The Gospel of Grace Defined and Described Reading and Heeding Ephesians 2:1-7 Ryan Habbena Twin City Fellowship

The Bad News First And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. Ephesians 2:1-3

The Death of the Human Race Genesis 2:16-17 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.“ Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned...

Our Lord Teaches About Human Depravity JOHN 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” JOHN 8:43-44 "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.”

A Description of Spiritual Death As it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving, The poison of asps is under their lips, Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18

The Good News of Grace But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) Ephesians 2:4-5

Grace Defined But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 Romans 5:8

The Promise of Future Glory and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7

The Bad and Good News Contrasted By Nature Children of Wrath By Nature Children of Wrath By Nature Living by the Spirit of the Devil By Nature Living by the Spirit of the Devil Headed for Eternal Torment Headed for Eternal Torment By Grace Children of God By Grace Children of God By Nature Living by the Spirit of God By Nature Living by the Spirit of God Destined for the “Ages of His Kindness” Destined for the “Ages of His Kindness”

Salvation that Spans History Ephesians 1:4-5 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, Ephesians 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

#1 Cling to the Truths of Human Depravity and Sovereign Grace God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? "Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life." But what is the divine response to him? "I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

#2 Humble Yourselves in Thanksgiving Before the Throne of Grace But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.“ But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.“ James 4:6 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:14-15