A Man Who Needed Grace | Ephesians 2:4-10

A Man Who Needed Grace | Ephesians 2:4-10

Sermon Ephesians 2:4-10 | A Man Who Needed Grace

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. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The unit of thought starts at verse 1 or perhaps back at the beginning of the book.

Subject: How and why are we saved?

Compliment: It is by grace you have been saved for God’s glory and to do good works.

Homiletical Idea: We All Need God’s Grace

Introduction

Lyric Video: A Man Who Needed Grace Matthew West – The Man Who Needed Grace (lyrics) – YouTube

When the passage you are preaching starts with “but” you need to go back and read the thought before the but.

2 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.

When I was preparing to talk about grace, I kept thinking about the story of the prodigal son. It was one of the reasons I introduced the song, “Me On Your Mind”. The line about the prodigal son really hits me. If I am being honest, I sometimes have trouble relating to versus 1-4; I have trouble relating to the prodigal son. I relate better to the older brother in the prodigal son story.

I haven’t worshiped any idols, right? Well, maybe not literally, but what do I love more than God. Are there things? Honor my mother and father? Well, not perfectly of course, but better than my friends or siblings (at least in my mind). Not sure that is God’s standard. I haven’t killed anyone. But Jesus said in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5,

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Or let’s take adultery… I’m good. No sin here. Jesus has something to say about that too in Matthew 5,

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Is Jesus serious? What if he is?

Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. A wretch? A despicable or contemptible person? Is that me? Was that me?

One of the nice things about the Bible is that we get real views into the people. Abraham, David, Solomon, Peter, etc.

Let’s read the sermon passage again and look at it more closely.

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. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

  1. Verses 4 and 5: But God made us alive with Christ when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved
    1. The first and obvious point – which we don’t want to miss, is that this is a work of God. But God made us alive. Paul will drill this point home again later in the passage.
    2. Think again about the story of the prodigal son. The Father would have every right to disown his son. In fact, the son was rehearsing his line asking to be made a servant because he was unworthy to be a son. But the Father would have none of that. He ran to him, put a robe on him, put sandals on him, and called for a feast to be prepared. He said, “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again.” What an example of grace. He didn’t treat him according to his actions or hold his past against him. He had the ability to leave his son dead in his transgressions, but he made him alive.
  2. Verses 6 and 7: 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.
    1. I am sure you have heard that Jesus is our brother. You may have even heard that Jesus is the (or our) perfect older brother. I think this is biblically solid. The Bible talks often about us as God’s children.
      1. Ephesians Chapter 1, right before our passage says God chose us for adoption to sonship. The Greek word means a full heir.
      2. Hebrews 2:10-11 says, 10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
  • How amazing. Jesus welcomes and loves his adopted brothers and sisters. Willingly shares his father’s riches. Is not ashamed to call us brother/sister.
  1. In the parable of the prodigal son, the father raises his young son up with his older son. He wants to seat them together at the table and shower his riches and grace on them. The older brother in that story refuses to join in the celebration, he is ashamed to call his brother his brother. He says to the father, “this son of yours…” he is ashamed of him, he disowns him.
    1. If anyone has the right to say, I have served you all my life, and you didn’t throw me a party. Now you want me to join in a celebration for you bringing in these wretched people, it would be Jesus. But, in contrast to the story of the prodigal son, Jesus sits at the table with his prodigal brothers and sisters. Jesus joins in the celebration, and he is glad we are there.
  2. When Jesus told this parable, I think he intended the older brother to represent the pharisees that were listening. Some of us today identify with the older brother as well. Jesus also knew that the Father in this story was God, and in the real story, Jesus is the perfect older brother who is seated with us and not ashamed. I think we need to identify with the younger brother, the prodigal son. The older brother in the story never goes into the party. He doesn’t share in the Father’s riches. If we are saved, we are the prodigal. Thankfully we do not have a self-righteous older sibling ashamed of our past or wishing we hadn’t been adopted into the family. Our older brother is Jesus, and he is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters; he is happy we are there; he is not concerned with our past. Heaven will have one Father, one Older Brother, and a multitude of prodigals.
  1. Verses 8-10: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
    1. Back to the obvious, but important point. We have been saved by grace. We didn’t do it. It is a gift. We didn’t earn it. We can’t boast.
    2. We were saved to do good works and so God could display his glory, power, and riches.
    3. In gym class, who was picked first? The strongest, the best, the fastest, the smartest, etc. Who does God pick?
      1. 1 Corinthians 1:27-31 says, 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
      2. We are saved by grace. It isn’t us, it is God.
    4. What do we do with this? What is our application? Are we supposed to dwell on how weak, dumb, wretched, and pathetic we are? No! Should we go on sinning so grace can abound? No!
      1. We should give God the glory. If we are going to boast, we should boast in the Lord. We should tell everyone about the God who loved a man/woman who needed grace. Tell about that amazing grace that save a wretch like me.
      2. Walk in the good works God created us to do and prepared for us in advance. God has things for you to do. This is why he chose you. He has people for you to impact.
      3. Show grace to those around us in light of the grace we have been shown. When we want to treat people as they deserve, let’s stop and think where we would be if God treated us as we deserved.

We All Need God’s Grace

Conclusion: n/a

Benediction: 2 Corinthians 13:14 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Discussion Questions

Sharing and Prayer: Share what is going on in your life and pray for one another.
Upward: What characteristics of God do we see in this passage? There are at least four, and they come with adjectives describing those characteristics too. How does this passage help shape your view of God?
Inward: Do you find it easy or hard to identify as a man/woman who needs grace? Do you find it easy or hard to identify with the prodigal son?
Outward: Is there someone in your life to whom you need to show more grace? What makes it hard to show grace to others? When is the last time you told someone about the grace God has shown to you?

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