Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 By Grace Through Faith 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience 3 among whom we all once lived in to the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Theme: Embracing my And Realigning for God's Kingdom (EMBARK) Text: Ephesians 2:1-10
EMBRACE to hold someone close to you with your arms to express affection, love, or sympathy.
Most people define beliefs as inward convictions, a feeling of certainty about what something means. They are what you hold dear and are rooted deeply within. A belief is both mental and emotional. It is imbedded in the mind and in the heart. Your beliefs will dictate your action. It is important for you young people to have a right belief because your right belief will lead you to right action. Action and belief are like two wings on a bird. Both wings are needed. One without the other makes no sense.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[a] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17
Realigning - to put something into a new or correct position
The kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God. In this sense, the kingdom of God is spiritual
Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). That the kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere of salvation is evident in John 3:5–7, where Jesus says the kingdom of God must be entered into by being born again.
DECAFFEINATED COFFEE
Decaf can be deceptive. It looks like real coffee. It smells like real coffee. It even sort of tastes like real coffee.
Colossians 3:2 saying, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ. Colossians 2:8
Context Summary Ephesians 2:1–10 clearly explains the relationship between our lack of obedience, the grace of God, and our salvation. Those who are saved by Christ do not deserve this salvation. It is only by mercy, and by grace, that God chooses to forgive.
In this section, Paul will repeat the claim that human effort has no impact on salvation whatsoever. No Christian can brag about their ''goodness,'' since we are saved entirely by the grace of God, not by our own good deeds. Context Summary
Chapter Summary Paul repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is accomplished on the basis of grace, through faith. Good works, human effort, and our best intentions will never be enough to earn salvation. Every person is marked with sin, both deliberate and accidental, and for this reason we deserve to be separated from God.
Chapter Summary Only through His mercy and grace can we be saved, leaving no room for bragging. This also means that all who are saved, Jew and Gentile alike, are part of the same spiritual family. There is no cause for hostility between believers; we are all unworthy, and all saved by the same kindness of God.
A.R.M.S
First: A- ffirm that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus ( vv. 8-9) 8 For by grace you Have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Undeserved favor of God in providing salvation for those deserving condemnation. The saving activity of which is manifested in the gift of His Son to die in the place of sinners.
Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
is God's special favor freely given to undeserving people.
Grace is everything for nothing. It is helping the helpless, going to those who cannot come in their own strength. Lehman Strauss
Second: R-enounce the power of evil or darkness in your life for you have been regenerated by God and you have the capability to do/live right (that referring to our old life) vv. 1-3,5
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 5 even twhen we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved
is to give up, refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration :formally declare one’s abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession) RENOUNCE
According to Holman Regeneration is a special act of God in which the recipient is passive. God alone awakens the person spiritually through the power of the Holy Spirit. Both the Old and New Testament also speak of the renewing of the individual. In a technical sense the act of regeneration takes place at the moment of conversation as the individual is spiritually awakened.
Spiritually, it means that God brings a person to new life (that they are "born again") from a previous state of separation from God and subjection to the decay of death as mention in verse 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:6-11NIV
Ephesians 5:15-17 15 Gani halungan ninyo ang inyo pagkabuhi . Indi kamo magkabuhi pareho sa mga tawo nga wala nakaintiendi , kundi magkabuhi kamo bilang mga tawo nga nakaintiendi sang kabubut -on sang Dios. 16 Indi ninyo pag-usikan ang inyo tiyempo , kundi gamiton ninyo sa paghimo sang maayo , tungod nga malaot ang ini nga mga inadlaw . 17 Indi kamo magmanagmangin-ignorante kundi intiendihon ninyo kon ano ang gusto sang Ginoo nga ipahimo sa inyo .
GOD’S Third: wonderful and miraculous works in our life vv. 4-7 M- agnify
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
MAGNIFY make (something) appear larger than it is, especially with a lens or microscope: to enlarge in fact or in appearance In the Bible the original sense of magnify was " to praise highly , to glorify , to extol ," specifically, " to praise or render honor to God ."
2 Corinthians 5:7 says, For we live by faith, not by sight.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Mga utod , gusto namon nga mahibaluan ninyo ang matuod parte sa mga nagkalamatay , agod indi kamo magkasubo pareho sang iban nga wala sing paglaom . 14 Nagapati kita nga si Jesus napatay kag nabanhaw . Gani nagapati man kita nga banhawon sang Dios ang mga nagkalamatay nga nagtuo kay Jesus kag paupdon niya sila kay Jesus.
Fourth: to the world the beautiful masterpiece/workmanship of God v.10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Showcase to show (something or someone) in an attractive or favorable way
We are God’s masterpiece (work of art, workmanship). Our salvation is something only God can do. It is his powerful, creative work in us. If God considers us his masterpieces, we dare not treat ourselves or others. With disrespect or inferior work.
The work of salvation is a display of divine workmanship. God calls us His workmanship or His artwork, from the Greek word poiēma ( a product ). We are something crafted, with skill and a purpose, by God, for His purposes. Specifically, we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Good works do not give us salvation, but they are absolutely meant to be the result of salvation.
Interestingly, God prepared what He wanted us to do for Him long ago. He has already planned what He wants us to do with our lives. We do not need to copy what someone else has done or is doing. He has a unique plan for each of us to serve Him in this world. This includes certain spiritual gifts and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to lead us in service to Him.
Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
NNCYFU, the message of the Lord for you tonight, challenge you to EMBARK or to start a new beginning, keep going, and keep journeying on your faith towards God. Embrace your beliefs and realign it for God's kingdom.
A ffirm that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus R enounce the power of evil or darkness in your life for you have regenerated by God and you have the capability to do/live right M agnify God’s wonderful and miraculous works in our life S howcase to the world the beautiful masterpiece/workmanship of God