Ephesians 2:4-7 - Gift, Glory, Grace

Erik Christensen gave the message this past Sunday--September 23, 2012. My 2 LDS missionary friends were with me. It was an incredible time of worship to Jesus and then this teaching was just phenomenal. I'm not sure if the younger one was listening much, but Elder Rudy was definitely listening as I saw him flipping to James 2, wondering I think about what it was saying because Erik was very clear that their are no works involved.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
(Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV)

We live under the banner, "By Grace You have been saved."

How is grace going to be enacted in our life? In Christ. Our Identity is In Christ. And then our conduct reflects our identity in Christ.

Erik asked, "Are we walking according to the course of this world?" On the contrary, He is in us and He is a part of everything in our lives.

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
(2 Corinthians 3:4-6 ESV)

Of note here is walking of the course of the world, by the law, or living the letter of the law--this kills. It is the Spirit that gives life. When we walk to the course of the world, do we think that our walking and our good deeds is making us sufficient?

1. These are factual statements. Not based on feeling.
2. It is a done deal. It is finished.
3. It is the basis of our hope. Assurance changes our walk.

A.  The Gift
verse 5 - God "made us alive together with Christ"

Like baking a cake, you put ingredients into the cake. After it bakes, you then can't decide to take out certain ingredients from the cake. It is complete. In Christ, we are complete. Nothing can be removed.

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
(Romans 8:11 ESV)

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

(Colossians 2:13 ESV)

My citizenship is in heaven. I have received the Gift of life, eternal life. As Christ is resurrected, I have been resurrected. I have life.

B. The Glory
verse 6 - "and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus"

When was I raised up? When I believed. At that moment, I was raised up.

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
(Colossians 2:12 ESV)

I am "not of this world" any longer. This is not by feelings. We don't walk by feelings. We walk by faith.

When God sees me right now, he sees me seated with him in the heavenly places. How does this occur? Because I am In Christ.

My present Glory is in heaven.

C. The Grace
verse 7 - "the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

Grace = Favor

Jesus went to the cross with joy.

Kindness is usefulness; it is without sharpness. "There is nothing in Him that would cause us to be repulsed."

Jesus says, "I am here to help you. I will lay down my life for you."

Salvation is a completed action.

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
(Romans 2:4 ESV)

It is God's kindness that leads us to repentance.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

Kindness is not in us. It is borne by the Spirit in us. It manifests itself because of the Spirit of God.

God in me produces kindness.


Circumstances don't define us.
     -- Our identity is In Christ
          -- We are made alive with Christ.