WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.099 I'm going to be looking at this passage, Ephesians 2, 1-10, entitled in this version of the Bible, By Grace Through Faith. 00:00:15.540 --> 00:00:23.400 ! I don't know how many of you regularly listen to Radio 4's Thought for the Day on the Today program in the morning. 00:00:23.400 --> 00:00:29.580 I confess I find it a somewhat frustrating exercise for two main reasons. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.420 First of all, the disproportionate amount of time they give to speakers from religions other than the Christian faith, 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:42.200 far in excess of the proportions of the followers of those religions in our society. 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:44.659 But that isn't the most frustrating thing. 00:00:45.060 --> 00:00:50.299 I think the most frustrating thing, I think, is that I hear supposedly from Christians 00:00:50.539 --> 00:00:56.379 with messages that tell us nothing about the good news of the Gospel and the grace of God. 00:00:56.380 --> 00:01:01.600 And we often, time to time, hear the humanists say, we want a slot. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.480 And I feel like saying to them, you needn't bother. 00:01:05.180 --> 00:01:11.120 Those who appear supposedly in the name of Christian are doing your job for you. 00:01:11.820 --> 00:01:14.659 Well, I want to do the opposite this afternoon. 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:21.179 I want to show you what is unique and life-changing concerning the Christian faith. 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:28.319 And the first thing we see in this portion before us is a unique view about mankind. 00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:37.840 The Christian faith doesn't treat mankind as somehow not quite up to standard and needing a boost, 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:44.719 or seeing men and women as sick and needing some sort of cure. 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:48.219 No, it's much, much more radical than that. 00:01:48.219 --> 00:01:57.359 The Christian view of mankind, men and women, is that without Christ we are spiritually dead. 00:01:58.620 --> 00:02:04.859 Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus, and he starts off here by saying in this portion, 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:11.919 and you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:18.039 What characterises the non-Christian is that they are spiritually dead, 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:23.259 and therefore insensitive to God and to what he has to say to them. 00:02:23.259 --> 00:02:28.840 They cannot hear because they have been deadened by sin. 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:35.539 In the Garden of Eden, God said, the day that you eat of the fruit of the tree, you will die. 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:40.640 And that wasn't physical death that day, it was spiritual death. 00:02:41.060 --> 00:02:43.379 And this is what Paul talks about here. 00:02:44.219 --> 00:02:46.740 Dead in the trespasses and sins. 00:02:47.259 --> 00:02:49.539 Trespasses going out of the way of God. 00:02:50.060 --> 00:02:52.500 Sins, disobedience to God. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:57.939 It said this is what your life as a non-Christian was characterised by. 00:02:57.939 --> 00:03:00.599 It's the way you once walked. 00:03:01.139 --> 00:03:08.419 That is the day-to-day steps that you were taking were ones of spiritual death. 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:12.000 And of course, the dead can't respond. 00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:16.240 He describes it in other ways. 00:03:16.579 --> 00:03:18.379 Being conformed to this world. 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:21.400 Following the course of this world. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.000 That's what sin is. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:27.259 It's just doing what all the rest of people are doing around us. 00:03:27.939 --> 00:03:32.079 And following something more than just the world we see around us. 00:03:32.599 --> 00:03:34.240 Following spiritual evil. 00:03:34.979 --> 00:03:37.620 Following the prince of the power of the air. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:42.800 The spirit that now is at work in the sons of disobedience. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:47.480 Disobedience to God is what characterises the non-Christian. 00:03:47.480 --> 00:03:51.439 And it's following the way of that fallen angel Satan. 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:54.920 Who was the first one to disobey God. 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:58.960 And proudly exalt himself against God. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:01.000 Spiritual death. 00:04:01.880 --> 00:04:03.840 Following the way of this world. 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:07.020 Following the evil one. 00:04:07.020 --> 00:04:10.760 Following the passions of our flesh. 00:04:10.760 --> 00:04:10.780 Following the passions of our flesh. 00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:14.719 Carrying out the desires of the body and mind. 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:18.220 And were by nature children of wrath. 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:22.060 Going our own ways. 00:04:22.900 --> 00:04:25.360 According to our own desires. 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:28.680 Perhaps if Paul was writing it today. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:29.959 He would say. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:33.100 Following our own lives. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.819 Of diverse self-affirming choices. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:39.400 According to our human rights. 00:04:40.019 --> 00:04:41.780 And diverse lifestyles. 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:44.980 Perhaps that's the way that he would put it today. 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:51.699 That perhaps rings home closer than the language he's using here. 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:53.620 But it's the same sort of thing. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.480 Following our own way. 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:57.060 If that's what you want to do. 00:04:57.139 --> 00:04:57.899 Go for it. 00:04:57.899 --> 00:04:59.299 That's it. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:02.099 Nobody else can set the standards for you. 00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:03.419 Sorry. 00:05:04.219 --> 00:05:05.120 Not true. 00:05:05.859 --> 00:05:07.779 You are dead in your sins. 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:09.879 You are following this world. 00:05:10.599 --> 00:05:12.239 Following Satan. 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:14.679 Following your own desires. 00:05:15.739 --> 00:05:18.899 By nature children of wrath. 00:05:20.019 --> 00:05:22.659 Well it's said that we are sons of disobedience. 00:05:22.739 --> 00:05:24.779 And now it says children of wrath. 00:05:25.239 --> 00:05:26.259 What does that mean? 00:05:26.259 --> 00:05:32.420 It means that God's attitude towards us. 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:34.819 Is a settled opposition. 00:05:35.459 --> 00:05:37.039 To what we are doing. 00:05:37.779 --> 00:05:40.199 God's wrath is not some fleeting. 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:41.800 Flashing up anger. 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:45.599 But a steady determined opposition. 00:05:46.420 --> 00:05:49.219 To the way that sinful men and women. 00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:51.339 Have set themselves. 00:05:51.339 --> 00:05:52.000 Children of wrath. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.079 Children of wrath. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:58.139 Like the rest of mankind. 00:05:58.659 --> 00:06:01.359 It's an awful description. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:06.079 And I would suggest to you that no other religion. 00:06:06.799 --> 00:06:10.359 Carries such a pessimistic view. 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:14.100 Of man's spiritual state. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:17.060 This is the bad news. 00:06:17.780 --> 00:06:19.100 Before the good news. 00:06:19.500 --> 00:06:20.340 Of the gospel. 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:23.139 But now the good news of the gospel. 00:06:23.400 --> 00:06:24.259 At verse 4. 00:06:24.400 --> 00:06:25.160 Breaks in. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:28.180 With a wonderful two word phrase. 00:06:28.520 --> 00:06:29.819 But God. 00:06:29.819 --> 00:06:32.740 I read one commentator who said. 00:06:33.300 --> 00:06:34.639 That this phrase. 00:06:35.420 --> 00:06:36.860 These two words. 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:40.599 Were the most significant communication. 00:06:41.599 --> 00:06:43.000 Ever developed. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:44.740 In human speech. 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:48.360 This is what changes everything. 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:50.079 But God. 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:52.800 God intervening. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:54.819 In human life. 00:06:55.819 --> 00:06:57.740 God being so different. 00:06:58.420 --> 00:06:59.199 From us. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:01.040 When we wrong. 00:07:01.300 --> 00:07:02.220 See wrong done. 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:04.360 We cry out for justice. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:06.420 Or even perhaps revenge. 00:07:06.960 --> 00:07:08.360 But God is different. 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:09.819 But God. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:11.000 God intervening. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:12.360 He is rich. 00:07:12.860 --> 00:07:14.120 In mercy. 00:07:14.980 --> 00:07:15.560 Rich. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:16.480 In mercy. 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:17.720 He doesn't give us. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:19.759 What we deserve. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:22.360 That's what we are going to be seeing. 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:23.840 It's another way of saying. 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:25.240 By grace. 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:26.920 The grace of God. 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:30.160 God who is rich in mercy. 00:07:30.300 --> 00:07:31.740 Is a God of great love. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:35.840 You can see how great the love is. 00:07:36.340 --> 00:07:37.540 Because we are told. 00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:38.540 He loved us. 00:07:38.960 --> 00:07:40.540 Even when we were dead. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:42.520 In our trespasses. 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:45.500 I don't know if you've seen a dead body. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:46.780 But it isn't a particularly. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:48.740 Attractive sight. 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:51.939 Even if somebody has died peacefully. 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:53.300 The life. 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:53.319 The life. 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:54.420 Has gone. 00:07:55.520 --> 00:07:56.400 The dead. 00:07:58.020 --> 00:07:58.420 Body. 00:07:59.340 --> 00:08:00.699 It's not something livable. 00:08:00.840 --> 00:08:01.199 Because. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:03.000 The spirit of the person. 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:04.100 Has gone. 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:04.860 From it. 00:08:06.379 --> 00:08:07.180 But us. 00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:08.439 Spiritually dead. 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:09.680 In our trespasses. 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:11.920 Are going away from God. 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:14.740 Even in that condition. 00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:16.759 God was merciful to us. 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:18.280 And showed us. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:20.540 His great love. 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:22.900 This is amazing. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:24.980 This is life transforming. 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:27.900 Because we read in verse 5. 00:08:28.780 --> 00:08:30.439 He made us alive. 00:08:31.019 --> 00:08:31.600 Together. 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:33.100 With Christ. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:35.419 He made us alive. 00:08:35.560 --> 00:08:36.659 Together with Christ. 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:39.480 Dead spiritually in our sins. 00:08:39.480 --> 00:08:41.800 We are given spiritual. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:42.639 New life. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:44.600 Together with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:46.539 Next time. 00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:47.960 We are celebrating Easter. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:49.539 On Easter Sunday. 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:51.500 You get that glorious message. 00:08:51.940 --> 00:08:52.620 Of Christ. 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:53.860 Risen from the dead. 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:55.060 Rejoice. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:55.860 And thank God. 00:08:55.920 --> 00:08:57.279 Because you've been raised. 00:08:57.420 --> 00:08:58.159 To new life. 00:08:58.539 --> 00:08:59.680 Together with Christ. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:01.879 If you have trusted in him. 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:05.759 We who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:06.580 By faith. 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:08.039 United to him. 00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:09.539 And hidden in him. 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:12.019 Have been made alive. 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:13.860 Together with him. 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:16.039 Christ's new life. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:17.840 We share in that. 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:18.799 New life. 00:09:19.539 --> 00:09:20.439 Risen from the dead. 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:23.720 That's why Paul tells us in Romans chapter 6. 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:26.340 It's unthinkable that we should go on in sin. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:28.980 Because would the risen Christ go on in sin? 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:29.340 No. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.960 Therefore we should not. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:34.000 Because we are raised together with him. 00:09:35.900 --> 00:09:37.920 And Paul sums this up. 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:41.840 As in the title of our portion. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:44.160 The end of verse 5. 00:09:44.300 --> 00:09:47.200 By grace you have been saved. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:49.200 And he repeats this. 00:09:49.340 --> 00:09:51.920 And says it in a variety of ways. 00:09:52.040 --> 00:09:53.240 In the next few verses. 00:09:53.900 --> 00:09:55.139 Like all good teachers. 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:58.060 He's repeating the lesson. 00:09:58.059 --> 00:10:01.219 By grace you have been saved. 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:03.000 You have been saved. 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:03.960 From that spiritual deadness. 00:10:03.960 --> 00:10:08.240 By God's unmerited favor. 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:11.940 You didn't deserve this life transformation. 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:15.000 But God does it for you. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:15.879 When you trust. 00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:17.940 In the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:21.440 By grace you have been saved. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:24.900 He's just said he's made us alive together with Christ. 00:10:25.280 --> 00:10:26.940 He repeats it in verse 6. 00:10:27.380 --> 00:10:29.360 Raised us up with him. 00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:32.420 But not just to life here. 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:35.280 Spiritual life here which we have. 00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:36.980 But to more than that. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:39.140 Christ has ascended. 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:41.639 And it says we are seated. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:42.939 With him. 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:44.759 In the heavenly places. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:45.879 In Christ Jesus. 00:10:46.699 --> 00:10:48.399 God seated us with him. 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:50.220 In the heavenly places. 00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:51.500 In Christ Jesus. 00:10:52.179 --> 00:10:52.600 Yes. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:53.539 We are here. 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:54.179 Now. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:55.419 As Christians. 00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:57.600 Struggling with sin. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:58.699 In our own lives. 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:00.379 And a fallen world. 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:02.000 In rebellion against God. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.659 And many bad things. 00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:04.519 Going on. 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:06.319 But spiritually. 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:08.259 We are with Christ. 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:09.639 In the heavenly places. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.579 Where Christ is. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:13.960 At the right hand of God. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:16.079 And we cannot see this. 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:17.399 It's an unseen thing. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:18.799 But Paul tells us. 00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:21.120 This is objectively true. 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:24.539 So when Satan tempts us to sin. 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:25.579 We can say. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:26.100 No, no. 00:11:26.199 --> 00:11:27.100 I'm with Christ. 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:29.919 In the heavenly places. 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:33.299 And all this is by the grace of God. 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:36.319 We are raised from spiritual death. 00:11:36.979 --> 00:11:38.759 To new spiritual life. 00:11:39.859 --> 00:11:41.179 And set with Christ. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.199 In heavenly places. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.639 And that is true for us now. 00:11:46.479 --> 00:11:48.859 But it doesn't end here. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:53.039 It is in the words of Matthew Henry's father. 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:53.779 All this. 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.059 And heaven too. 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:57.799 For in verse 7 he says. 00:11:58.419 --> 00:12:00.639 So that in the coming ages. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:05.059 He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:07.439 In kindness towards us. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.639 In Christ Jesus. 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:11.340 There is yet more to come. 00:12:12.439 --> 00:12:13.600 We cannot now. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.480 Plumb the depths of the love of God towards us. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.720 And the riches of his grace towards us in Christ. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.420 And yet there is ages and ages. 00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:25.139 More of it to come. 00:12:26.420 --> 00:12:28.040 When we are with our saviour. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:29.500 In a new heavens. 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:31.279 And a new earth. 00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:33.420 And all this has come about. 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:34.860 From. 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.120 Those two words. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:37.820 But God. 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:41.360 God has changed our situation. 00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:45.460 And Paul goes on to state it. 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:47.019 In a slightly different way. 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:49.519 But he is in a sense repeating what he said. 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:50.559 Verse 8. 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:53.779 For by grace you have been saved. 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:54.939 Through faith. 00:12:55.579 --> 00:12:56.879 It is God's doing. 00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:58.399 God has done it. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.559 And all you have had to do. 00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:01.699 Was to receive it. 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:02.860 By faith. 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:05.939 To receive the gift of God's salvation. 00:13:05.939 --> 00:13:06.840 In Christ. 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:09.519 Through the open hand of faith. 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:11.379 And even that faith. 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:13.559 Isn't something you have worked up. 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:14.799 Within yourself. 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:17.659 It is God's gift to you. 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:20.039 Part of his great salvation. 00:13:20.939 --> 00:13:23.859 What makes us any different from someone who doesn't believe. 00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:27.459 It is the grace of God towards us in Christ Jesus. 00:13:27.839 --> 00:13:29.359 That has given us faith. 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:31.719 To have this new life. 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:33.159 In Christ. 00:13:33.839 --> 00:13:35.299 He repeats it as I say. 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.819 In different ways here. 00:13:37.099 --> 00:13:39.000 So that we get the full force of it. 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:41.899 He says it isn't your doing. 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:43.459 It's the gift of God. 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:46.019 God has given you this great salvation. 00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:47.900 By his grace. 00:13:48.800 --> 00:13:49.660 It's grace. 00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:52.060 You haven't worked for it. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:55.000 It's not as a result of your works. 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.360 No. 00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:57.320 It's the work of your saviour. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:58.680 The Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:00.860 Who died for you on the cross. 00:14:01.540 --> 00:14:03.340 Took your sins upon himself. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:04.780 Gave you. 00:14:05.160 --> 00:14:06.900 His perfect righteousness. 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:08.759 You didn't work. 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:09.639 No. 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.779 Christ worked. 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:11.980 God worked. 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:13.720 The Holy Spirit worked. 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:16.139 You can't boast that you are any different. 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.740 Being a Christian. 00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:20.600 Because the difference hasn't been made by you. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:22.360 It's been made by God. 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:24.120 And by his grace. 00:14:24.580 --> 00:14:26.980 We haven't made ourselves any different. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:28.699 God has made us different. 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:31.460 We are his workmanship. 00:14:32.040 --> 00:14:32.640 We are his workmanship. 00:14:32.640 --> 00:14:34.720 Created in Christ Jesus. 00:14:35.180 --> 00:14:37.240 We are nothing outside of Christ. 00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:42.680 But in Christ we are God's special new creation. 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:46.859 And we haven't got here because we've done good works. 00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:50.519 We've got here so that we should do good works. 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:54.839 We've been created in Christ Jesus for good works. 00:14:55.359 --> 00:14:57.159 Which God prepared beforehand. 00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:59.699 That we should walk in them. 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:03.599 Yes God has a wonderful plan for your life. 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:06.699 You have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:07.179 --> 00:15:08.740 You don't know the way ahead. 00:15:09.339 --> 00:15:12.099 It's to be perceived by faith. 00:15:13.439 --> 00:15:16.159 But God has prepared the way for you. 00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:18.379 And he is watching over you. 00:15:18.839 --> 00:15:21.539 If he has given you this great salvation. 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:24.419 In his only son the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:27.099 At the cost of his death upon the cross. 00:15:27.099 --> 00:15:30.299 Will he not also with us. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:31.519 With him. 00:15:31.979 --> 00:15:33.759 Give us all things. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:35.639 So here you are. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:39.719 If thought for the day doesn't tell us what's uniquely Christian. 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.419 This passage does. 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.519 Men and women. 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:45.019 Dead in sin. 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:47.059 In hopeless condition. 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:49.599 Unless God intervenes. 00:15:49.839 --> 00:15:50.399 But God. 00:15:50.959 --> 00:15:53.379 God intervenes in the person of his son. 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:55.019 The Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:58.000 And gives us free salvation in him. 00:15:58.239 --> 00:15:59.219 By his grace. 00:15:59.739 --> 00:16:01.279 Which we receive. 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:03.019 By faith. 00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:05.579 By grace you have been saved. 00:16:05.719 --> 00:16:06.379 Through faith. 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:08.580 This is not your own doing. 00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.480 It is the gift of God. 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.759 Let us pray. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.720 Our heavenly father. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.319 Father we thank you. 00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:16.659 That you are a gracious God. 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:18.259 Rich in mercy. 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.340 Full of love. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.679 We are amazed. 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:22.639 That your love should extend to us. 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:23.620 Sinners. 00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:26.480 Such a way that your son was prepared. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.600 To go to the cross. 00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.980 Be cut off from you. 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:31.659 Suffer. 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.419 In our stead. 00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:34.959 And we rejoice. 00:16:34.959 --> 00:16:36.339 That we have new life. 00:16:36.419 --> 00:16:37.659 In the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:39.259 Help us to live. 00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:41.000 As those who are seated with him. 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.479 In heavenly places. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:44.360 And help us to walk. 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:45.159 In the good works. 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:46.539 That you have prepared beforehand. 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:47.939 That we should do. 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.719 To honor you. 00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:51.039 And witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:51.659 Our Savior. 00:16:52.199 --> 00:16:53.459 In whose name we pray. 00:16:53.979 --> 00:16:54.339 Amen. 00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:54.440 Amen.