WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning.

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 I think it's fitting for us to begin with a word of prayer.

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 Heavenly Father, You are good and wonderful.

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 Thank You for these songs and these reminders today of Your goodness to us in Christ.

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 God, I would just pray now that You would give us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation and knowledge of You

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 that You would make known the immeasurable greatness of Your power to Your church today.

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 I ask it in Christ's name and for His glory alone. Amen.

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 I think as human beings we are a little bit awed by power.

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 A tree fell on our house a couple years ago and I was able to acquire a chainsaw.

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 I was pretty impressed by the power of this thing to just slice through this hard wood.

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 I think of the athletic competitions and the power displayed by a defensive lineman

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 as he sheds the double team and gets into the backfield to trample on the quarterback.

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 Or Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world as he wins yet another gold medal in a sprint at the Summer Olympics.

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 I think of the power that's demonstrated in nature.

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 Waves crashing against the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

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 Thunderstorms.

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 The electricity of the lightning, if you've ever been close enough to experience that.

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 The rumbling of thunder itself.

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 And then there's times when nature kind of even acts in a stronger way

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 and it devastates creation with earthquakes and tornadoes.

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 But this passage that we're looking at today in Ephesians chapter 2,

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 there's an even greater power on display.

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 One that just trumps all natural types of power imaginable.

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 In fact, you could combine them all together and you still wouldn't even begin to touch on how great a power this is.

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 It's a supernatural power.

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 It's a spectacular power.

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 And it's worth considering together again this morning.

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 Of course, I'm talking about the power of God.

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 And the way that the Apostle Paul is going to set this out for us today, I believe, is ultimately to drive at this.

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 If you could take away one belief, if you could leave here with one thought, it would be this.

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 That salvation is the display of the immeasurable greatness of God's power exercised for you.

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 It's God's spiritual muscle flexing for us.

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 It's a display of unimaginable strength.

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 Salvation is the immeasurable greatness of God's power exercised for you.

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 So let me read this for us.

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 If you haven't turned there, we're going to be in Ephesians 2, verses 1 to 10.

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 This is God's word to us.

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 Paul writes,

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 And we're by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind.

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 So just to give us a little bit of context about where we find ourselves,

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 of course, Mike preached through this book a couple years ago,

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 and you may be wondering, well, why are we back in Ephesians today?

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 It seemed good to us to, in the midst of some hard passages of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount,

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 talking about the exceeding sinfulness of sin,

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 to be reminded this morning of our great salvation.

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 And so, Paul starts out his letter by affirming his apostolic authority,

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 and then he goes right into these spiritual blessings.

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 In fact, we have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

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 That's how chapter 1 starts, and he outlines them.

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 The Father is at work.

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 The Son is at work in redemption.

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 The Holy Spirit sealing us until our inheritance is possessed by us.

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 And then he starts praying for this church in Ephesus,

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 and the height of his prayer, he's saying,

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 God, give this church, give this people a spirit of wisdom and of revelation and knowledge of you.

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 Enlighten the eyes of their hearts.

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 And then he says,

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 so that they know the hope to which they're called,

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 that they know the glorious inheritance,

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 and then this one here in verse 19,

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 what is the immeasurable greatness of God's power toward us who believe.

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 And he unpacks that by talking about Jesus and his resurrection and his ascension,

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 his lordship over all dominions and authorities,

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 his headship over the church,

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 and then in further description of the great immeasurable power of God,

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 we come to our chapter 2, verses 1 to 10.

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 That's why I say that God wants us to see that salvation is the immeasurable greatness of his power extended to us.

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 And so Paul is going to be very clear in this passage.

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 There's three parts to his argument.

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 We're just going to follow straight down the page and see them all,

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 hopefully very clearly this morning.

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 So part one is the powerlessness of man in our hopeless condition.

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 We see that in the first three verses.

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 We see immediately in verse 1,

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 and you are dead.

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 It's worse than we could have ever imagined, friends.

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 There's no apparent way forward.

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 There's no recovering from this.

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 Dead.

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 Corpses.

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 Spiritual corpses.

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 Not dying.

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 Not sick.

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 100% dead.

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 In trespasses and sins.

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 Paul's redundancy in speaking of it this way is to outline the comprehensive moral evil

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 in which humanity finds ourselves.

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 In other words, he's talking about, cumulatively, the intentional boundary crossings,

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 the misstepping of God's laws.

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 He's talking about falling short of God's standard in spite of our best efforts.

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 He's talking about our active wrongdoings and our passive misgivings.

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 He's talking about the sins that we commit and the goods that we omit.

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 All-inclusive.

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 This deadness he speaks of is a spiritual alienation from God.

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 Severed relationship with our Creator.

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 But there's more.

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 In verse 2 and 3, we see that not only are we dead in sins,

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 but we're enslaved to this evil's triple threat.

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 The world, Satan, and the flesh.

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 If you look in verse 2, we see that we were once walking in these trespasses and sins,

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 following the course of this world,

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 following the prince of the power of the air,

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 the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

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 This walking Paul speaks of is not a pleasant stroll,

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 and it's not as if we've got this nice, spick-and-span clean outfit,

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 and we're kind of tiptoeing through a bunch of sin, trying not to get dirty.

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 No, we're immersed in it.

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 This is our lifestyle, apart from Christ.

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 Marching in step with a corrupt world,

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 living life according to society's moral failure,

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 arrogance, mockery of God,

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 indifferent to sin,

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 promoting self,

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 trying to preserve self,

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 trying to exalt self.

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 It's, of course,

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 marred by evil.

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 And it seems most likely that Paul connects this purposefully to this prince of the power of the air,

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 found at the end of verse 2 there.

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 Of course, this is Satan,

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 and it's probably best not to think so much of his power here,

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 but of his domain.

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 It's the territory of the air that this demonic angel is ruling over.

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 This realm of the air,

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 it's a little bit tricky to understand,

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 but basically what it seems like Paul is saying is that

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 he's not a tangible body on earth,

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 but he's neither in the heavenly places in authority,

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 but he's in kind of this in-between world of spiritual darkness,

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 and it's impacting directly everything that takes place on this earth.

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 Notice that Paul says,

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 now at work.

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 And I think we can extend that now up to today, obviously,

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 without much question.

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 Satan still roams and rules over those who are apart from Christ to this day.

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 But just to make sure that we're not the unwilling victims in this situation,

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 Paul continues in verse 3,

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 that we once lived in the passions of our flesh.

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 Notice that he's no longer saying just you, Ephesians,

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 but now we.

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 Paul begins including himself in this depraved situation

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 because it's true not just of the immoral,

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 but of the religious elites as well.

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 Again, Paul needs to be understood here that when he says lived,

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 in verse 3,

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 he's not talking about just being simply in a proximity

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 with these sons of disobedience,

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 but again,

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 conducting our lives in a manner corresponding

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 to their current manner of living.

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 We were lusting after the fleshly passions,

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 actively carrying them out in corrupt desires,

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 body and mind,

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 thoughts and actions.

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 Verse 3 here rejects the notion of being an innocent victim

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 in this game of sin.

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 And it puts all of the ultimate responsibility upon us.

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 It portrays dead people in step with a fallen world

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 and enslaved to the devil.

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 I think it's probably, of course,

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 easy for us to see this reality

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 when we think of the big sins, right,

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 and the ways that sin just is rampant.

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 It's violence, adultery, drunkenness,

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 drug abuse, theft, murder.

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 But it raises a question for us.

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 How can Paul then, this Hebrew of Hebrews,

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 this one who says under the law is blameless

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 and really means that in Philippians,

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 how can he include himself in this?

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 As I think about it,

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 I realize that Paul as easily condemns moralism

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 and religion as he does blatant, outright,

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 immoral behavior.

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 See, moralism, religion,

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 they don't save either.

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 And they're equally condemning for a man.

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 Think of Jesus addressing the Pharisees

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 in any place in the Gospels

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 and how quickly he points to their lack of righteousness,

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 even though they're the expert law keepers.

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 Think of even the Sermon on the Mount

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 when Jesus says,

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 unless your righteousness exceeds that

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 of the scribes and Pharisees,

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 you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

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 Well, no, these religious elites

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 have this mentality that

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 no savior is required for me.

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 My works speak for themselves.

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 It's self-righteousness,

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 self-justification,

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 and ultimately pride,

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 which, interestingly enough,

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 is the downfall of this prince

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 of the domain of the air.

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 Tim Keller is really helpful

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 in kind of unpacking this for us

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 in a book that he wrote

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 on the parable of the prodigal son.

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 And he writes how

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 it should probably be more

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 of the parable of the prodigal sons,

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 plural,

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 because both of these young men

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 are equally corrupt

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 and debased before their father.

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 The young son squanders his inheritance

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 and runs off.

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 The elder brother stays close by.

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 Listen to what Tim Keller writes

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 about this older brother.

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 What did the older son want?

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 If we think about it,

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 we realize that he wanted

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 the same thing as his brother.

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 He was just as resentful of the father

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 as was the younger son.

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 He, too, wanted the father's goods

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 rather than the father himself.

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 The older brother stayed close

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 and never disobeyed.

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 That was his way to get control.

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 His unspoken demand is,

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 I have never disobeyed you.

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 Now you have to do things in my life

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 the way I want them to be done.

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 I hope you hear in that

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 the sense of entitlement,

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 the attempt to manipulate

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 a sovereign God

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 and the desire to control

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 the outcome

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 by doing good things.

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 Paul seems to say here

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 that this is

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 the depraved

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 and reprehensible motivation

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 behind all religious effort.

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 It's not as obvious, perhaps,

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 as the eat and drink and be merry,

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 but it's equally condemnable

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 before God.

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 Unfortunately, the situation

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 gets worse before we move on

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 to the good news.

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 We see the last statement

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 of verse 3

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 that we not only were dead

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 and enslaved,

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 but by nature

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 were children of wrath

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 like the rest of mankind.

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 This is a huge concept

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 to try and unpack

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 in a really brief moment,

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 but basically,

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 we need to consider

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 a couple of things here.

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 What Paul is saying

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 is,

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 as naturally as eagles soar

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 and as lions roar,

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 part of our spiritual DNA

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 as Adam's descendants

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 is incurring wrath

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 by our nature.

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 Romans 5 sort of unpacks this

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 in verses 12 to 21.

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 The basic idea is that

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 sin comes in through Adam,

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 through one man,

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 death through that sin,

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 and then death spreads

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 to everyone

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 because everyone has sinned.

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 One trespass,

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 one trespass

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 leads to death

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 for all people.

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 I don't know about you,

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 but I tend to take offense

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 at this statement

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 that by my nature,

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 from my first breath

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 to my last,

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 I deserve wrath.

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 This is terribly offensive,

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 yet it's biblical.

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 It's right here.

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.740
 By our nature,

00:17:09.899 --> 00:17:10.440
 we are deserving

00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:12.299
 of God's righteous anger

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:14.440
 and judgment for sin.

00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:18.180
 We are active rebels,

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:21.019
 substandard performers,

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:23.819
 and we deserve wrath.

00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.920
 So let me encourage you

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.379
 this morning,

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.639
 don't get caught up

00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.160
 trying to see

00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.440
 who the better dead guy is.

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.519
 This isn't an opportunity

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:33.859
 to say,

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.119
 well,

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.819
 better than that guy

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.339
 over there.

00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.240
 This isn't a,

00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.180
 you know,

00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.779
 that's what religion does,

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.019
 right?

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:41.519
 That's what morality does.

00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.639
 Paul's leveling it.

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.920
 Like everyone.

00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:48.379
 Universal human condition.

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.860
 It's right in front of us here.

00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:52.660
 This is intended

00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.700
 to sober us,

00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.900
 and it's intended

00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:56.920
 to humble us.

00:17:58.780 --> 00:17:59.340
 That,

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.440
 brother,

00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.020
 sister,

00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:02.720
 your spiritual condition,

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.260
 apart from Christ,

00:18:05.840 --> 00:18:06.800
 it's hard to admit

00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:08.400
 and even more impossible

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.520
 to reconcile,

00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:14.360
 but we are hopeless,

00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:15.540
 dead men and women

00:18:15.540 --> 00:18:17.200
 awaiting judgment.

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:17.980
 enslavement,

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.600
 enslaved by the triad

00:18:19.600 --> 00:18:20.080
 of evil,

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.019
 heaping up wrath

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.700
 for ourselves.

00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:28.019
 But God.

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.299
 But God.

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.299
 Amazingly,

00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:36.180
 Paul does not

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.299
 leave us there,

00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:38.240
 and even more amazingly,

00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.160
 neither does God.

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.440
 Most importantly,

00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.220
 neither does God.

00:18:42.580 --> 00:18:43.900
 The beginning of verse 4

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:45.720
 begins the second section

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.280
 of this chapter,

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.980
 of these verses,

00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:50.940
 and probably begins

00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:51.900
 with my two favorite

00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:53.920
 words of the Bible.

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.560
 But God.

00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.780
 It seems here

00:18:58.780 --> 00:18:59.820
 that Paul knows

00:18:59.820 --> 00:19:01.480
 right at the outset

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.000
 of verse 4

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.759
 that he needs to

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.980
 ward off any objections

00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:05.540
 to what he's about to say

00:19:05.540 --> 00:19:06.700
 before getting

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.560
 to what God does.

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:07.800
 So,

00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.880
 he gives two reasons

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:10.640
 for why God does

00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:11.320
 what he does.

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.840
 See that in verse 4?

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.519
 But God,

00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:15.579
 being rich in mercy

00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:18.019
 because of the great love

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:19.439
 with which he loved us.

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.519
 If we continue there

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.619
 just to the beginning

00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.179
 of verse 5,

00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:24.179
 even when we are dead

00:19:24.179 --> 00:19:26.599
 in trespasses.

00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:28.839
 This mercy

00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:30.500
 is a concept

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.579
 that he's talking about

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.539
 this kindness

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:34.779
 expressed towards

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.819
 someone in need.

00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.579
 It's kind of

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.839
 simplifying a little bit

00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.099
 considering what we just read,

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:42.799
 but that's the mercy

00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:44.339
 that Paul's writing about

00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:44.819
 and the thing

00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.719
 that is so sweet

00:19:45.719 --> 00:19:46.379
 to me about it

00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.480
 is how unexpected

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.959
 this mercy is.

00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:53.079
 Great love for enemies,

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:53.519
 rebels,

00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.240
 and failures.

00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:55.740
 A mercy

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:57.099
 expressed to those

00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:57.559
 in need.

00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.599
 Paul says,

00:20:00.179 --> 00:20:00.639
 hold on.

00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:02.319
 Wrath

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.959
 is not the whole

00:20:03.959 --> 00:20:04.099
 image

00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.959
 of my God.

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:08.680
 let me tell you

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.579
 about his compassion

00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.779
 and his love.

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.180
 He's rich in mercy.

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.880
 He does not wish

00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:15.160
 that any should perish.

00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:18.400
 He's loving,

00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:20.000
 he's enough loving

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.579
 of his enemies

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.500
 to take action

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.240
 for them.

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.279
 Friends,

00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:24.779
 isn't this why

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.539
 we worship him

00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.680
 and adore him

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.779
 and gather here

00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.840
 to sing his praises?

00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:30.920
 Because he's a merciful God,

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.660
 a loving God.

00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:32.700
 God.

00:20:35.320 --> 00:20:36.340
 So then Paul,

00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:38.200
 after giving these reasons,

00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:40.060
 goes on to talk about

00:20:40.060 --> 00:20:42.600
 the activity of God

00:20:42.600 --> 00:20:44.380
 when he forgave us

00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:44.940
 the end, right?

00:20:45.340 --> 00:20:45.640
 No.

00:20:46.300 --> 00:20:47.080
 What does he say

00:20:47.080 --> 00:20:49.080
 in verse 5 and 6?

00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:51.759
 Made us alive

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:53.140
 together with Christ

00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:54.880
 by grace you have been saved

00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:56.680
 and raised us up with him

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.960
 and seated us with him

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:59.060
 in the heavenly places

00:20:59.060 --> 00:21:00.420
 in Christ Jesus.

00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:00.620
 Forgiveness.

00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:05.560
 Salvation is

00:21:05.560 --> 00:21:07.940
 no less certainly

00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.580
 than forgiveness,

00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:09.140
 but oh,

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.300
 it is so much more.

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:14.279
 It radically changes

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:16.060
 our entire position

00:21:16.060 --> 00:21:17.080
 before a holy

00:21:17.080 --> 00:21:18.080
 and righteous God.

00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:20.420
 From children of wrath

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:22.400
 to made alive,

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.840
 new spiritual birth

00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:24.700
 in Christ,

00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:26.200
 raised with him

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.940
 and exalted

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:28.100
 into the heavenly places,

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.300
 positioned with him

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:31.200
 and John Stott

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.399
 remarks that

00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:33.859
 certainly that means

00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:35.440
 that there's thrones

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:36.279
 for us

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.680
 to be seated in.

00:21:38.659 --> 00:21:39.220
 And you notice

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.720
 how what Paul says here,

00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:42.079
 it undoes

00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:43.519
 the effects

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.779
 of verses 1 to 3.

00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.019
 It undoes

00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:46.960
 the deadness.

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.659
 Dead people

00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:48.299
 made alive,

00:21:48.399 --> 00:21:49.519
 got that one checked off.

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.359
 In this

00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.759
 worldly realm,

00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.399
 this course

00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:54.500
 of an evil world,

00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.859
 under the influence

00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:56.599
 of a demonic

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.599
 spirit of the air,

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.359
 done away with,

00:21:59.439 --> 00:22:00.939
 exalted to the heavenly places,

00:22:01.159 --> 00:22:02.059
 above that domain

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.579
 of the air,

00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:05.019
 no more satanic power

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:06.019
 over us.

00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:09.619
 Enslavement?

00:22:09.899 --> 00:22:10.099
 Nope.

00:22:10.459 --> 00:22:11.179
 Thrones in heaven.

00:22:12.919 --> 00:22:13.619
 And certainly,

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:15.319
 no wrath

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.819
 when we are united

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:18.099
 with the sinless

00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.779
 Son of God.

00:22:20.199 --> 00:22:21.519
 It's a new existence,

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.579
 a new identity,

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.259
 a new domain.

00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:27.500
 This is Paul

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.740
 unpacking what

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.940
 Colossians 1.13

00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:31.460
 says so succinctly,

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.359
 that he has delivered us

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.000
 from the domain

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.559
 of darkness

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:36.440
 and transferred us

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.579
 to the kingdom

00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.599
 of his beloved Son.

00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:42.119
 No longer children

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.700
 of wrath.

00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:45.059
 A new nature

00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:45.579
 in Christ,

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.559
 adopted sons

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.099
 and daughters

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.039
 of the King.

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.400
 Friends,

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.039
 make no mistake,

00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:52.579
 this is a current

00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:54.720
 spiritual reality.

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.419
 If you're in Christ,

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.579
 this is now

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.839
 currently true.

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.019
 So this,

00:23:04.179 --> 00:23:04.439
 of course,

00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:06.279
 changes how we view

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.000
 ourselves

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.279
 and one another.

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.359
 Positionally found

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.079
 with Christ

00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.500
 now,

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.259
 forever,

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.199
 for all eternity.

00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:17.159
 This is what's

00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:17.980
 most true

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.179
 about us.

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:23.039
 And not only

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.720
 should it change

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.380
 how we view

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.680
 ourselves

00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.299
 and each other,

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.620
 but it should make

00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:28.240
 us long

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.560
 for the future

00:23:29.560 --> 00:23:30.519
 when God fulfills

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:30.940
 this

00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.620
 once and for all.

00:23:35.320 --> 00:23:36.140
 Notice in these

00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:37.039
 verses that

00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:39.140
 four times

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.680
 Jesus is mentioned.

00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:43.860
 In verse 5 and 6,

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.640
 made us alive

00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:46.860
 together with Christ.

00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:47.980
 Verse 6,

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.700
 raised us up

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.440
 with Him,

00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.460
 seated us

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.099
 with Him

00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:52.000
 in the heavenly

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.079
 places in Christ

00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:53.440
 Jesus.

00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:55.240
 This assumes

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.860
 some things

00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:57.019
 about our Savior.

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.940
 He's alive,

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.079
 He's exalted,

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.740
 He's reigning

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.559
 over all rule

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.099
 and authority,

00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:06.059
 and He's our

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.640
 only hope.

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.440
 Paul's not

00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.180
 quite done

00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:12.720
 describing

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.000
 God's

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.900
 actions.

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.360
 Verse 7

00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.000
 gives us

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.959
 the purpose

00:24:17.959 --> 00:24:19.179
 behind them.

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.099
 This is so amazing.

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.119
 Look at it.

00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:24.719
 So that in the

00:24:24.719 --> 00:24:25.459
 coming ages,

00:24:25.639 --> 00:24:26.339
 He might show

00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:27.699
 the immeasurable

00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:28.599
 riches of His

00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:29.579
 grace and

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.799
 kindness toward us

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:32.339
 in Christ Jesus.

00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:34.859
 God purposes

00:24:34.859 --> 00:24:36.079
 to save us

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.599
 in this

00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.339
 grand

00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:38.219
 scale,

00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.219
 epic

00:24:39.219 --> 00:24:40.059
 salvation

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:42.740
 so that in the

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.459
 coming ages,

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.620
 the immeasurable

00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.240
 greatness of

00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:45.880
 His power

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:47.860
 would manifest

00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:48.700
 itself in the

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.160
 immeasurable

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:49.840
 riches of His

00:24:49.840 --> 00:24:50.740
 grace toward us.

00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:52.700
 It's aimed at us

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.100
 forever.

00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.640
 What do we do

00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.120
 with this?

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.519
 I mean,

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.259
 we don't just get

00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.000
 to witness the

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.700
 grace of God.

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.840
 We're the

00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:05.340
 recipients,

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.340
 the goal of His

00:25:06.340 --> 00:25:07.140
 grace for

00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:07.640
 eternity.

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.480
 Dead,

00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:09.980
 enslaved,

00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:10.480
 and destined

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.120
 for wrath,

00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:12.699
 usurped by

00:25:12.699 --> 00:25:13.479
 God's mercy,

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:13.799
 love,

00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:14.119
 grace,

00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.679
 and kindness

00:25:14.679 --> 00:25:15.779
 in Christ.

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.379
 Thanks be to

00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:17.639
 God.

00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.639
 One final move

00:25:21.639 --> 00:25:22.079
 in Paul's

00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.719
 argument here,

00:25:23.919 --> 00:25:24.979
 verses 8-10.

00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:27.039
 Kind of think of

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.679
 these as the

00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:29.459
 contractual terms

00:25:29.459 --> 00:25:30.519
 of this salvation.

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.979
 I imagine a

00:25:32.979 --> 00:25:33.939
 businessman who's

00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:34.599
 just heard the

00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.439
 Apostle Paul kind

00:25:35.439 --> 00:25:36.119
 of outline this

00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:36.619
 salvation,

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.259
 the great things

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.399
 that Christ has

00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:39.619
 done,

00:25:39.719 --> 00:25:40.399
 the great power

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:40.960
 that God has

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.860
 demonstrated in

00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.940
 resurrecting Him

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.940
 and us with Him,

00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:46.560
 seating Him and

00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:47.040
 us in the

00:25:47.040 --> 00:25:47.840
 heavenly places,

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.140
 and asking,

00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.380
 kind of like that,

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:51.600
 Paul.

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.220
 It sounds pretty

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.480
 good.

00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:52.840
 You know,

00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.620
 reach in for his

00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:54.060
 pocketbook.

00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:54.780
 How much do I owe

00:25:54.780 --> 00:25:54.900
 you?

00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:56.140
 You know,

00:25:56.280 --> 00:25:56.660
 do you have a

00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.320
 payment plan?

00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:58.700
 What do I got to

00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.519
 do to get this?

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.060
 Paul's at,

00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:00.920
 shh,

00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:03.500
 grace.

00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.240
 Grace.

00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.280
 Grace.

00:26:08.280 --> 00:26:08.360
 Grace.

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:10.759
 Grace.

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:10.840
 Grace.

00:26:10.840 --> 00:26:10.880
 Grace.

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.400
 Grace.

00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.400
 Grace.

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.800
 Grace.

00:26:12.800 --> 00:26:13.120
 You want to know

00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:13.680
 the terms of the

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.080
 contract?

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.580
 Grace.

00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:18.700
 If you're asking

00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.380
 today, how do you

00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:19.720
 get it?

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.380
 How do you get the

00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:21.840
 salvation?

00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:24.200
 It's by grace.

00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:25.300
 It's by accepting

00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:26.440
 the gift of God.

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.759
 No other way.

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.500
 There's no other

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:28.880
 terms.

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.180
 There's no fine

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.560
 print.

00:26:31.280 --> 00:26:31.960
 There's no clean

00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.920
 yourself up and then

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.820
 come get the grace.

00:26:34.860 --> 00:26:35.960
 Just receive it.

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.519
 Receive it.

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:43.539
 Ephesians 2, 8, and 9

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.839
 are a couple of my

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:46.379
 first ever, you know,

00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:48.559
 memory verses as I

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.460
 was growing as a

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.519
 Christian and I think

00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.119
 that's great.

00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:51.940
 They're so good,

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.180
 right?

00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:54.599
 But it hasn't been

00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.619
 until recently that

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:56.440
 I've started seeing

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.519
 how they function in

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.379
 Paul's argument in

00:26:58.379 --> 00:26:58.900
 this passage.

00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:01.279
 These verses, 8

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:01.720
 through 10, are

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.440
 really supporting

00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.500
 what's come before

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.480
 it in verses 4 to

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:04.799
 7.

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:06.359
 They're strengthening

00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:08.039
 Paul's argument as

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.639
 he talks about

00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:09.180
 salvation.

00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.680
 And I think they do

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.579
 it in this way that

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:14.779
 they're trying to

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.639
 ward off the

00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:18.119
 questions that seem

00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:19.200
 to be looking to

00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.059
 make salvation too

00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.819
 good to be true.

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.019
 I mean, how can

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.899
 salvation really

00:27:25.899 --> 00:27:26.519
 truly exist?

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.019
 How can this be the

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:29.579
 way it is for

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.399
 children of wrath?

00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:33.059
 Paul says, grace.

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:34.000
 By grace you've been

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.000
 saved through faith.

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.440
 This is not a

00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:37.299
 result of works.

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.680
 It's not your own

00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:38.880
 doing.

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.920
 It's the gift of God.

00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.400
 Not a result of work

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.180
 so that no one may

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.819
 boast for his

00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.319
 workmanship.

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:47.619
 I love what Charles

00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:48.400
 Spurgeon says.

00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:50.059
 He writes simply

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.980
 that where grace

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:53.400
 exists, it reigns.

00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:55.039
 It rules.

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.039
 It owns.

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:58.480
 It has no rivals.

00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.359
 It reigns.

00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:02.400
 That's why Paul goes

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:02.640
 there.

00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:05.400
 He intends to

00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:06.600
 silence the doubters

00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:08.259
 and humble the

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.740
 recipients.

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.540
 Notice back in

00:28:13.540 --> 00:28:14.280
 verse 5 that he

00:28:14.280 --> 00:28:15.520
 already interjected

00:28:15.520 --> 00:28:17.660
 this grace into his

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:19.000
 tale of salvation.

00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:21.100
 He can't contain

00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:21.540
 himself.

00:28:22.280 --> 00:28:23.000
 It's just this

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:24.060
 outburst of joy to

00:28:24.060 --> 00:28:25.240
 say, it's all grace.

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:27.259
 It's all grace.

00:28:29.020 --> 00:28:29.800
 And now he comes

00:28:29.800 --> 00:28:30.640
 back to it in these

00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.480
 final three verses.

00:28:33.300 --> 00:28:34.300
 Let's make sure we're

00:28:34.300 --> 00:28:35.020
 clear on what this

00:28:35.020 --> 00:28:35.740
 grace is.

00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:39.759
 It's freely given

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:41.800
 unmerited favor.

00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:44.140
 It's not earned.

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:46.040
 It's not purchased.

00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:48.140
 It can't be bartered

00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:48.540
 for.

00:28:50.340 --> 00:28:51.720
 It's gifted to

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.840
 undeserving people.

00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:58.559
 And it's not an abstract,

00:28:58.879 --> 00:29:00.599
 warm, and fuzzy kind of

00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:02.079
 thing like we tend to

00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:03.579
 apply to terms today.

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.779
 I love pizza.

00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.319
 No.

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.639
 Concrete,

00:29:09.679 --> 00:29:10.220
 objective,

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.480
 historical reality.

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:15.299
 The grace of God here

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.759
 points to the person and

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.779
 work of Jesus Christ.

00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:20.700
 salvation,

00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:21.660
 friends,

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.920
 is not just the reality

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:24.399
 of our union with

00:29:24.399 --> 00:29:24.839
 Jesus,

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.399
 our being raised with

00:29:26.399 --> 00:29:27.440
 him and seated with

00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:27.720
 him,

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:30.599
 but it's because of his

00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.500
 work on behalf of

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:31.759
 sinners.

00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:35.799
 Jesus becoming a man.

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.420
 We sang this song.

00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:38.660
 Thanks, brother.

00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:40.019
 We sang this song.

00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:42.859
 Perfect obedience to

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.359
 the Father.

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.299
 No shortcomings,

00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.019
 no failures,

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.759
 no missteps,

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.359
 no nothing,

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.700
 but perfect obedience.

00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:51.500
 Dying on a cross

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.500
 on behalf of sinners.

00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:54.980
 Taking the wrath of God

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.079
 that we deserve by our

00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:57.400
 very nature on himself.

00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.240
 Raised from the dead.

00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.460
 Exalted to God's right

00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:02.819
 hand.

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.740
 Now the ruling and

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.980
 reigning king over all

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:07.180
 the powers that be in the

00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:07.740
 whole universe.

00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.839
 That's the grace Paul's

00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.400
 getting at here.

00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:14.359
 That's his way of saying,

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:16.740
 Jesus, you're saved.

00:30:17.379 --> 00:30:17.980
 By grace,

00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:18.920
 you've been saved.

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.859
 Paul keeps a source

00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.700
 before us, right?

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.180
 Verse 8,

00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.660
 Not you,

00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.579
 God.

00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:27.379
 Those words

00:30:27.379 --> 00:30:29.240
 butt up against each

00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:31.680
 other in the original.

00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:33.920
 Not you,

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.940
 of God the gift.

00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:36.099
 That's kind of how it

00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:36.400
 reads.

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.740
 It's his gift.

00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.339
 And it's not a result

00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:40.900
 of works.

00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:43.480
 It's not general,

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.820
 morally upright behavior

00:30:44.820 --> 00:30:46.340
 that earns this salvation

00:30:46.340 --> 00:30:47.300
 or accomplishes it

00:30:47.300 --> 00:30:47.880
 in any way.

00:30:48.620 --> 00:30:49.420
 That's why there's no

00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:50.100
 boasting, right?

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.500
 When we're rightly

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:55.460
 contrasting verses 1-3

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:57.759
 with verses 4-7,

00:30:58.780 --> 00:31:00.600
 boasting is done away with.

00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:03.519
 There's no room for it.

00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:05.100
 God initiates,

00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:06.439
 and God works

00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:07.299
 from beginning to end

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.559
 to accomplish salvation

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.219
 for us

00:31:09.219 --> 00:31:10.399
 in Christ.

00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:13.559
 So God wants the credit

00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.339
 he deserves.

00:31:16.199 --> 00:31:17.259
 Dead people aren't working

00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:18.000
 for salvation.

00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:20.159
 They're working for wrath.

00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:23.500
 So boasting in anything

00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:24.400
 other than in Jesus

00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.880
 shows a radical

00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:26.620
 misunderstanding

00:31:26.620 --> 00:31:27.960
 of what this gospel

00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.400
 is about.

00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:32.060
 Maybe you're asking yourself,

00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:33.200
 what about faith?

00:31:33.860 --> 00:31:34.460
 I see that.

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.259
 Verse 8,

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.440
 you've been saved

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.519
 by grace

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.320
 through faith.

00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.900
 Here's how that faith

00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:42.060
 comes into play.

00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:44.860
 It's taking the objective,

00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:47.920
 historical reality

00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:49.019
 of God's grace

00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.800
 in Christ

00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:51.579
 and receiving it

00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:52.240
 personally

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:53.159
 for yourself.

00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:55.059
 It's taking what is

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:56.099
 objectively true

00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:56.559
 and saying,

00:31:56.879 --> 00:31:57.559
 I believe that

00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:58.339
 and I hope in that

00:31:58.339 --> 00:31:59.079
 and I trust in that

00:31:59.079 --> 00:31:59.759
 forever and ever.

00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:02.519
 That's how faith works

00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:04.180
 alongside the grace

00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:04.659
 of God.

00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:10.899
 Faith saves insofar

00:32:10.899 --> 00:32:12.519
 as it clings to Jesus

00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:14.339
 and trusts in God's grace.

00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:19.500
 and finally we see

00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.199
 verse 10.

00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.419
 This is so good.

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.659
 Paul writes,

00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:26.539
 yet another strengthening

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.279
 point

00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:28.559
 to prove

00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.480
 what he has just said

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.439
 in verses 8 and 9.

00:32:31.939 --> 00:32:33.459
 We are his workmanship

00:32:33.459 --> 00:32:35.759
 created in Christ Jesus

00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.679
 for good works

00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:37.599
 which God prepared

00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.159
 beforehand

00:32:38.159 --> 00:32:39.220
 that we should walk

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:39.659
 in them.

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:42.940
 It's Paul's last

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.779
 and final effort

00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:45.220
 here in this passage

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:46.000
 to communicate

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.019
 God did it.

00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:50.180
 We are his work.

00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:52.759
 This word is beautiful.

00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.540
 It talks of

00:32:54.540 --> 00:32:55.500
 the NIV

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.380
 if you have that

00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:56.840
 in front of you

00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:57.720
 it talks about

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.740
 handiwork.

00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:00.100
 Think of

00:33:00.100 --> 00:33:01.259
 craftsmanship

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.920
 but more importantly

00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:04.840
 it's creation.

00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:06.939
 God is taking

00:33:06.939 --> 00:33:08.480
 something

00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.259
 that has

00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:10.240
 no form

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.439
 no substance

00:33:11.439 --> 00:33:12.939
 no goodness

00:33:12.939 --> 00:33:13.759
 and making

00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.539
 something new.

00:33:16.699 --> 00:33:17.980
 We see that, right?

00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:20.039
 Created in Christ Jesus.

00:33:20.179 --> 00:33:20.699
 Created.

00:33:21.439 --> 00:33:22.339
 Not sort of just

00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:23.959
 not just resurrected

00:33:23.959 --> 00:33:25.299
 not just made new

00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:25.919
 created.

00:33:27.139 --> 00:33:28.299
 This is the 2 Corinthians

00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:29.099
 5.17

00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.379
 notion that

00:33:30.379 --> 00:33:32.519
 whoever is in Christ

00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.639
 is a new creation.

00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:36.799
 This is

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:38.619
 like a spiritualized

00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:40.119
 Genesis 1.

00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:41.519
 In the beginning

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.359
 of salvation

00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:43.859
 God created

00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:44.919
 alive

00:33:44.919 --> 00:33:45.899
 spiritual

00:33:45.899 --> 00:33:47.039
 men and women

00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:48.839
 who were once

00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:49.399
 dead in their

00:33:49.399 --> 00:33:50.619
 trespasses and sins.

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:57.619
 Jesus here

00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.459
 is seen

00:33:58.459 --> 00:33:59.019
 as the

00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.879
 craftsman's

00:33:59.879 --> 00:34:00.399
 tool.

00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:02.939
 It's his

00:34:02.939 --> 00:34:04.199
 salvific work

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:04.880
 that creates

00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:05.980
 the new

00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:06.319
 and living

00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.180
 people of God.

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.539
 So Christian

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:09.960
 if you're here

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.519
 today and you're

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:10.920
 looking for

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.420
 purpose

00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:13.400
 here it is.

00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.159
 This verse

00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.159
 tells us

00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:16.659
 created in Christ

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:18.360
 for good works.

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.179
 For good works.

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.740
 It's why we are

00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:24.740
 made alive

00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:25.460
 with Christ.

00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:26.340
 It's why

00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:27.320
 we were raised

00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:27.900
 from the dead

00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.880
 given new life

00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:30.559
 saved

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:32.400
 for good works.

00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.500
 not works

00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.019
 that save

00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.440
 us

00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:36.900
 but works

00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:38.000
 that carry

00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:38.519
 out God's

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.220
 new purpose

00:34:39.220 --> 00:34:40.139
 for living

00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:40.760
 people in

00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:41.119
 Christ.

00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:43.599
 If you want

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.340
 to study

00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:44.800
 kind of what

00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:45.240
 these look

00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:45.940
 like I invite

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.300
 you to

00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:47.400
 read over

00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:48.079
 chapters 4,

00:34:48.160 --> 00:34:48.340
 5,

00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:48.760
 and 6.

00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.300
 If you remember

00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:50.139
 Mike made a

00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:50.940
 great point

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.360
 as he was

00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:51.760
 going through

00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:52.240
 this book

00:34:52.240 --> 00:34:53.059
 on the

00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:53.460
 number of

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:53.860
 times that

00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:54.139
 you see

00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:54.700
 walk,

00:34:55.240 --> 00:34:55.840
 walk,

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:56.740
 walk.

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.180
 Because that's

00:34:58.180 --> 00:34:58.480
 how this

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.160
 passage in

00:34:59.160 --> 00:34:59.760
 chapter 10

00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:00.340
 ends that

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:00.740
 we should

00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.680
 walk in

00:35:01.680 --> 00:35:01.940
 them.

00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.500
 Chapter 4,

00:35:05.600 --> 00:35:06.019
 the beginning,

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.140
 it doesn't

00:35:07.140 --> 00:35:07.460
 give us

00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:08.680
 specific good

00:35:08.680 --> 00:35:09.480
 works but it

00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:10.760
 tells us how

00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.900
 they should be

00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:12.300
 characterized,

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:12.880
 what kind of

00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.920
 heart should be

00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.400
 applied to

00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:14.740
 these.

00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.760
 Humility and

00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:17.220
 gentleness,

00:35:17.660 --> 00:35:18.140
 patience,

00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.600
 bearing with

00:35:19.600 --> 00:35:20.280
 one another in

00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:20.640
 love,

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.019
 and eager to

00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.620
 maintain the

00:35:22.620 --> 00:35:23.280
 unity of the

00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:24.120
 spirit and the

00:35:24.120 --> 00:35:24.880
 bond of peace.

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.180
 There's good

00:35:27.180 --> 00:35:27.800
 works for each

00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:28.539
 and every one

00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:29.220
 of us in this

00:35:29.220 --> 00:35:29.980
 room who is a

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:30.280
 Christian.

00:35:31.120 --> 00:35:32.340
 God's prepared

00:35:32.340 --> 00:35:33.160
 us for them.

00:35:37.120 --> 00:35:38.900
 I love this

00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:39.700
 last word,

00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:40.900
 walk,

00:35:41.579 --> 00:35:42.600
 because it

00:35:42.600 --> 00:35:43.340
 adequately

00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:45.100
 bookends this

00:35:45.100 --> 00:35:45.480
 section.

00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.760
 It illustrates

00:35:48.760 --> 00:35:50.019
 how far as the

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.640
 people of God

00:35:50.640 --> 00:35:51.200
 we have come.

00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.360
 Following a

00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.480
 hopeless course

00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.960
 of the world,

00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.720
 enslaved by

00:35:57.720 --> 00:35:58.000
 Satan,

00:35:58.160 --> 00:35:58.680
 living for

00:35:58.680 --> 00:35:59.740
 fleshly desires,

00:35:59.739 --> 00:36:01.439
 rejecting God

00:36:01.439 --> 00:36:02.239
 and awaiting

00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.839
 judgment,

00:36:03.759 --> 00:36:04.619
 walking in all

00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.119
 of that,

00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:06.979
 made alive in

00:36:06.979 --> 00:36:07.319
 Christ,

00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.299
 rescued by

00:36:08.299 --> 00:36:09.179
 objective,

00:36:09.379 --> 00:36:10.019
 historical

00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.939
 grace,

00:36:12.399 --> 00:36:12.819
 unexpected

00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.639
 kindness

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.399
 shown to

00:36:14.399 --> 00:36:14.799
 us,

00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.479
 transferred into

00:36:17.479 --> 00:36:18.279
 the kingdom of

00:36:18.279 --> 00:36:19.079
 Jesus Christ

00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:20.519
 and created

00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:22.299
 anew for good

00:36:22.299 --> 00:36:22.699
 works.

00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:22.799
 grace.

00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:25.379
 So now,

00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:26.619
 we walk not

00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.219
 in sin,

00:36:27.859 --> 00:36:28.799
 but in good

00:36:28.799 --> 00:36:29.239
 works,

00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:31.099
 not to earn

00:36:31.099 --> 00:36:31.819
 our salvation,

00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:32.460
 but in

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.859
 gratitude for

00:36:33.859 --> 00:36:34.559
 God's free

00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.539
 and gracious

00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:36.000
 gift.

00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.659
 Brothers and

00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:38.919
 sisters,

00:36:38.919 --> 00:36:39.799
 this is your

00:36:39.799 --> 00:36:40.419
 salvation.

00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:42.359
 This surely

00:36:42.359 --> 00:36:43.159
 is the

00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:43.699
 immeasurable

00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:45.119
 greatness of

00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:45.960
 God's power

00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:47.360
 extended to

00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:47.679
 us.

00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:49.539
 Let's pray.

00:36:54.099 --> 00:36:55.139
 God, it is

00:36:55.139 --> 00:36:56.340
 impossible to

00:36:56.340 --> 00:36:57.740
 overstate the

00:36:57.740 --> 00:36:58.639
 goodness of

00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:59.519
 this word.

00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:01.480
 I pray for

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.400
 all of us that

00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:04.360
 it would season

00:37:04.360 --> 00:37:05.659
 our lives in a

00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:06.139
 way that's

00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:06.760
 pleasing to

00:37:06.760 --> 00:37:07.019
 you.

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.420
 God, would you

00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:10.059
 help us by

00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:10.760
 faith to

00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:12.579
 receive this,

00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:13.659
 rejoice in

00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:14.280
 this each and

00:37:14.280 --> 00:37:14.820
 every day?

00:37:17.380 --> 00:37:17.920
 Would you

00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:18.440
 help us to

00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:18.920
 walk in the

00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:19.519
 good works you

00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:20.260
 have for us?

00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:22.060
 Thank you for

00:37:22.060 --> 00:37:22.600
 this morning.

00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:23.240
 Thank you for

00:37:23.240 --> 00:37:23.720
 your word.

00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:25.380
 We praise your

00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:26.140
 name through

00:37:26.140 --> 00:37:26.500
 Jesus.

00:37:27.340 --> 00:37:27.620
 Amen.