WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.879 Please open up your Bibles again to Ephesians chapter 2. We'll be focusing on verses 8 and 9. 00:00:09.339 --> 00:00:12.300 I used to be really into art and painting when I was younger. 00:00:12.980 --> 00:00:18.640 And at one point in my life I actually wanted to be a painter. That was my dream. I think I might take it up in retirement. 00:00:19.539 --> 00:00:23.780 And I used to love in particular the Impressionists, and I still do. I love them. 00:00:24.219 --> 00:00:26.440 They were a style of painters in the 19th century. 00:00:26.980 --> 00:00:28.560 And Monet was one of my heroes. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:32.579 And I remember going to the National Gallery for the first time as a teenager. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:35.939 And they have a room full of Monet paintings. 00:00:36.839 --> 00:00:43.759 And I remember when I first entered that, and I saw a real-life Monet close-up. 00:00:44.519 --> 00:00:46.219 And I was just blown away. 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:51.840 I felt this, I kind of felt it in my stomach. I think my breath actually was taken away. 00:00:52.840 --> 00:00:56.560 And my first thought was, this guy's a genius. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:00.120 How on earth did he do this? 00:01:01.160 --> 00:01:03.179 Yes, I loved the painting. It was gorgeous. 00:01:04.019 --> 00:01:06.120 But it sent my mind to the artist. 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:10.140 The painting said so much about Monet. 00:01:10.820 --> 00:01:13.599 His mind, his skill, his craft, his genius. 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:19.319 You look at the work, and it displays what the artist is like. 00:01:20.659 --> 00:01:24.280 And up close in the National Gallery, you can see all the details. 00:01:25.019 --> 00:01:32.280 How he painted the brushstrokes, the subtlety of colour, the contrast, the shape, the light. 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:35.859 You actually see how he's done it. 00:01:35.939 --> 00:01:36.900 You see the details. 00:01:37.019 --> 00:01:40.140 And you can't help but think, man, Monet is a genius. 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:45.799 Well, that is like God's work in salvation. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:56.979 If salvation is the artwork, if God has done work in this world, a masterpiece, and it's called The Salvation of Sinners, 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:02.299 then that masterpiece tells us what God is like. 00:02:02.299 --> 00:02:09.460 You can study that painting, look up close, and see exactly how he painted it, 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:13.359 and then know of the genius and the character of God. 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:16.599 And that's what I want us to do tonight. 00:02:16.939 --> 00:02:23.460 I want us to stand right by the masterpiece and see just how exactly God saves us. 00:02:24.460 --> 00:02:27.180 I want us to see the brushstrokes of salvation. 00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:31.520 And these two verses we're looking at tonight, verses 8 and 9, 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:33.879 this is the up close of the masterpiece. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:37.680 This is the very heart of Christianity. 00:02:38.540 --> 00:02:41.439 I've said before that Ephesians 2, 1 to 10, 00:02:41.700 --> 00:02:44.120 is quite possibly the best summary of the gospel. 00:02:45.700 --> 00:02:48.159 Well, these verses are the summary of the summary. 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:49.240 This is the heart. 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:52.680 If you want to memorise a verse about the gospel, verse 8 would probably be it. 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:57.200 By grace, you have been saved through faith. 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:02.659 In the gospels, Jesus speaks of weightier matters of the law. 00:03:03.480 --> 00:03:05.780 So all the law, all the Bible is important. 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:08.140 There isn't a word you can take out of it. 00:03:08.700 --> 00:03:10.159 But some things are weightier. 00:03:10.900 --> 00:03:15.379 Some things in the Bible matter, and some really, really matter. 00:03:16.480 --> 00:03:19.060 And these verses we have in front of us, 00:03:19.480 --> 00:03:21.300 these are some of the heaviest. 00:03:21.300 --> 00:03:25.600 If you could carry these verses in your pocket, you would hit the deck. 00:03:27.300 --> 00:03:29.420 And so we need to stand up close to these verses. 00:03:29.580 --> 00:03:32.360 And I want us to just to take in the brushstrokes. 00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:34.900 And this is for two reasons. 00:03:35.040 --> 00:03:40.160 Firstly, because this verse is about how we are saved. 00:03:41.320 --> 00:03:43.460 How the dead are raised to life. 00:03:43.540 --> 00:03:46.000 How this dark world can be rescued. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:50.759 So if you take this verse away, if you ignore this painting, 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:55.180 if you compromise on this, then salvation itself is at stake. 00:03:57.060 --> 00:03:59.379 But secondly, and this is an even bigger reason, 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:05.879 we need an up close of this painting because this verse tells us about the artist. 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:10.840 So do you remember from this morning the goal of why God is saving sinners? 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:15.659 What is the purpose behind why anyone here is raised from the dead? 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:16.939 Look back to verse 7. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:22.899 So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace. 00:04:22.899 --> 00:04:25.759 God is saving people. 00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:26.620 He's saved you. 00:04:26.859 --> 00:04:33.919 He's painted this canvas in this way to show the world who he really is. 00:04:34.779 --> 00:04:37.620 To show that he is gracious. 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:47.479 The painting of salvation even exists at all so that the world would know how gracious the artist really is. 00:04:48.799 --> 00:04:50.939 And so this is about God's reputation. 00:04:50.939 --> 00:04:56.300 And so if we miss these verses, if we compromise on this, we will get God all wrong. 00:04:57.420 --> 00:04:59.839 And it will be like setting fire to a Monet. 00:05:01.899 --> 00:05:07.680 And so if you're not a Christian here tonight, I want you to hear these verses not only because this is how you need to be saved, 00:05:08.459 --> 00:05:11.579 but also because you need to know who God is. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:17.699 You may be wondering what kind of God is out there, what God is like. 00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:19.839 But well, come take a look at this masterpiece. 00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:22.219 And see what he's like. 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:29.680 And if you are a Christian here, then we need to hear this because we need to know the artist who made us. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:33.360 So let's look at the brushstrokes. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:37.100 And let's see exactly how God has done all this. 00:05:37.280 --> 00:05:43.019 And the first thing I want us to notice is that salvation is all from God. 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:45.680 Salvation is all from God. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:47.639 Let's read our verses again. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:49.100 Verse 8. 00:05:49.100 --> 00:06:07.900 And did you notice, as we read all the passage earlier, that this isn't the only time Paul says this in the passage? 00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:09.079 Look back to verse 5. 00:06:10.139 --> 00:06:13.699 Even when we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:15.819 By grace you have been saved. 00:06:16.419 --> 00:06:18.739 And raised us up with him and seated us with him. 00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:24.899 So twice in the space of 10 verses, he tells us the exact same thing. 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:27.539 By grace you have been saved. 00:06:27.540 --> 00:06:32.740 In fact, the first time, Paul even kind of interrupts his own thought, doesn't he? 00:06:33.260 --> 00:06:39.260 As he's telling us God is rich in mercy, even when we were dead, God made us alive together with Christ. 00:06:39.580 --> 00:06:40.400 Oh wait, hold up. 00:06:40.960 --> 00:06:43.100 You need to know, by grace you've been saved. 00:06:44.080 --> 00:06:44.820 Okay, now where was I? 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.980 Oh yeah, God raised us up, seated us with Christ. 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:53.700 First, it's like if he's talking about salvation, about God, he just needs to get this in. 00:06:54.900 --> 00:07:01.240 It's like he's tapping on the canvas, saying, look, look, do you see how God has done this? 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:02.340 Look at this brush stroke. 00:07:04.400 --> 00:07:08.920 And in verse 8, he says it again, but this time, not in passing, but he stops. 00:07:10.220 --> 00:07:12.860 And he kind of puts big neon lights around it. 00:07:13.400 --> 00:07:14.500 And what is he pointing out? 00:07:14.580 --> 00:07:16.120 What is it about salvation? 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:18.680 Well, how does this verse begin? 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:22.759 By grace you have been saved. 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:28.720 We're being told all this, all your salvation, all your being made alive from the dead, 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:34.399 you're being raised up, you're being seated in heaven, all of this is by grace. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:39.340 Grace is the brush stroke that we need to see. 00:07:39.780 --> 00:07:42.720 And if we look closely, it's all over the canvas. 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:46.060 Now what is grace? 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:52.439 Grace is God giving us something we don't deserve. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:57.780 It's God's undeserved kindness toward us. 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:01.240 So mercy, we thought about mercy last week. 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:06.620 Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve, not giving us wrath. 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:13.939 Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve. 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:18.840 Grace is God being kind to the undeserving. 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:22.619 And so if this is the close-up. 00:08:22.619 --> 00:08:26.979 If Paul is pointing at this on the canvas, what does this world need to see? 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:34.079 This world needs to know salvation is all, all by grace. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:40.200 All of salvation is God's undeserved kindness towards sinners. 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:45.420 Now remember, salvation tells us what God is like. 00:08:46.520 --> 00:08:52.040 If the masterpiece tells us what the painter is like, what does grace tell us about the painter? 00:08:52.039 --> 00:09:00.099 If you're in Christ here today, what does God's grace in your life tell us about God's role in salvation? 00:09:00.699 --> 00:09:04.439 Grace tells us salvation is all from God. 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:15.940 If salvation is by grace, if that's how this masterpiece was made, then grace points us to the artist and grace tells us all of this salvation is from God. 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:19.620 It's all God's initiative. 00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:26.159 It all began with God, from God, because of him, by his power. 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:31.139 Grace tells us God and God alone is your saviour. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:36.000 Salvation belongs to the Lord alone. 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:40.279 So think of us being dead in our sins. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:44.299 Lying stone cold dead in that mortuary. 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:46.259 Who raised us? 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:48.779 Who was behind that? 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:53.019 Who reached down and breathed life into you? 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:55.539 That was only God. 00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:59.000 By grace you were made alive. 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:03.340 Who sent his spirit and united you to Christ? 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:06.340 Who raised you up into heaven and gave you heavenly life? 00:10:06.560 --> 00:10:08.100 Who seated you on his throne? 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:10.899 Who was the only one that could possibly do that? 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:13.240 It was all God. 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:17.139 By grace you have been saved. 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:17.200 Amen. 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:23.019 Grace is God butting into your life. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:27.659 Grace is God pulling you back from the cliff edge. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:31.639 Grace is God finding you when you were lost. 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:33.740 When you had no interest in him. 00:10:33.819 --> 00:10:34.659 You're back to him. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:35.679 Middle finger up. 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:37.939 And bringing you back from the dead. 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:40.799 Look at the painting. 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:44.080 This is all from God. 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:48.659 There is only one artist in the room right here. 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:52.159 which means something important. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:54.699 The flip side of this. 00:10:56.199 --> 00:10:59.139 This means none of this is because of us. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.439 Look what Paul adds, verse 8. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:05.159 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:08.120 And this is not your own doing. 00:11:09.199 --> 00:11:10.779 It is the gift of God. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:15.199 For those of us in Christ today, if you're a Christian, 00:11:15.839 --> 00:11:19.459 our salvation, the fact that we are alive, 00:11:19.539 --> 00:11:21.559 the fact that we are a part of this church 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:24.079 and know God and have a new heart, 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:26.719 this wasn't our own doing. 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:28.379 This wasn't from us. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:32.840 We weren't dead in our sins, running away from God, 00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:34.040 and then in ourselves, 00:11:34.160 --> 00:11:36.399 we kind of mustered up some strength 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:38.980 and some godliness and some common sense 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:41.080 and brought ourselves back to God. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.639 No, it was not your own doing. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:48.379 Can, think of this, can a dead body, 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.700 think of a dead body in a mortuary, 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:54.180 can a dead body muster up its own strength 00:11:54.179 --> 00:11:57.879 and some extra will and make itself alive? 00:11:59.459 --> 00:12:03.339 Can a blind man just try really hard 00:12:03.339 --> 00:12:04.759 and just stop being blind? 00:12:05.959 --> 00:12:09.339 Can the deaf just decide to start hearing again? 00:12:10.719 --> 00:12:11.120 No. 00:12:12.459 --> 00:12:14.599 Something from outside ourselves, 00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:16.339 outside our world, 00:12:16.719 --> 00:12:18.359 needs to break in. 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:22.439 And so salvation cannot be our own doing. 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:26.699 Salvation is not us coming to our senses 00:12:26.699 --> 00:12:29.099 and building this bridge back to God. 00:12:29.239 --> 00:12:32.519 No, salvation is God coming down to you, 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:35.159 picking your corpse off the floor 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:37.239 and raising you from the dead. 00:12:39.859 --> 00:12:41.759 And so look closely at the painting. 00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:44.120 If we are saved by grace, 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:47.419 then grace means none of this is from us. 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:50.099 It is all from God. 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:54.060 And for some of us here, 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.259 we can look back at our lives 00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:57.980 and we can see exactly that. 00:12:59.940 --> 00:13:01.659 If it wasn't for God's initiative, 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:04.399 if it was just up to me, 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:06.480 then I would be so lost. 00:13:07.680 --> 00:13:09.480 I would still be in that relationship. 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:12.600 I would have gone down that dark path. 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:15.540 If it was my own doing, 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:18.779 it is terrifying to think 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:19.860 where I would be right now. 00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:23.700 But praise God it's not. 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:26.899 Because by grace, 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:28.420 you have been saved. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.159 Which also means 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:36.080 salvation is not about deserving it. 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:38.060 That's my second point today. 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:39.920 Salvation is not about deserving it. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:42.419 What does Paul call salvation? 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:42.979 Verse 8. 00:13:44.199 --> 00:13:46.259 It is the gift of God. 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:49.059 So think about a gift. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:51.259 A gift is undeserved, isn't it? 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:53.819 You don't earn a gift. 00:13:54.939 --> 00:13:55.679 Now a paycheck, 00:13:56.579 --> 00:13:57.240 your salary, 00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:58.159 that is earned. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.279 You work hard for a paycheck. 00:14:00.479 --> 00:14:01.659 It's based on how you perform. 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:02.360 You do well, 00:14:02.599 --> 00:14:03.379 you get more money. 00:14:04.699 --> 00:14:05.799 But a gift, 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:08.339 you don't earn a gift. 00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:11.879 A gift is given to you undeserved. 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:14.420 So think of your birthday. 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:16.560 I know there were a few birthday parties yesterday. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:18.940 Think of those gifts that you got. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:20.980 You didn't earn them. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.759 We don't deserve gifts, 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:24.480 but people, 00:14:24.680 --> 00:14:25.840 out of their kindness, 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:28.600 decided to give you that gift. 00:14:30.180 --> 00:14:31.280 By grace, 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.280 you are given those gifts. 00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:35.139 And what is salvation? 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:38.340 It is God's gift to you. 00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:41.500 Because what do we deserve? 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:46.139 If it was based on a performance review of your life, 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.399 what do we deserve? 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:50.799 What does Ephesians 2 tell us? 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.379 We deserve wrath. 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:55.399 We are by nature 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:57.539 children of wrath. 00:14:59.439 --> 00:15:01.620 A world running from God, 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:03.559 a world dead in their sins, 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:05.899 that world deserves wrath. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.220 That world has earned 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:09.860 nothing from God. 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:10.919 Nothing. 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:14.439 If the world were to get a paycheck, 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:16.179 it would be zero. 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:16.740 In fact, 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:18.100 it would be worse than zero. 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.360 It would be negative money. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.480 We are in debt to God. 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:24.940 If it were up to pure, 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:25.800 cold, 00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:26.279 hard, 00:15:26.420 --> 00:15:27.740 mathematical justice, 00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:30.080 the only thing we deserve 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:31.279 is hell. 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:34.759 So let's just be very, 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:36.039 very clear about this. 00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:37.700 God owes us 00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:38.680 nothing. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:41.759 When I was lost, 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:44.639 when I was a foolish teenager, 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:46.340 when I was going down that dark path 00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.320 with my back to God, 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:49.120 God owed me nothing. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:52.299 But God 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:55.639 has broken into this world 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:58.620 and reached down to you 00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.980 and given you a gift. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.820 He has come down 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:05.340 and given you his son. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.720 The Lord Jesus 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:11.000 coming down to this forsaken earth, 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:13.399 that is God's gift to you. 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:15.799 The Lord Jesus 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:17.360 hanging on the cross, 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.279 that is God's gift to you. 00:16:20.819 --> 00:16:21.860 The Lord Jesus 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.939 leaving the tomb, 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:24.319 rising into heaven, 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.399 seated on the throne, 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:27.679 that is God's gift to you. 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:31.539 Because when God saves you, 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.500 he says to the hell-bound sinner, 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.659 in all your debt, 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.620 in all your sin, 00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:37.659 he says to you, 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:39.480 have all of this. 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.819 Have it all. 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.939 Have my son, 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:44.899 have his death, 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:46.039 have his life, 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:47.199 have him all 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:48.379 and have him forever. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.459 And this, 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:53.579 this is grace. 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.559 This is God's 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:57.500 undeserved kindness. 00:16:57.500 --> 00:17:01.840 And so we cannot think, 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.360 well, 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.559 God made me alive 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:04.980 because, 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:05.519 well, 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.680 I was one of the better ones, 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:06.920 really. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:10.039 I wasn't too bad 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.500 and so, 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.900 so that's why I'm here today. 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:12.859 No, 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:14.220 we can't even dare 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:15.099 to think like that. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.640 We are only, 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:19.480 only here by grace. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.380 And so just look at this masterpiece. 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:26.400 What is the artist like? 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.440 What is our God like? 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.059 He is gracious. 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.299 And just think, 00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.920 no one else is like this. 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:36.779 We struggle to give gifts 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:37.680 to people we like. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.279 We don't give gifts 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:40.859 to strangers 00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:42.579 and we certainly don't give gifts 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:44.400 to people who hate us. 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:46.119 But God, 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:46.980 God gave us, 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:48.539 us of all people, 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:51.200 the gift of everything. 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.180 And so if you're here tonight 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.259 and you want God, 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:59.099 and you know you need God, 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.240 but you think, 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:03.319 your past is too messy, 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:06.299 you think you can't come to God 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.400 with the things that you've done, 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:08.579 if you think that you need 00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.839 to get your act together 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.920 before God can do anything with you, 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.759 I'm so glad you're here tonight. 00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:15.820 Because you need to know, 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:16.519 salvation, 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:18.600 it's not about deserving it. 00:18:19.560 --> 00:18:21.779 It's not about earning your way to God. 00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:23.320 If you come to him now, 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:26.259 sin and mess and all, 00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:28.380 if you just come to him now, 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.640 trust in him, 00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:32.720 he will simply gift you everything. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:37.220 look at the painter. 00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:39.640 God is gracious. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.660 But I want us to see another detail. 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:46.160 I want us to see another brushstroke. 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:48.140 If this is grace, 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.720 if this is how we are saved, 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.500 then salvation is not about doing. 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.660 It's about receiving. 00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:58.860 If this is not our own doing, 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:01.259 if this is not about earning or deserving, 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:02.160 if this is all grace, 00:19:02.300 --> 00:19:02.660 then specifically, 00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:07.040 this is not about you doing anything. 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:08.940 Look at verse 8 again. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.300 For by grace you've been saved through faith, 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:14.080 and this is not your own doing, 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:15.840 it is the gift of God, 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:18.800 not a result of works. 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.840 Think back to that paycheck. 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:25.220 If what we deserve on that paycheck 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.459 is not even zero, 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.419 it's negative. 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.919 If we're in debt to God, 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:32.099 how much are we in debt to God? 00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:36.819 How much does sin against an infinitely holy God 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:38.139 put us into debt? 00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:40.799 What is the negative number on that? 00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:43.879 We have infinite debt to God. 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.740 So what can we do? 00:19:48.179 --> 00:19:48.980 Just think about this. 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:51.159 What can we do to pay that back? 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:53.779 What work can be done? 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:55.659 Nothing. 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:58.419 There is no good deed, 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.879 no change of behavior, 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.259 no impressive lifestyle, 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:03.240 no nice good life 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.539 that you can just live 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:06.559 that is valuable enough 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.119 to pay back your debt. 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.859 It's simply impossible. 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:15.980 No, the only way to be free from that debt 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:18.519 is for God to pay it for you. 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:21.680 And that is precisely 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.779 what has happened on the cross. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:26.119 That is the gift of God. 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.579 Paying your debt for you. 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.460 The cross, 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.879 that is grace. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.440 It's not a result of works 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:35.519 because Christ has done 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.920 all the work for you. 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:39.160 It is finished. 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:41.779 It's all from God. 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:45.759 And so if it's not about doing, 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:48.620 then it's about receiving. 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:52.259 Salvation, it's about faith. 00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:55.819 Now, faith is something 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:57.140 that we can be confused about. 00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:59.500 Some people think 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:01.640 faith is just, 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.140 faith in God, 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.980 it's basically just 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.879 kind of thinking that he exists. 00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:08.379 But that isn't faith. 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.900 No, faith is receiving. 00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:12.000 Okay? 00:21:12.379 --> 00:21:13.720 Faith is receiving. 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.279 Faith is God 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:18.420 coming to God empty-handed 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:20.000 and saying, 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.980 I have nothing. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.660 But I trust you 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:26.460 to give me everything I need, Lord. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.860 And that is how God 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.860 gives you everything. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.660 It's not by deserving. 00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:35.400 It's not by working for it. 00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.140 But actually, 00:21:36.360 --> 00:21:36.820 the opposite. 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:37.920 It's by recognizing 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.240 God owes us nothing 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:41.259 and so we simply 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.960 come to him empty-handed. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.580 Trusting that Jesus has everything. 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.580 It's not by works. 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.740 It's by empty hands. 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:52.019 And that is how we're saved. 00:21:54.659 --> 00:21:56.220 And we can't think, 00:21:56.939 --> 00:21:57.919 oh well, 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:00.079 our faith, 00:22:01.179 --> 00:22:03.319 well God looks at our faith, 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.319 realizes, 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:04.699 oh, 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.039 they're the believers 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.960 and then he saves us. 00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:09.559 No, 00:22:09.679 --> 00:22:10.099 firstly, 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.220 even then, 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.779 God still doesn't owe us. 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.500 But secondly, 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:16.439 look at verse 8 again. 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:18.720 what is the gift of God? 00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:21.180 What is it referring to? 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.519 Verse 8, 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:24.240 for by grace you have been saved 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.860 through faith 00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:27.519 and this is not your own doing. 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:29.120 It is the gift of God. 00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:31.580 But what is this referring to? 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:35.059 This is referring to 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:36.880 the whole phrase beforehand. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:39.640 For by grace you have been saved 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.420 through faith. 00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:41.500 This 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.000 whole thing, 00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:43.600 the grace, 00:22:43.760 --> 00:22:44.180 the saving, 00:22:44.300 --> 00:22:44.680 the faith, 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.160 this is all 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.320 not your own doing. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.320 It is the gift of God. 00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.700 Grace is the gift of God. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:52.120 Saving is the gift of God. 00:22:52.300 --> 00:22:53.520 Faith is the gift of God. 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:57.380 The fact that you ever came 00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:58.620 empty-handed to God, 00:22:58.760 --> 00:22:59.900 that is because God 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:01.480 gifted that faith to you. 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:04.460 And this makes sense 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.380 in all that we've seen 00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:06.339 in Ephesians so far. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:09.019 How can a world 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.559 by nature 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.000 running away from God, 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:14.319 how can that kind of world 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.900 turn to God 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.839 to receive from him? 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:19.299 How could a world 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.059 that thinks 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:21.920 it's fine without God 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:24.440 realise it needs God? 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:26.580 How can a world 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:27.960 that thinks it's rich 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:29.759 realise it's actually in debt? 00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:32.400 If we were dead 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.000 in our sins, 00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:34.340 no spiritual pulse, 00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:35.960 how can the dead 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.799 have faith? 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:40.799 God needs to gift us 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.259 that faith. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:44.100 Look at that MRI 00:23:44.100 --> 00:23:45.299 of your soul again. 00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:47.519 That pulse 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.500 that you now see. 00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:51.059 That pulse 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.340 is a sign of faith. 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:54.159 That warmth 00:23:54.159 --> 00:23:54.599 you see, 00:23:54.699 --> 00:23:55.819 that is faith. 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.159 And where did 00:23:58.159 --> 00:23:59.039 that pulse come from? 00:23:59.159 --> 00:24:00.059 Where did that warmth 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.419 come from? 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.959 That is all from God. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.439 And we can look back 00:24:05.439 --> 00:24:05.839 at our lives 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.980 and we can even see that. 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.319 If God 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:10.699 had not opened my eyes, 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.659 I would never 00:24:11.659 --> 00:24:12.559 have realised 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.480 how needy I was. 00:24:14.959 --> 00:24:15.659 If God 00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:16.919 had not given me life, 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.220 I would have never realised 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.919 how dead I was. 00:24:19.179 --> 00:24:20.240 I was trapped 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:20.959 in sin. 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.860 and I didn't 00:24:22.860 --> 00:24:23.900 even realise it. 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.180 Well, 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:27.740 you realising that, 00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:29.740 that is faith. 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.380 That is God 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.759 turning you around, 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:35.160 raising you from the dead. 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.779 That is the gift 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.779 of God in your life. 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:39.380 It's not about doing, 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.420 it's about receiving. 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:43.920 And this is a huge 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.600 comfort for us. 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.019 Because 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:48.060 if 00:24:48.060 --> 00:24:49.600 how well 00:24:49.600 --> 00:24:50.200 you lived 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.820 then 00:24:50.820 --> 00:24:52.680 never got you 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.140 salvation, 00:24:53.800 --> 00:24:55.480 then how well 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.600 you live now 00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:58.080 can never 00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:58.900 lose you 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.360 salvation. 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.360 We can worry 00:25:02.360 --> 00:25:03.440 when we fall 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:03.880 into that 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.920 spiritual slump. 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:07.400 or our faith 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.120 can be rocky 00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:09.200 and we can wonder 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.100 how am I going to 00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:10.779 last through this? 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:13.240 How is my faith 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.019 going to last? 00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:15.039 I feel like I'm 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.259 hanging on by a thread 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.820 right now. 00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:18.340 If that's you, 00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:18.980 just realise 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:20.560 how did you get 00:25:20.560 --> 00:25:21.120 that faith 00:25:21.120 --> 00:25:21.800 in the first place? 00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:23.560 How were you 00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:24.220 brought here? 00:25:25.820 --> 00:25:26.660 By grace. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.960 It was all 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.539 by grace. 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:28.619 grace. 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.220 And it is 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.799 still 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.980 all by grace. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.200 It is not 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.659 on you. 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.440 However 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.319 weak you feel, 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.099 however rocky 00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:39.859 your faith feels, 00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:40.559 it is not 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.200 on you. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.039 It's all 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.659 from God. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.059 And so 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.299 come to him 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.220 empty handed 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:45.799 right now 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:47.819 and you will 00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.819 receive exactly 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.359 what you need. 00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:53.019 So if you're 00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:53.480 not a Christian 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:53.839 here tonight, 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.420 you must know 00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.819 you don't need 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:57.759 to make up 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.399 for your sins. 00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:00.659 If you're 00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:01.379 unsettled by 00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:01.920 your past 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.279 and you're 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:02.700 needing to 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.119 be right 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:03.659 with God, 00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.500 the answer 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:04.960 is not 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.879 about paying 00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:06.579 for your 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:06.859 sins. 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.500 The answer 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:07.799 is not 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.960 doing something, 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:09.940 it's faith. 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.639 It's coming 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.559 empty handed 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.139 to Jesus 00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:14.079 and he will 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.799 do all the 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.500 work for you. 00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.399 Think about 00:26:16.399 --> 00:26:16.899 the cross, 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:17.779 it is 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.379 finished. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.839 The American 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.319 preacher, 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.619 John MacArthur, 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.119 you might have 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:25.639 heard he died 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.180 last week, 00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:27.879 and a few 00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.359 years ago 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:28.799 he was on 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.179 the Larry 00:26:29.179 --> 00:26:29.719 King chat 00:26:29.719 --> 00:26:30.059 show in 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:30.459 America, 00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:31.579 and he was 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.019 being asked 00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.619 by Larry 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:32.899 King, 00:26:33.419 --> 00:26:34.659 isn't going 00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:35.359 to heaven 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.319 about being 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:36.599 a good 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:37.019 person? 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.799 It can't 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.099 just be 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:39.619 about faith. 00:26:39.699 --> 00:26:40.019 How can 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.399 a bad 00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:41.559 person with 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.259 faith go 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.579 to heaven? 00:26:42.719 --> 00:26:43.199 Where's the 00:26:43.199 --> 00:26:43.859 justice in 00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:44.159 that? 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:45.619 And John 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:45.939 MacArthur, 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:46.939 he interrupts 00:26:46.939 --> 00:26:48.059 him as Larry 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:48.419 saying that, 00:26:48.459 --> 00:26:48.699 and he says, 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.039 Larry, 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:50.659 we don't 00:26:50.659 --> 00:26:51.439 want justice. 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:53.419 Justice sends 00:26:53.419 --> 00:26:54.139 everybody to 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:54.359 hell. 00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:55.539 We need 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.079 grace. 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:56.139 grace. 00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:59.240 That man 00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.720 knew his 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:00.099 painter. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.079 We need 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.399 grace. 00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:04.839 And it's 00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:05.179 here for 00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:05.559 everyone. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.439 And I 00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:08.799 just want us 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.299 to end 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:10.519 with this 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:10.720 thought. 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:11.639 Why has 00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:12.159 God done 00:27:12.159 --> 00:27:12.559 all this? 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.659 Why is 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:15.379 none of 00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:15.699 this on 00:27:15.699 --> 00:27:15.939 us? 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.779 Why is 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.299 all this 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:18.619 from God? 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.379 Why is 00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:20.039 the painting 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.819 painted like 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.220 this? 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.460 salvation 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:25.200 is about 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:25.640 boasting 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.079 in God. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.660 That's my 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:28.160 final point 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:28.420 today. 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:29.440 Salvation 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:29.799 is about 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.100 boasting 00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:30.500 in God. 00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:31.819 How do 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.279 our verses 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.980 end? 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.140 For by 00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:34.579 grace you 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:34.819 have been 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.360 saved through 00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:35.779 faith. 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:36.980 And this 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.299 is not 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:37.660 your own 00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:37.819 doing. 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.319 It is the 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:38.700 gift of 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:38.860 God, 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.279 not a 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:39.779 result of 00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.160 works, 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.600 so that 00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:42.839 no one 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.319 may boast. 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:46.379 just think, 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.439 what if 00:27:47.439 --> 00:27:49.799 our salvation 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.639 was on 00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:50.899 us? 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:52.919 What if 00:27:52.919 --> 00:27:53.519 it was 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.679 about me 00:27:54.679 --> 00:27:55.240 making the 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.859 right choices 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.659 and working 00:27:56.659 --> 00:27:57.339 hard enough 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.179 and living 00:27:58.179 --> 00:27:58.539 a good 00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:59.079 enough life? 00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:00.899 Then if 00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:01.720 that was 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.039 the case, 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.339 what do I 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.759 get to do 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.000 then? 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.079 I get to 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:06.439 boast. 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.439 Well done 00:28:08.439 --> 00:28:08.679 me. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.439 I get to 00:28:10.439 --> 00:28:10.980 pat myself 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.279 on the 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.619 back. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.439 Then I get 00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:13.200 to stand 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.960 at the 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.680 finish line 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.200 of the 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.400 new 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:15.840 creation 00:28:15.840 --> 00:28:16.420 and I 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:16.700 can look 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.019 around and 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.279 I can 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:17.460 say, 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:18.019 yeah, 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.680 this is 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.059 because of 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:19.299 me. 00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:21.559 And even 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:21.920 if it is 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.900 1% me 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.920 and 99% 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.240 God, 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.960 I still 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.460 get to 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:25.799 boast. 00:28:27.080 --> 00:28:27.940 But why 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.380 grace? 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.660 Why is 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.500 this canvas 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.380 painted like 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:34.240 this so 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:36.039 that no 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:36.380 one may 00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:36.700 boast? 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.840 So that 00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:39.360 no one 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:39.980 here can 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.620 say it 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.120 is because 00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:41.660 of me, 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:43.440 but so 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:43.880 we can 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.460 say this 00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:45.940 is all 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.600 because of 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:46.960 God. 00:28:48.360 --> 00:28:48.840 Every 00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:49.500 single thing, 00:28:49.580 --> 00:28:50.019 we can 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.620 look at 00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:50.820 the 00:28:50.820 --> 00:28:51.360 masterpiece, 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:52.820 the work 00:28:52.820 --> 00:28:53.120 he has 00:28:53.120 --> 00:28:53.480 done in 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:54.080 our lives 00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:54.820 and know 00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:56.259 this artist 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.700 is a 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.040 genius. 00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.080 Our 00:28:59.080 --> 00:28:59.680 God is 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.240 gracious. 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:03.380 And I 00:29:03.380 --> 00:29:03.640 want us 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:03.859 to end 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.099 on that 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:04.319 thought 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:04.599 tonight. 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.299 I want 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:06.539 us to 00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.000 go home 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.460 tonight. 00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:09.559 I want 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:09.779 us to 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.799 look back 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:12.059 on how 00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.620 God has 00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:13.240 shaped your 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.980 childhood, 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.059 the friends 00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.420 he put 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:16.980 around you, 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.700 the churches 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.359 he placed 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:19.740 you in, 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.640 that friend 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.240 at school 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:21.680 he gave 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:21.819 you, 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.799 that Christian 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.359 at uni 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:23.680 that you 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:23.980 met, 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.059 those 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.799 conversations, 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.519 those Bible 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:26.920 studies, 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.740 those sermons, 00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.660 that dark 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.359 period of your 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:29.599 life, 00:29:29.719 --> 00:29:30.079 that made 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:30.619 you realise 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.740 you needed 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.419 something more. 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.179 All those 00:29:34.179 --> 00:29:35.139 dark paths 00:29:35.139 --> 00:29:35.479 that we 00:29:35.479 --> 00:29:35.919 could have 00:29:35.919 --> 00:29:36.339 gone down 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:36.839 but didn't. 00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:37.559 I want 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:37.819 us to 00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:38.799 look back 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.539 at the 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.119 painting of 00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:40.740 your life 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:42.479 and realise 00:29:42.479 --> 00:29:43.979 I didn't 00:29:43.979 --> 00:29:44.439 paint that. 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.599 That wasn't 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.159 from me. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:48.819 That was 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.459 all from 00:29:49.459 --> 00:29:49.779 God. 00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:52.199 Christian, 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.000 just look 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.479 at the 00:29:53.479 --> 00:29:54.339 brush strokes 00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:55.019 that make 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.339 up your 00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:55.740 life. 00:29:56.979 --> 00:29:57.419 That is 00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:58.179 all God's 00:29:58.179 --> 00:29:58.639 grace. 00:29:59.939 --> 00:30:00.859 Look 00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:01.199 back 00:30:01.199 --> 00:30:01.479 on it 00:30:01.479 --> 00:30:02.599 and just 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:02.959 praise 00:30:02.959 --> 00:30:03.240 God. 00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.399 It is 00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:05.859 not from 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.079 us. 00:30:06.179 --> 00:30:06.359 It is 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:06.919 not because 00:30:06.919 --> 00:30:07.159 we are 00:30:07.159 --> 00:30:07.559 deserving. 00:30:07.719 --> 00:30:07.899 It is 00:30:07.899 --> 00:30:08.399 not because 00:30:08.399 --> 00:30:08.819 we did 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.179 anything. 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:09.879 It is 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:10.219 because 00:30:10.219 --> 00:30:10.699 the 00:30:10.699 --> 00:30:11.139 artist 00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:11.619 is 00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:12.039 gracious. 00:30:13.959 --> 00:30:14.459 Let's 00:30:14.459 --> 00:30:14.819 boast in 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.000 him. 00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:15.879 Let's 00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.079 pray. 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.199 Let's 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:16.779 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.359 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:47.339 Thank you.