1. Sermon But God… Introduction

2. [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. —[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)

4. 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,

5. 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,

6. 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.

7. We are bigger sinners than we dare admit (v. 1-3), and are more loved than we dare imagine (v.4- 10)

8. It’s not about our “resolution” It’s about REGENERATION

9. ALIVE BY HIS LOVE v.4-5 ALIVE BY HIS SOVEREIGN GRACE v.5

10. 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;

11. 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

12. 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.

13. GOD SAVES DEAD PEOPLE ALIVE TO NEW LIFE AND POWER v.6, 10

14. ALIVE FOR A GRACIOUS FUTURE v.7 WE ARE BEGGARS AT THE FEAST ALIVE FOR GOOD WORKS v. 10

15. 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.

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