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.

Willow Creek Assessment

I need something to add to my blog. This is a response I put forth on Lance's blog regarding the Willow Creek Performance Report. It's still got me thinking and concerned about what the church calls church.


First of all, I appreciate WC and their honesty and frank talk on this subject. Its refreshing for a church to honestly speak of their perceived mission. At the same time, I think we as disciples need to be very careful as to what this church is saying, reporting, and proposing. It seems disheartening to hear WC say that their mistake or the results from their survey are consistent with the other churches they have surveyed. I guess I'm saddened that the church is looking more like a business and looking less and less "not of this world."

A couple of things I heard Hybels say, "We should have taught people to read their Bibles between services."

He mentions the idea that people need to be self-feeders. His remark is that as people mature in their faith, they want the church to feed them more.

He then remarks that people need to be "coached" using "customized spiritual growth plans."

Wow. This is sad. This church continues to think that they are the answer. I really have to be honest here but I'm really concerned these days that the church is trying to play God. And not only the church, but many that support the church as well. I'm referring to christian book sellers and the publishing companies as well. Churches have trained people in the idea that nourishment is acquired at church or acquired by reading a book.

Hebrews 10:24-25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
I John 3:18, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

If people in the church are not active in their faith and their spiritual life has just become a part of their life like their job, their school, their recreation, their family time---then something is really wrong. And my concern is that the church is made up of people that know the right answers, but are not reading God's love letters to them and therefore, are not living His words throughout their lives. Thus, we have a church full of false converts. Who have come to Christ for the wrong reasons.

Church, open up God's letters and read them. And then you will pray. You will then repeat this not because you are following a customized spiritual growth plan, but because the Spirit is confirming your faith and you are moved to greater devotion. And we will walk away Praising God not elevating a church and its fantastic work.

WC's assessment confirms more and more my feeling that God and His Word are not people's oasis, but rather their last resort. And people have misrepresented the Church expecting it to do what only the Holy Spirit is capable of doing: change hearts.

Lance, I think your questions are right on. Church is too complex. And yet we are avoiding the central truths: Love God. Love One Another. (How can you love your neighbor and yet never ask him where he is going when he dies? How can you love God and yet not read His words?) Once again, its no different from the activities in our lives (work, play, food); we are trying to please everyone. God never promised a happy and problem-free life. Peace doesn't mean tons of worldly blessings. There is a lot of pain in being a disciple. Just ask the disciples. I mean, how many died of natural causes?