By Grace Alone (Ephesians 2:1-10)

By Grace Alone (Ephesians 2:1-10)

 

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

 

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 

5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 

7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

                                                                        

Head)

John Newton who wrote the one of the most famous Hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ was once a slave master. His sole goal in life was make more money by selling more slaves. However he met our Lord in his life and he became a pastor. He never wore preacher’s cloth he always wore a slave’s cloth.

 

The Bible says in many books that we are saved by grace. However lots of people don’t understand the concept of it. Saved by grace means we don’t play any part in our salvation it was by God’s grace only.

 

One day a dedicated Christian died. At the heaven’s door he met Peter standing next to the sign says ‘admission fee one milion dollor’. This Chrisitian was very confused so he asked Peter “Well I left all my money back on earth. How am I supposed to pay?” Peter replied “Whatever you did for the Lord in your life will counts automatically here.” So this chrisitian said “Ok, I never missed a service for past 14 years.” Peter says “That is awesome you just earned a penny.” “Well I also served as youth teacher for 12 years at my church.” “Well you got another penny for that.” After few more of this conversation finally this chrisitian gave up and said “St. Peter admission fee is way too expensive. I don’t think anybody can pay that amount of money. Without God’s grace no one will be able to enter.”

Then Peter replied with smile “Nice, you just earned the rest of the money by God’s grace now you can go ahead and enter.”

 

Sometimes people confuse between faith and grace. You did not ‘earned’ the path way to the salvation because of you believing Jesus. Your doing has nothing to do with salvation it is only by the grace. We have to realize our faith is just a reaction of grace that God gave to us.

 

Body)

Today’s scripture which is one of the most loved texts in the Bible whos how grace works in corrupted world.

Verse 1 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.”

Yes you were dead since Adam and Eve took that fruit. Let us see what happens next in verse 2 and 3 “2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.” Verse 2 and 3 shows this live but dead people just following worldly/trandy things. People do not know what is wrong, what is right they just live the way that world tells them it is proper way.

 

Romans 3 verse 10-18 says “¹⁰ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

¹¹ There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

¹² They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

¹³ Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

¹⁴ Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood:

¹⁶ Destruction and misery are in their ways:

¹⁷ And the way of peace have they not known:

¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes.

“Also verse 23 says “²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

And todays scripture verse 3 also says“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.” Romans chapter 6 verse 23 clearly says the cost of sin is death. So we were hopeless let us see what happens next in verse 4 and 5.  

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Here again, our only hope our Jesus came through and save us who are product of sin. Verse 5 and 6 says “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” We have to focus on those two words “with Christ” we are living in this world but we are always wit Chirist. Paul said we are already citizens of heaven and present life is just like a wind that passes through.

 

Success, money, and fame are all belong to this world but this world is not our permanent place to reside our home is the Heaven.

 

So with Jesus oppose to dead people like once we were, the scripture describes like this “in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

 So, what changes in our life?

1. No more disappointments

The disappintment is one of devil’s favorite tactics, disappointment make people’s mind weak. However one of God’s graces other than saving grace is sustaining grace. With God in ourside we shall not have another disappointment.

 

 

2. We become humble.

One of the most distinguished changes that happen to us after accepting God’s grace is humbleness. No one is perfect in their life, but being humble makes relationship easier because you do not have to fight for your pride.

 

3. Mission becomes our hobby.

Lots of people think mission from God is another hardship. However, with God mission is easier than ever before. Why lots of female chiristian do not want to be pastor’s wife? Because they think it will be hard. However happiness doesn’t come form easy and comfortable life.

 

4. True happiness.

Without Grace you won’t feel have with all the stuff that you should feel happy. But Grace can make unhappiness to happiness. We will be thankful all the time and happy all the time. Our mental state will be happy all the time and with that we will speard the good news of Christ lord to other people. And people will see how happy we are even if our circumstance tells the other way. We will be like a light house attracting lost souls in this world.

 

Genesis 24:60 says “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.” Matthew 16:18 also says “ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Let us read verse 10 one more time

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

 

The good work is spread gospel and take care of your neighbors. That is the prime reason of creating church. Paul tells examples of good work in ephisian chapter 5.

 

John also talked about this good works. He said doing this God’s good work is same as having relationship with God and it also loves your brothers and sisters.

 

Again, this is the reason why we have church. By living with grace and doing good work we will defeat evil and save souls. So John 1 chapter 5 verse 4 says “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

 

Families of Watertown Baptist church, I hope and pray for us to be a citizens of heave which given by God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice.

 

I hope and pray we would be glad to carry out our mission and good works around us. I hope and pray we would realize God’s purpose for us. Also live faithful life and good work make church like a church that God meant to be. Amen.

 

06117 by peter Bhang/ Translated by Sung woo ahn