By Doyle Fulkes follow me on

Ephesians 2:1-10 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

The Sinful Nature defines the Dynamics of Grace Dead in trespasses and sins Ephesians 2:1 All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God… Romans 3:23 There is none righteous no not one…Romans 3:10

David declared “in sin did my mother conceive me…” Psalms 51:5 All we like sheep have gone astray and turned to their wicked way… Isaiah 53:6 the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23

We continue to crave the sinful things of the flesh. We have no control; we are incapable of doing anything about sin. We are born in to it. Passed on by the fall of Adam and Eve.

Our view of the sinful nature will define what Grace would need to be. Some would try to excuse sin and say it is not so bad. Others would try to offset sin with our good behavior; still others would suggest that man is basically good. But sin is hopeless, we are trapped in a body that’s very nature is sinful and we cannot escape it, we cannot get away from it ourselves.

In fact the last phrase of these passages reads we are by nature worthy of Judgment.

The Prodigal Son takes his inheritance and leaves!!!!

Why couldn’t the Father have helped the boy sooner since he was willing? Because the son would not let him. Will you let the Lord save you?

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Grace is the only way we could ever not pay the penalty for our own sins. Through Grace we receive the kindness of God. All our sin is forgiven and all our shame taken away.

John 3:16 – “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Romans 5:8 “but God expresses His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

While I was lost making no effort to come to Christ, God was in Christ reconciling me to Him. The Prodigal comes home! “I have sinned and am no longer to be called your son, make me like one of your hired servants.”

The Father There He Is!

The Father Restores the son to his rightful place…Gives him His robe, His rightful work, and gifting’s… Our rightful destiny in the family.

Psalm 32: Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against the man in whose spirit is no deceit.

Vs 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, Which God prepared in advance for us to do.

It seems backwards, God forgives us and restores us free of charge to us. But it is in His grace we now do the works of God. Now we accomplish the works of God. Through Grace we become what we could never do on our own.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No I worked harder than all of them—yet not I but the Grace of God that was with me. 1 Cor. 15:10

Take A-Ways Sin is contagious and terminal We are unable to fix it! Grace is God’s idea Grace is undeserved and unearned Grace is the driving force of God’s will in our lives Grace pursues us.