WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.419 All right, take the Word of God with me, if you would, and turn to the letter to Ephesians. 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:16.440 Ephesians chapter 2, we spent the last couple of weeks in chapter 1, and today we are starting off in chapter 2. 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:26.000 So let's turn there together by way of reminder, Ephesians is about who we are and how we live. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:34.960 Much of our sermon series in Ephesians is drawn from this commentary series, Christ-centered exposition on Ephesians. 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:40.439 And the background of this book is it was written by the Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:48.519 around the year 62, AD 62, from imprisonment in Rome, likely under house arrest. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:55.760 And that was a long journey from the city of Ephesus, where Paul had spent about three years as the former pastor of this church. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:59.579 And you can read about that account in Acts chapter 19. 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:04.079 The breakdown of the book, the first half, chapters 1 through 3, is who we are in Christ. 00:01:04.579 --> 00:01:07.700 And chapters 4 through 6 is how we live in Christ. 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:12.700 So right now, we are smack dab in the middle of part 1, who we are in Christ. 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:17.640 And this morning, we are covering Ephesians chapter 2, verses 1 through 10. 00:01:17.980 --> 00:01:19.780 I'll be reading from the Christian Standard Bible. 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:28.060 If you're able to, and it's not a hardship, please join us in standing as we read from Ephesians chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. 00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:35.700 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, 00:01:35.960 --> 00:01:41.159 according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:50.000 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:57.799 And we were by nature children under wrath, as the others were also. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:10.620 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:16.460 Even though we were dead in trespasses, you are saved by grace. 00:02:16.460 --> 00:02:22.439 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:31.180 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 00:02:31.180 --> 00:02:34.800 For you are saved by grace through faith. 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:36.680 This is not from yourselves. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:38.379 It is God's gift. 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:42.379 Not from works, so that no one can boast. 00:02:42.379 --> 00:02:51.659 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. 00:02:51.740 --> 00:02:52.479 You may be seated. 00:02:53.659 --> 00:02:58.219 Heavenly Father, I ask your blessing on the reading of your word today, the preaching of your word today. 00:02:58.340 --> 00:03:01.120 Let it convict us where we are, where we're living right now. 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:05.599 If there's anyone who doesn't know you as Savior, help them to not leave this place today 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:10.139 without meeting you and starting that relationship with you for the first time. 00:03:10.139 --> 00:03:12.219 I pray that you would speak in every one of our hearts. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:15.759 Use your Holy Spirit to convict us and show us how we ought to live. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:18.699 In Jesus Christ's name we pray. 00:03:18.779 --> 00:03:19.039 Amen. 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:20.079 All right. 00:03:20.739 --> 00:03:26.379 So, the idea here in the first half of Ephesians 2 is we are going from death to life. 00:03:26.619 --> 00:03:34.539 There is a deep contrast here as it describes the length of how dead we are in our sins, 00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:42.280 how hopeless we are without God, and then it transports us into the glory of God's salvation. 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:44.199 So, we get to kind of watch this. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:48.959 Now, point number one, if you're taking notes and in your bulletin today, there's some blanks to fill out. 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:49.899 So, here we go. 00:03:49.959 --> 00:03:54.039 I bet you didn't come to church today thinking you were going to hear about the walking dead. 00:03:54.039 --> 00:04:00.079 I didn't require any copyright on this, so hopefully we're okay. 00:04:00.299 --> 00:04:02.280 But, anyway, the walking dead. 00:04:02.359 --> 00:04:04.719 We're talking about this in verses 1 through 3. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:11.959 You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world. 00:04:12.139 --> 00:04:13.840 The ruler of the power of the air. 00:04:13.899 --> 00:04:14.780 What are we talking about? 00:04:15.079 --> 00:04:15.479 Satan. 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:17.500 Lucifer. 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:19.579 We talked about him a little bit ago with the kids up here. 00:04:19.579 --> 00:04:22.120 The ruler of the power of the air. 00:04:22.219 --> 00:04:25.079 The spirit now working in the disobedient. 00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:26.259 This isn't the Holy Spirit. 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:28.060 This is the unholy spirit. 00:04:28.659 --> 00:04:29.000 All right? 00:04:29.259 --> 00:04:30.439 That is in all of us. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:32.879 And then, continuing on in verse 3, 00:04:33.219 --> 00:04:37.319 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires. 00:04:37.659 --> 00:04:38.439 There's another one. 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:41.919 Carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:45.839 We were by nature children under wrath. 00:04:46.779 --> 00:04:47.879 That's the bad news. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:48.860 All right? 00:04:48.860 --> 00:04:51.160 Nobody can get saved, like we call it. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:53.780 Nobody can be born again, redeemed. 00:04:53.780 --> 00:05:01.360 Nobody can be forgiven and become God's child without first hearing the bad news of the reality that you and I have sinned. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:03.160 We are in sin. 00:05:03.220 --> 00:05:04.180 We were born into sin. 00:05:04.280 --> 00:05:05.139 We kept sinning. 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:06.819 We're not going to stop sinning. 00:05:07.580 --> 00:05:08.860 That is our flesh. 00:05:08.980 --> 00:05:10.300 That is who we are. 00:05:10.460 --> 00:05:11.480 We do wrong. 00:05:11.660 --> 00:05:12.139 You and I. 00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:14.300 So, it kind of gives us a breakdown here. 00:05:14.400 --> 00:05:15.840 Number one, we are dead. 00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:17.819 What can dead people do? 00:05:17.819 --> 00:05:17.879 What can we do? 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:21.079 It's not a hard question. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:21.599 Come on, y'all. 00:05:24.159 --> 00:05:24.819 What's that? 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:25.980 Nothing. 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:26.639 There we go. 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:28.360 I knew we'd get there eventually. 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:30.980 I mean, unless you've seen dead people do stuff. 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:32.519 I personally haven't. 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:35.899 They don't do anything. 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:36.379 Right? 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:37.620 They're dead. 00:05:37.779 --> 00:05:38.339 They can't. 00:05:39.139 --> 00:05:44.740 So, you and I cannot do anything spiritually when we are spiritually dead. 00:05:44.740 --> 00:05:48.420 That's why we're calling it the walking dead. 00:05:48.420 --> 00:05:53.259 Yeah, we're out walking around, talking, living life, looking just like everybody else. 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:56.800 But inside, there's no spiritual life. 00:05:57.259 --> 00:06:01.780 I fear that there are people in this room today that qualify in that. 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:02.300 You'll come. 00:06:02.400 --> 00:06:03.120 You'll sit in the pews. 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:04.740 You'll look just like everybody else. 00:06:04.740 --> 00:06:06.379 But inside, you're dead. 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:07.560 You're dead. 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:09.720 What does the Bible have to say about this? 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:15.360 Later on in Ephesians chapter 4, they are darkened in their understanding, excluded from 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:16.900 the life of God. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:20.420 Boy, that's a hard phrase to wrap your head around. 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:23.180 God is life, is he not? 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:25.480 Jesus said, I am the way. 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:26.439 I am the truth. 00:06:26.580 --> 00:06:27.699 I am the life. 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:32.480 And so, if you are spiritually dead, you are excluded from the life of God. 00:06:33.220 --> 00:06:35.280 Because the ignorance that is in them. 00:06:35.540 --> 00:06:37.939 Because of the hardness of their hearts. 00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:43.259 I fear we've got some hard hearts in here this morning. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:48.600 And I want you to know that I'm not the one coming after you. 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.840 I'm not the one drawing the hard lines. 00:06:51.960 --> 00:06:54.220 God says, you're excluded from my life. 00:06:54.820 --> 00:06:56.740 You can't have my life. 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:01.640 If you've hardened your heart, you are spiritually dead. 00:07:02.280 --> 00:07:03.400 We were all there. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:05.240 Every one of us was there. 00:07:05.820 --> 00:07:10.060 At some point, none of us were born directly into the family of God. 00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:14.860 We all had to come to that saving moment of putting our faith in Jesus. 00:07:15.020 --> 00:07:17.320 Until we got there, we were dead. 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:19.000 We were also disobedient. 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:20.579 We were disobedient. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:23.240 It wasn't just everybody else that sinned. 00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:24.680 You and I disobeyed. 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:26.579 We broke God's law. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:27.860 In verse 2. 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:34.060 We previously lived according to the ways of this world. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:36.300 We obeyed the ruler of the power of the air. 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:39.379 We obeyed that spirit working in the disobedient. 00:07:39.819 --> 00:07:41.899 That's what it says here in Ephesians chapter 2. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:43.759 We were disobedient. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:45.039 We follow what? 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:46.039 Society. 00:07:46.719 --> 00:07:47.899 The ways of this world. 00:07:49.219 --> 00:07:51.379 It's so easy to follow society. 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:57.980 There's probably more pressure today to follow society than there ever has been. 00:07:57.980 --> 00:08:07.660 Back before the advent of the internet and living our lives online and everybody being aware of just about everything all the time. 00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:15.360 Before those days came around, you could kind of be your own person more easily. 00:08:16.400 --> 00:08:20.720 There weren't all these necessarily expectations like there are today. 00:08:21.260 --> 00:08:26.540 Nowadays, if you say the wrong thing online, you can get called out, canceled. 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:28.939 Your life is over. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:29.960 You could lose your job. 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:30.980 You could lose your family. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:41.159 I mean, there is very real dangers to expressing yourself counterculturally too strongly online. 00:08:43.659 --> 00:08:45.159 It's the world we live in nowadays. 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:46.420 We see it happen. 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:53.360 So the urge to live according to the ways of this world and follow society is all around us. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:56.100 The problem is society is never going to lead us to heaven. 00:08:57.460 --> 00:08:59.060 Society is never going to lead us to God. 00:09:00.300 --> 00:09:02.899 Society is always going to lead down the wrong path. 00:09:03.180 --> 00:09:06.899 And eventually, they'll see that and they'll move to a different wrong path. 00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:09.460 They're always changing their minds. 00:09:10.300 --> 00:09:12.740 They're always changing, moving the needle. 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:17.759 They're always moving the line of what you're supposed to abide by, the rules you're supposed to follow. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:25.340 So humanity can never get it right unless they follow God and not the ways of this world. 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:27.720 We follow Satan. 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:30.039 I don't follow Satan. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:30.960 What are you talking about? 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:34.319 I'm not one of those devil worshiper peoples. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:35.639 Absolutely. 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:45.840 So many of us do the will of the ruler of the power of the air of Satan because we're not doing the will of God. 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:45.920 What? 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:48.280 It's that disobedience. 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:55.540 We're not obeying God and so then we're choosing to follow another master. 00:09:56.560 --> 00:09:58.240 So you're always going to have a master. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:02.600 You could say, I don't want to be a Christian because I don't want somebody to tell me how to live my life. 00:10:02.920 --> 00:10:04.960 Somebody is telling you how to live your life. 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:08.500 It's the anti-God. 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:11.919 And you're following his rules. 00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:14.279 He's all around in this world. 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:18.799 And you're just jumping right in with what he thinks you ought to do. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:30.719 Instead, you could follow a different master whose burden is easy, whose yoke is light, who doesn't put more on you than you can stand, 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:42.740 whose Holy Spirit empowers you and goes with you to protect you, to guide you, to live you into, to lead you into the absolute best version of yourself that you could be 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:45.320 because it's empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:47.060 God created you. 00:10:47.300 --> 00:10:48.899 He knows what you're capable of. 00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:50.240 He knows what you could be. 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:55.080 And he wants to lead you into that, but not if you're not following him. 00:10:55.080 --> 00:11:00.340 If you're living with that spirit of disobedience, then you're actually following Satan. 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:02.220 And then finally, sin. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.860 Our fleshly desires. 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:05.860 Sometimes we blame things on the devil. 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:07.500 The reality is we just wanted to do it. 00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:10.900 The reality is we're just following our own flesh. 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.500 Man, the devil made me do it. 00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:14.759 No, you just did that. 00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:16.960 That was all you. 00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:18.800 Yes, we're born in sin. 00:11:20.820 --> 00:11:23.100 We're wrapped in this sinful flesh. 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:29.080 And oftentimes, we find ourselves doing things that we know better than to do. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:33.300 Disobeying God when in our hearts we want to obey God. 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:36.759 But that pull of our flesh is too strong. 00:11:36.980 --> 00:11:39.420 And we do what we know we ought not do. 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:42.720 And we don't do what we know we should do. 00:11:44.180 --> 00:11:46.019 And so we follow these things. 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:47.200 We follow society. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:48.060 We follow Satan. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:48.920 We follow sin. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:51.139 And because of that, we're doomed. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:53.040 We're doomed. 00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:57.159 Sorry, I know you didn't come to church this morning hoping to hear that you're doomed. 00:11:57.680 --> 00:12:00.920 But I'm just reading what the Word of God says back in verse 3. 00:12:01.060 --> 00:12:03.820 The second part of verse 3 here in chapter 2 of Ephesians. 00:12:05.040 --> 00:12:09.040 We were by nature children under wrath. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.500 As the others were also. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:12.960 You know who the others are? 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:14.680 You know the other people? 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:17.279 The ones who live on the other side of the tracks? 00:12:17.560 --> 00:12:19.500 You know the people that we look down our nose at? 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:22.259 You know the bad people that we try not to be like? 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:26.960 Just like they are by nature children of wrath? 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:28.159 You are too. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.600 We all are. 00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:31.500 Every one of us. 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:36.700 God doesn't group us all and say, well, these are the real bad sinners. 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:37.840 They have to go to hell. 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:41.179 These are the, you know, not so bad sinners. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:46.039 They just broke my law fewer times than this group over here did. 00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:47.840 Or in less severe ways. 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:52.460 So they go to maybe a little cooler spot in hell or something. 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:53.840 Come on now. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:56.040 We're all doomed. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:58.560 We've all broken God's law. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:03.820 We've all rejected him until we accept him. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:06.800 And so we're all guilty. 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:08.860 We're all born in sin. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:10.379 We're all practicing sin. 00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:15.220 And we will continue to do this until we're rescued. 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:20.340 Again, the next chapter, well, right here. 00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:22.540 By nature, children of wrath. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:25.000 God's wrath is coming on the disobedient. 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:26.040 This is where I wanted to get to. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.940 Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 6. 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:32.279 A few chapters later, God's wrath is coming on the disobedient. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.320 You don't want to experience God's wrath. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:36.680 You don't want to be around for God's wrath. 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:41.580 That's why in Revelation, I'm sure we're going to talk about it with Lanny leading on Wednesday nights in that group. 00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:46.340 The rapture is coming someday. 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:51.300 God's going to get his people out before his wrath comes. 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:54.340 God's wrath will pour out on this world. 00:13:55.160 --> 00:13:58.920 The Bible even says he will consume this world with fire. 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.420 But he's going to get us out. 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:07.980 We don't need to experience God's wrath unless you're one of the disobedient, unless you're one of the doomed, 00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:11.940 unless you're one of those who has not yet put your faith in Jesus. 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:15.500 God's wrath is coming on you then. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.100 Where do we get to? 00:14:19.680 --> 00:14:20.820 Look at verse 4. 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:23.320 But God. 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:25.879 There's all this bad news. 00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:28.720 There's all this doom and gloom, literally. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:35.220 There's all this terrible news and terrible reality of who you and I are. 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:38.379 But then we get to verse 4. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:43.899 Arguably, arguably the two most powerful words in the scriptures. 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:46.139 But God. 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:49.680 Are you and I bad? 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.240 Oh yeah. 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.940 Do we have no hope? 00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:52.540 Absolutely. 00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:56.879 Are we without God and have no future? 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:57.740 Yes. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.620 But God. 00:15:00.420 --> 00:15:01.920 But God stepped in. 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:05.440 But God can rescue us. 00:15:06.160 --> 00:15:08.220 But God sent his son Jesus. 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:14.660 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. 00:15:14.660 --> 00:15:21.860 That whosoever believes in him will not perish but will have everlasting life. 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:25.379 That's what John 3.16 says. 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:27.639 They don't just put it up on a sign at football games. 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:29.960 It is the gospel. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:32.120 It is the good news. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.179 It is. 00:15:33.699 --> 00:15:34.819 But God. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:36.519 That is what God did. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:40.000 God stepped in and said, I can intervene. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:42.460 And so we come to the intervention. 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:44.819 We had the bad news. 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.960 We had the reality check. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:50.940 But then verse 5 gives us God's intervention. 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:59.900 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love, made us alive. 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:01.780 He made us alive. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:03.240 With Christ. 00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:05.980 Even though we were dead in trespasses. 00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:07.540 What does God extend to us? 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:09.379 God extends mercy. 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:12.559 We read right there in verse 4. 00:16:12.939 --> 00:16:14.799 God is rich in mercy. 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:16.379 Boy, we needed mercy, didn't we? 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:19.139 Withholding punishment that we deserve. 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:22.879 Sometimes you ever do that with your kids, parents? 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:25.919 You withhold some punishment that you know they deserve? 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:28.019 Because you are trying to be nice. 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.159 You are trying to show mercy. 00:16:30.199 --> 00:16:31.759 Sometimes it goes too far. 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.979 Sometimes it backfires. 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:36.039 How often does God's mercy backfire with us? 00:16:36.339 --> 00:16:41.219 How often do we go ahead and sin anyway knowing that God has already forgiven us? 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.439 He has already shown us mercy. 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:45.500 And yet we continue living in that same sin he saved us from. 00:16:46.199 --> 00:16:47.979 But God still does not withhold his mercy. 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.699 God still extends it. 00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:51.139 He shows us his love. 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:53.620 Right there in verse 4 again. 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:57.279 Because of his great love that he had for us. 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:04.379 Man, you don't need to look any farther than the cross of Calvary to understand how much God loves you. 00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:06.359 God created you. 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:08.139 God created this world. 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.559 He made and rules over everything in it. 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:15.339 He could have scrapped it all when Adam and Eve sinned against him. 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.559 When they disobeyed him. 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:18.839 He could have scrapped it all and started over. 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:23.939 But instead, out of his love for them. 00:17:24.179 --> 00:17:25.500 Out of his love for you. 00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:27.039 Out of his love for me. 00:17:27.419 --> 00:17:28.819 Out of his love for our children. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.619 For our future grandchildren. 00:17:31.899 --> 00:17:33.240 For great-grandchildren. 00:17:33.419 --> 00:17:35.579 For all humanity to come. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:38.019 God had such love for us. 00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:43.279 He paid a sacrifice himself. 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:46.319 He paid the debt that we owed. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.819 In this world that he created. 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:51.659 According to these laws that he set. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.899 He let it cost him. 00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:58.980 He let it hurt him. 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:02.419 Gave up his own life. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:05.539 And that was the grace. 00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:08.500 We are saved by his grace. 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:13.299 Not only is he withholding the punishment out of his mercy. 00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:18.099 He's also offering the most valuable blessing in return. 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:22.299 He's also offering the most valuable gift. 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:23.420 And that's grace. 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:26.379 The other day, Bo was in trouble for something. 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.539 I'm not going to tell you what it is. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.500 Because he's sitting in here, okay? 00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.339 Believe it or not. 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:32.019 That kid actually gets in trouble every once in a while. 00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:34.440 He's nothing like his daddy. 00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:35.700 I never got in trouble. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.920 And my parents are going to watch this online. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.720 And be like, okay, yeah. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:44.119 Let me give you a reality check. 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:44.639 Anyway. 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.920 He had done something. 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:51.000 And instead of getting in trouble for what? 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:53.220 Well, you know, he did wind up getting in trouble for that later. 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:57.539 But we offered him something positive. 00:18:58.279 --> 00:19:01.240 And I explained to him, this is what grace is. 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:02.900 It's what grace is. 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:04.620 It's what God does for you. 00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:05.839 We sin. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.640 We deserve punishment in hell. 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:13.279 Instead, God removes the punishment from hell and says, instead, you can have eternal life. 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:17.019 I'm going to take eternal death away off the table as your punishment. 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.480 I'm going to die. 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:19.900 I'm going to sacrifice. 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:22.560 I'm going to be killed and beaten and bruised. 00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:26.700 And instead, I'm going to offer you eternal life. 00:19:26.800 --> 00:19:28.800 I'm going to offer you a home in heaven. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:31.820 I'm going to offer you a place as my son and my daughter. 00:19:32.060 --> 00:19:34.019 I'm going to offer you love. 00:19:34.560 --> 00:19:37.800 The immeasurable riches of his grace. 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:41.180 That's what God offers us. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.420 It's his grace. 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:45.440 It's his goodness. 00:19:46.280 --> 00:19:47.800 It's his bountiful love. 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:50.799 That's how we know he's kind. 00:19:51.899 --> 00:19:57.899 That's where we see in verse 7. 00:19:58.899 --> 00:20:07.039 In the coming ages, he might display those immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:11.700 It's because of his mercy, his love, his grace. 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:14.639 That's the kindness that he shows to us. 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:16.460 God is so kind. 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:18.519 We're not always kind, are we? 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:25.039 Fathers, kindness maybe isn't our strongest attribute sometimes. 00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.860 Sometimes we get angry. 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:28.799 Sometimes we lash out. 00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:35.860 Sometimes we overemphasize the tough love a little bit, but we need to show some kindness. 00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:39.160 God is never like that. 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:40.920 He's a good father. 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:44.900 He always extends kindness. 00:20:45.320 --> 00:20:48.600 Even when we are going through a hardship because of our own sin. 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:58.120 Even when we're going through the consequences of our sin on this earth and we're experiencing something negative, God still extends kindness. 00:20:58.500 --> 00:21:01.779 God doesn't shake his fist at us and say, you should have known better. 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:02.980 What were you thinking? 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:08.440 God still shows kindness in Christ Jesus because that sin didn't catch God off guard. 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:16.860 It didn't disappoint him that we would go do something that he knows we were going to do and he already paid for with his blood on the cross. 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:19.859 That's who our God is. 00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:24.519 Now, God can do something incredible. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:33.900 You might be sitting here today and thinking, I hear what you're saying. 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.119 I hear this story. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:39.759 I hear about his mercy, his love, his grace, his kindness. 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:41.180 I hear about all that. 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:44.379 But you don't understand I've gone too far. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:48.599 You don't understand what I've done, who I am, who I come from. 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.759 You don't understand. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.859 My heart is too hard. 00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:56.859 Let me tell you something. 00:21:56.979 --> 00:21:58.919 There's a story about this man. 00:21:58.979 --> 00:22:00.199 Anybody want to guess who that is? 00:22:02.199 --> 00:22:04.179 If you got it right, I mean, that would be incredible. 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:07.699 George Whitefield, all right? 00:22:07.959 --> 00:22:09.919 Old, old time revivalist. 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:13.699 He would do, he was a preacher, evangelist, go around, preach in cities. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.799 You can tell this was a few years ago, back then. 00:22:19.219 --> 00:22:23.179 And he would get up and he'd preach just with the sound of his voice. 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:24.500 Obviously, he had no microphone. 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:28.779 And so he would get up and preach and literally thousands of people would come. 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:30.420 They would flock from all over. 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:32.820 They would stay all day and they would hear him preach. 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:34.720 Sometimes they'd stay for multiple days. 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:37.259 Different world back then, you know. 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:42.660 But along with a huge following, he also attracted some critics. 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:46.059 He also attracted some people who hated what he was doing. 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:51.140 So people who hated God, hated Christianity, wanted nothing to do with it. 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:56.299 And one such man determined that he was going to take out Whitefield one day. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:23:02.220 So he filled his coat pockets with rocks and he came to hear Whitefield preach. 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:05.319 And he said, I'm going to kill him. 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:08.360 I'm going to stand there. 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:13.079 I'm going to throw rocks at him, at his head until he's dead. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:18.579 Well, Whitefield was already preaching when he got there. 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.700 And he stood there and listened to it for a minute. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:30.420 And God began to prick his heart and convict his heart that he was a sinner in need of a savior. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:35.380 And so he stayed the whole time and he never threw one rock. 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:38.700 And at the end, Whitefield gave an invitation. 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:43.620 He said, if any of you know you're sinners and know you need to turn to Jesus, 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:46.580 you come down front and someone will pray with you. 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:51.419 And this man stepped out and he followed a crowd of people down there. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:56.879 And he pushed his way forward until he got right up next to this great evangelist, George Whitefield. 00:23:56.939 --> 00:24:00.220 And he said, pulled out the rocks out of his coat pocket. 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:05.099 He said, I came to break your head, but God broke my heart. 00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:13.959 I've heard similar stories from when my dad used to preach. 00:24:14.939 --> 00:24:17.079 He was an evangelist and I was a little boy. 00:24:17.179 --> 00:24:21.519 And we would travel around the country and he would put up tents and he would preach in meetings. 00:24:21.679 --> 00:24:27.839 And people who had never been to church in their life hated it, were drunks, beat their wives. 00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:32.779 All kinds of people like that would come and they would walk down and repent. 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:36.700 God can break hardened hearts. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:39.259 God can change you. 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.539 It doesn't matter who you are. 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:45.119 You might be a killer and God can save you. 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:50.299 You might be an adulterer and God can save you. 00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:53.660 You might be a crook. 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.619 God can save you. 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.519 God can change you. 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.099 So how does it work? 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.220 How does it work? 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.100 Verse 8. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.200 Let's look at it together. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.400 Ephesians 2 verse 8. 00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:08.860 You are saved by grace through faith. 00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:11.019 It is not from yourselves. 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.400 It is God's gift. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:16.660 Not from any works that we can do so that no one can boast. 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.319 For we are his workmanship. 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:21.180 Created in Christ Jesus for good works. 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.400 So what are we talking about? 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:24.579 We're not saved by works. 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:26.160 We see that in verse 8. 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:28.000 Works is kind of a theme here. 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:30.900 That's why I called this last point how it works. 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.340 Okay? 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:33.000 We're tying it in with the wordplay here. 00:25:33.060 --> 00:25:33.200 Alright? 00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:34.340 So verse 8. 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:36.220 You are saved by grace. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.700 Not from yourselves. 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:40.420 Not from any works that we can do. 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:50.060 That's what most religions, man-made religions, around this town, across this county, this state, this country, and this world get wrong. 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.460 That's what they get wrong. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:54.159 There's two kinds of religions in this world. 00:25:54.639 --> 00:25:56.599 So there's all kinds of religions, right? 00:25:56.679 --> 00:25:57.960 There's way more than two. 00:25:58.119 --> 00:26:00.500 But in reality, you can boil them down to two. 00:26:01.179 --> 00:26:04.000 There's only two kinds of religions on this earth. 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:07.440 There's a do religion, and there's a done religion. 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.599 What are you talking about? 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:13.500 The do religion says you have to do something to get to God. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:15.740 Now there's all kinds of variations of that. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:16.680 Right? 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.359 The Catholics might say one thing. 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.720 The Muslims might say one thing. 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:21.500 The Hindus might say one thing. 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:25.039 Whoever it is, fill in the blank with whatever religion it is. 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:28.920 They're going to have a list of things that you have to do to get to God. 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:31.620 The other kind of religion is the done religion. 00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:35.200 That religion says there's nothing you can do to get to God. 00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:38.140 Jesus has done it for you. 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:40.660 That's what I want to be. 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:42.460 That's the religion I am. 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:45.860 That's what I believe in when I read the Bible. 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:48.000 We're not saved by works. 00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:49.940 There's nothing we can do. 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:52.980 Romans chapter 11 and verse 6. 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:58.680 If by grace, if we are saved by grace, then it cannot be based on works. 00:26:58.800 --> 00:27:02.240 If it were, then the grace would no longer be grace. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:11.160 If there was something you could do to merit, to earn God's grace, then it ceases to be grace. 00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:16.579 So, 2 Timothy 1. 00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:26.099 He has saved us and he's called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:26.960 Did you catch that? 00:27:27.139 --> 00:27:36.519 He's called us according to his own purpose and that grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time even began. 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.659 That's how long God's loved you. 00:27:38.939 --> 00:27:40.379 That's how long he's known you. 00:27:40.699 --> 00:27:43.460 That's how long he's craved a relationship with you. 00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:47.019 Since before time began, God knew you were coming. 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.420 He knew you would fall. 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.700 He knew you would do wrong. 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:51.019 And he loved you anyway. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:55.960 And he set this whole plan in motion according to his own purpose. 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:57.200 What is his purpose? 00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:00.240 That we would be his workmanship. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:03.200 His workmanship. 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:06.799 We're not saved by works. 00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:10.240 But we are saved to be his workmanship. 00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:12.660 Philippians 1 and verse 6. 00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:14.180 I am sure of this. 00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:16.140 Paul wrote this to the church in Philippi. 00:28:16.300 --> 00:28:25.040 And he said, I'm sure that God, he who started a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:27.900 Y'all remember that old song if you've been around church for a while? 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:31.720 He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be. 00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:33.040 There's a lot of truth in that. 00:28:33.300 --> 00:28:34.900 God is still working on us. 00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:39.600 He began a good work in us and he will carry it on to completion. 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:43.240 Philippians chapter 2. 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:46.559 It is God who is working in you. 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.200 He's working in you. 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:52.440 Both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.899 What is that purpose? 00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:57.980 We are his workmanship. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.460 You understand that term? 00:28:59.879 --> 00:29:01.779 We're the product of his work. 00:29:02.179 --> 00:29:03.000 He's the potter. 00:29:03.139 --> 00:29:03.879 We're the clay. 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:09.580 He's molding us into something beautiful that only he can make of our lives. 00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:10.800 To do what? 00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:15.200 We are created for good works. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:20.880 We're not saved by good works, but we are created for good works. 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:24.260 Because good works send the glory back to God. 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:25.660 What are we talking about? 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.620 James chapter 2. 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.500 Turn there real fast, would you? 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:32.120 James chapter 2, verse 17. 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:34.199 We'll be done in just a moment. 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:35.199 Hang with me. 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:38.799 James chapter 2, and verse 17. 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:51.979 In the same way, faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself. 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:55.539 So you can say, I have faith. 00:29:55.959 --> 00:29:56.919 I believe. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:58.439 I've put my faith in Jesus. 00:29:58.440 --> 00:30:03.660 He saved me from my sins, but I'm not interested in doing any good works for God. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:11.240 Well, we obviously have reason to doubt whether you really do have faith in Jesus. 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:13.680 Because God will change you. 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:19.680 God will do something in your heart that will then make you want to do good works for him. 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:21.180 Doesn't mean you're going to be perfect. 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:27.140 But it means that you will have that desire to do good works for God. 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:33.759 And so James is telling us, faith, if it doesn't have works, that's dead by itself. 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:35.660 Continue on, verse 18. 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.340 Verse 18. 00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:43.860 I will show you my faith by my works. 00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:45.960 This is not talking about God. 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:47.880 God knows if the faith is genuine. 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:49.380 This is talking about each other. 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:54.220 We can show each other that we are truly of God. 00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:55.380 We are children of God. 00:30:55.680 --> 00:31:01.120 We are true believers and followers of Jesus by our works. 00:31:01.840 --> 00:31:03.400 God can show others. 00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:05.620 We can be missionaries. 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.940 Kids, how many of you were here on Wednesday night? 00:31:08.260 --> 00:31:09.500 Any kids that were here on Wednesday night? 00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.300 Yeah, there you go. 00:31:10.580 --> 00:31:11.080 Got a few. 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:11.640 There you go. 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:16.500 Were you all there when Holly and I came down and talked about our missionary time in Panama? 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:18.599 And somebody said, what's a missionary? 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:21.900 We told them a missionary is somebody who tells somebody else about Jesus. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:27.200 We can tell other people about Jesus through our good works. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:33.559 We can go do good works for people and use that as an opportunity to share Jesus with them. 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:37.379 We're not trying to draw them to ourselves and say, look at me, I'm such a great person. 00:31:37.919 --> 00:31:42.539 We're trying to show people that there's a faith inside that's changing us. 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:45.839 And so I'll show you that faith by my works. 00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:49.639 Verse 20, faith without works is useless. 00:31:49.899 --> 00:31:51.159 There's no use for it. 00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:54.119 There's no good it's doing anyone. 00:31:54.119 --> 00:32:01.619 So if you have genuine faith in Jesus and there's no good works coming out in your life, 00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:05.719 I would question whether how genuine that faith is. 00:32:07.199 --> 00:32:08.219 Because it's useless. 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.559 It's dead. 00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:13.979 Verse 22, by works, faith was made complete. 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:16.159 What are we talking about? 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:21.819 It's one of my favorite authors, A.W. Tozer, read one of the greatest books I've ever written, 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:25.259 wrote one of the greatest books I've ever read. 00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:28.039 It's called The Knowledge of the Holy, where he talks about knowing God. 00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:33.559 He says the purpose of good works isn't to change us or to save us. 00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:39.539 Rather, the purpose of good works is the demonstration of the change within us. 00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.799 It is the outpouring. 00:32:41.899 --> 00:32:42.480 It's the outflow. 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.619 It's how we prove it. 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.619 You a Christian? 00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:46.759 Yes. 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.859 Well, you sure don't act like it. 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:50.419 You sure don't talk like it. 00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:53.580 Remember that but God? 00:32:54.060 --> 00:32:57.279 But God can step in and make a change in your life. 00:32:57.740 --> 00:33:03.420 And so if there's no change in your life, it's hard to imagine that God has really entered the picture. 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:07.340 It's a demonstration of the change within us. 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:09.340 So what's the takeaway from all this? 00:33:10.300 --> 00:33:13.720 A gospel-centered life gives me purpose. 00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:16.720 The gospel is the good news of Jesus. 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:19.920 It's the story of how Jesus came as a baby. 00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:20.900 He grew up. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.820 He did many miracles. 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:26.740 The religious men of the day put him on the cross and killed him for crimes he did not commit. 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:33.320 And he allowed that to happen so he could bear the sin of all mankind of all time. 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:35.920 And he could pay the penalty for that sin. 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.940 But he didn't stay dead. 00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:38.279 They buried him in the grave. 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:43.019 And because he truly is God and he is who he says he is, he arose from the dead. 00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:44.200 And he's alive today. 00:33:44.379 --> 00:33:46.039 And he hears us when we sing to him. 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.379 He hears us when we pray to him. 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:49.660 And he says, you can be my child. 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.299 That's the gospel. 00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:53.379 That's the good news. 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:57.580 And if you center your life on that, then that can give you purpose. 00:33:57.800 --> 00:33:59.340 That's why Ephesians 2 is here. 00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:01.860 Ephesians 2 is a breakdown of the gospel. 00:34:02.520 --> 00:34:03.740 It tells you what it's all about. 00:34:04.560 --> 00:34:07.740 Who we were and who we can be in God. 00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:09.280 And that gives you purpose. 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.980 You understand then that we are his workmanship. 00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:14.200 You understand we're created for good works. 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:15.519 Say, what's my life about? 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:17.539 You know, we got some seniors in the room. 00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.300 High school seniors. 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:19.679 We got some juniors. 00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:23.619 We got some teenagers whose adult life are right around the corner. 00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:25.340 And you're thinking, what is my purpose? 00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.599 What am I here for? 00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:28.360 How's my life going to play out? 00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:36.900 If you follow God's purpose for your life, then you can be confident in how it's going to play out. 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:38.880 But you've got to build your life on Jesus. 00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:43.480 You've got to remember, but God. 00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:47.260 My family would have had no hope, but God. 00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:51.740 I might have been a drunkard like my grandfather, but God. 00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:56.079 Maybe suicidal, but God. 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:08.840 There's all kinds of outcomes that could be true for any one of our lives, except for God. 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:12.860 So how do we have a gospel-centered life? 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:15.360 Let's get real practical. 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:19.260 What's the thing you carry around with you most? 00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:20.980 Your phone, right? 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:23.940 I got it up here with my notes on it, just in case that one goes away. 00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:31.760 They got the gospel on there. 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:32.280 Did you know that? 00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:34.219 There's this thing called the Bible app. 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:37.360 You version company that puts it out. 00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.240 You can download it. 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:39.079 You can read the Bible. 00:35:39.079 --> 00:35:42.380 You can turn it on in the Bible where somebody will read the Bible to you. 00:35:43.319 --> 00:35:45.299 There's all kinds of devotional plans on there. 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:50.039 There's all kinds of ways to get the gospel back in your life from your phone. 00:35:50.319 --> 00:35:53.119 There's all kinds of ways to get the gospel in your life through music. 00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.440 You turn on the radio. 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.360 You turn on Spotify. 00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.639 You turn on Apple Music. 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:58.440 Whatever your music of choice is. 00:35:58.500 --> 00:36:04.420 If you still have CDs or cassette tapes or 8-track or records or whatever. 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:07.019 However you listen to your music, okay? 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:10.759 Maybe you get in the garage and have a band or something. 00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:14.840 But whatever it is, the gospel is out there in music. 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:16.100 We do some here in church. 00:36:16.220 --> 00:36:18.200 There's all kinds of Christian music on the radio. 00:36:19.160 --> 00:36:25.060 And the gospel can be continually reminding you of how good God is, what he's done for us, 00:36:25.140 --> 00:36:27.920 the love, the grace, the mercy, the gospel in your talk. 00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:32.040 We should rehearse the gospel in each other's ears. 00:36:32.260 --> 00:36:34.400 We should continually keep it in front of us. 00:36:34.660 --> 00:36:37.620 Man, I don't want to be talking about the gospel with somebody who's already a Christian. 00:36:37.620 --> 00:36:40.460 What if they think that, you know, I don't think they're saved. 00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:43.619 Man, if somebody gets offended by you talking about the gospel with them, 00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:46.579 that might not be a genuine Christian, right? 00:36:46.820 --> 00:36:48.179 And they really need to hear it. 00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:49.440 Of course not. 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:55.579 We should be reminding each other of the truth, the good news of the gospel of Jesus 00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:57.220 and then the gospel with your family. 00:36:58.179 --> 00:37:05.300 How many times before you go to bed tonight do you get your family's minds and hearts and thoughts 00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:09.240 and talk back on Jesus, back on the gospel? 00:37:09.239 --> 00:37:13.119 Family devotions is a crucial, essential moment. 00:37:13.439 --> 00:37:14.859 Man, sometimes there's long days. 00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:15.799 There's long nights. 00:37:15.919 --> 00:37:20.859 And literally, we will just, you know, pray together and sing the chorus of one song 00:37:20.859 --> 00:37:22.019 and then we'll send our kids to bed. 00:37:22.259 --> 00:37:24.059 Sometimes it's more drawn out than that. 00:37:24.619 --> 00:37:28.139 But there's got to be a re-centering on the gospel. 00:37:28.339 --> 00:37:29.519 Do you pray before your meals? 00:37:29.819 --> 00:37:31.699 Is that just a, God, thanks for the food. 00:37:31.779 --> 00:37:31.959 Amen. 00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:35.039 Or is it re-centering our minds? 00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:39.740 God, we thank you so much for providing this food for us, just like you provide everything 00:37:39.740 --> 00:37:40.260 for us. 00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:44.500 It's reminding ourselves of the gospel in every area. 00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:45.519 This is just a smattering. 00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:49.619 You could throw all kinds of other ways in there to center your life back on the gospel. 00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:54.559 But when you do that, the gospel-centered life gives you purpose. 00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:55.880 What purpose is it? 00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.480 Acts 20. 00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.860 I think Paul wrote about it. 00:37:57.940 --> 00:38:03.480 My purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I receive from the Lord Jesus to testify 00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:05.579 the gospel of God's grace. 00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:08.260 There's one thing you get from this church. 00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:11.639 One thing you get from this service is to testify the gospel. 00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:12.519 Okay? 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:13.800 That's what it's about. 00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.619 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:20.240 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:31.960 God, I ask right now, as you work in people's hearts, before we leave, we're going to dismiss 00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:32.659 in just a moment. 00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:37.800 And we know that we've gone a little over time today and we had a lot going on, a lot 00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:39.480 of great things going on in this service today. 00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:48.480 But before we leave, would we take just a moment or two to put our minds back on the gospel, 00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:51.860 back on you, back on the Holy Spirit inside of us? 00:38:51.860 --> 00:38:54.760 And that's for the saved people. 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:57.380 That's for the people who've already put their faith in you. 00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:07.340 I ask that you would convict our hearts of how far we've wandered from the gospel sometimes. 00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:13.900 How rarely we take our minds back there. 00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:20.380 How rarely we remind those we love, our family, our friends. 00:39:24.200 --> 00:39:27.680 And how sometimes that leads us away from the purpose that you have for us. 00:39:29.400 --> 00:39:35.660 Sometimes we wake up and we're not sure what's going on in our life or what we're here for. 00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:41.139 It's because we've gotten away from the purpose that the gospel gives us. 00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:48.839 Thank you for giving us this book of Ephesians that reminds us how great you are, how lost we were 00:39:48.839 --> 00:39:51.279 until you stepped in. 00:39:53.900 --> 00:40:00.139 I pray that you'd work in our hearts, specify, individually specify for each person in the room 00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:04.460 what that looks like in each of our lives. 00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:06.199 We'll thank you for it. 00:40:06.199 --> 00:40:09.559 If there's anybody who doesn't know Jesus as your Savior, 00:40:10.419 --> 00:40:15.019 there has not been that moment where you turn from your sin and turn to Jesus. 00:40:15.319 --> 00:40:16.319 Would you slip your hand up now? 00:40:16.379 --> 00:40:17.119 I'd like to pray for you. 00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:20.000 Thank you. 00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:20.659 You can put your hands down. 00:40:22.419 --> 00:40:26.579 How many of you would say something in the sermon this morning spoke to my heart 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:28.039 and I'd like you to pray for me. 00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.960 Would you slip your hand up? 00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:29.980 I pray for you as well. 00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.019 Thank you. 00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:35.840 Lord Jesus, I pray for those who have raised their hand. 00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:39.000 I pray that you'd work in each heart, convict those of sin who need you 00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:43.699 and help us all to be reminded of the gospel and the purpose it gives us every day. 00:40:43.940 --> 00:40:44.980 It's in Jesus' name we pray.