead in trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1. Man, unable to save himself and unworthy of God’s grace. Man, being unable to obtain God’s favor through any human deed of goodness or justice. Notice Paul: “And he made you alive, when you were dead in trespasses and sins; in which you once walked, following the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience,…like the rest,” Ephesians 2:1-3. Surely, we were in a sorry state: “Wretched me! Who will deliver me from this body of death? See Romans 7:24.
3. Second, Paul addresses the condition of man during his call to grace. He affirms that at that moment when we “were dead in trespasses and sins” we were “united with Christ; quickened or quickened, and saved by grace.” Notice: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us. even when we were dead in sins, he made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved)”, Ephesians 2:4-5. The Apostle Paul indicates here and in other writings that the sinner is “joined to Christ; quickened or made alive; and then saved by grace.” The question for us today is, where and when did this happen? And does this imply that we are saved by grace alone? Or, do the sinner’s acts of faith and obedience enable him to have “access by faith into this grace”? See Romans 5:1-2. Paul again on our condition: “And you, being dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made alive together with him, forgiving you all your sins,” Colossians 2:13. Here, Paul affirms that God has the forgiveness of all trespasses and sins when we are “made alive together with him (Christ)”.
4. Finally, the beloved Apostle Paul exposes the condition of man after his call to grace. Notice, speaking now of our redeemed state: “And he raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, to show in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness to us through Christ.” Jesus”, Ephesians 2:6-7. Then he reaffirms that “by grace are ye saved.” Notice: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast”, Ephesians 2:8-9. Then, finally, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them,” Ephesians 2:10. Paul affirms that the grace of God is granted through faith. Not by belief or faith alone; but through the “system of religious truth (gospel) itself”; as opposed to the works by law system (Strong’s Definitions of G4102). We are saved “by grace through faith.” It is not, “by grace ye are saved” through faith ALONE! It is not, for our justice, but rather: “it is the gift of God”. The preaching of “Jesus Christ, according to the mystery that has been kept secret from the foundation of the world…but now…made known to all nations for the obedience of faith”, Romans 16:25-26. With this introduction, let us consider our first point: “the condition of man before his call by grace.”
BODY OF THE LESSON
I THE CONDITION OF MAN BEFORE HIS CALLING BY GRACE
A. Once dead, now alive with Christ, Ephesians 2:1-10. Before conversion, we were dead because of our trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1-3. Notice: “And you, being dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made alive together with him, forgiving you all your sins,” Colossians 2:13. Is it possible that one is dead and still walks in the world? Paul declares to the widow that she lives in pleasures: “While she lives she is dead”, 1 Timothy 5:6. Illustrious: The forbidden fruit, Genesis 3:17.
1. You yourselves were sinners, Ephesians 2:2. You once:
a. She walked according to the current of this world.
b. He walked according to the Devil. Who:
1) The prince of the power of the air.
2) The prince of the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.
C. Paul reminds us that we were once like everyone else: “For we ourselves were at times foolish, disobedient, misguided, serving the lusts and pleasures of others, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another . But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior was manifested towards men, not by works of justice that we had done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit ; which he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; so that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life,” Titus 3:3-7. We once walked like other Gentiles, Ephesians 4:17-19.
2. Among whom also all of us had our conversation (way of life and conduct) in former times, Ephesians 2:3a.
a. In the desires of the flesh.
b. Satisfy the desires of the flesh and the mind.
c. and we were by nature children of wrath, just like the others.
3. We were also exposed to suffer the wrath of God because of sin, Ephesians 2:3. Listen to David: “With what shall the young man clear his way? Fulfilling it according to your word”, Psalms 119:9.
B. But God: “Who is rich in mercy because of his great love, with which he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, he made us alive together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved);” Ephesians 2:4-5. Because He has granted us:
1. Mercy is Gr: eloes, “A special and immediate regard to the misery that is the consequence of sin,” Luke 1:50, Ephesians 2:4. God through his love has poured out his “mercy” on us; voluntarily, even without our merit or human favor, “having predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, whereby he made us acceptable ”. in the beloved”, Ephesians 1:5-6. He has not only granted mercy; but He has also given us in our lost conditions – His grace from him! Thank God for his infinite mercy and grace, through Christ Jesus our Lord!
2. Grace is Gr: charis, which is the free grace of God and the gift that is shown in the forgiveness of sins that is extended to all in their guilt. God’s “mercy” (Gr: eloes) is extended to alleviate the consequences of sin. Questions:
a. When did you do this? When we were “dead in trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 2:5.
b. How did you do this? He “has given us life.” He gave us life with Christ!
c. Where did you do this? Whereas, “we were together with Christ.”
d. Why did you do this? “For the great love with which he loved us.”
C. Great love, is Gr: agapa, “A word not found in classical Greek, but its only meaning is benevolence or love. This benevolence, however, is not manifested by doing what the loved one wants; but what the one who loves considers necessary for the loved one; (eg, “because God so loved…gave”), John 3:16. He didn’t give what we wanted; but what we needed, namely, his Son who buys “forgiveness of sins for all mankind”, 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10; 1 John 2:1-2.
1. This love was given when we were “dead in trespasses and sins”, Ephesians 2:1-2.
2. When we were sinners: “God shows his love for us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8; Galatians 2:20-21; and 2 Corinthians 5:14-17.
3. All have sinned and are in need of God’s grace and mercy, Romans 3:23. Notice also: “Therefore, as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin; and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned”, Romans 5:12. “There is none righteous, not even one; there is no one who does good, not even one”, Romans 3:10-12.
a. Notice Solomon: “Who can say: I have cleansed my heart, I am clean from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9.
b. Consider Job: “What is a man that he should be clean? And he who is born of a woman, so that he may be righteous? See Job 15:4. Listen again to Job: “How then can a man be justified before God? Or how can he who is born of a woman be clean? See Job 25:4.
c. Now David: “Behold, I have been brought up in wickedness; and in sin my mother conceived me,” Psalm 51:5. Surely David isn’t saying, are children born devils? Listen to it later in this thought: “The wicked have departed from the womb; they have gone astray from birth, speaking lies,” Psalm 58:3. Notice: “Behold, children are the LORD’s inheritance, and the fruit of the womb is his,” Psalm 127:3. See also Psalms 22:10; Psalms 71:6; and Jeremiah 1:4-5.
d. Finally, Jeremiah: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and wicked beyond measure: who can know it?” See Jeremiah 17:9. For all our sins and transgressions – Illustrate: “sin pays a low wage!”
4. Punishment for sin. “Because the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23. Sin “separates us from God,” Isaiah 59:1-2. Illustrate: The Hands of God!
D. Spiritual blessing in Christ. Paul writes: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy. and blameless before him in love…In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…