Sermon

But God…

Introduction

[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.

(Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV)

4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love

with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by

grace you have been saved--

6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in

the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7so that in the coming ages he might show the

immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by

grace you have been saved through faith. And

this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

10For we are his workmanship, created in

Christ Jesus for good works, which God

prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are bigger sinners than we dare admit (v. 1-3),

and are more loved than we dare imagine (v.4-10)

It’s not about our “resolution”

It’s about REGENERATION

ALIVE BY HIS LOVE v.4-5

ALIVE BY HIS SOVEREIGN GRACE v.5

it is the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those ‘chosen or elect’ of God enlightening their minds, spiritually and savingly, to understand the things of God, taking away

their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh;

renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good;

and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet

so as they come most freely, being made willing

by his grace.

This effectual call is of God's free and special grace

alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in man

who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is

thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.

GOD SAVES DEAD PEOPLE

ALIVE TO NEW LIFE AND POWER v.6, 10

ALIVE FOR A GRACIOUS FUTURE v.7

WE ARE BEGGARS AT THE FEAST

ALIVE FOR GOOD WORKS v. 10

Luther’s Theses - The gospel creates a new relationship to God, in

which there is a new sense of delight in and service to God for the beauty of who

He is in Himself.

Only in the gospel do you obey God for God's sake, and not for what God will

give you