The Bible paints a stark picture of man's bleak condition in sin. Against this backdrop, we recognize the awesome riches of God's love, mercy and kindness in the gospel.
Sermon Notes:
- We know that we live in a world affected by sin. An honest self-assessment also tells us that we ourselves are corrupted by sin and under God’s wrath and judgment.
- When Adam and Eve were cast out of God’s presence, they were separated from intimate communion with the life of God.
- For Paul death is separation from God due to our rebellion against God’s law, leaving us without hope in the world.
- To be dead in our sins refers to our basic inclination to do evil.
- Paul says we have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Having sinned, we no longer reflect the glory of God.
- The problem is us. We are twisted and crooked because of our trespasses and sins (Psalm 78:57).
- Behind the visible environment there are evil spiritual forces. No social policy or legislation will defeat spiritual evil; only the gospel can defeat sin and Satan.
- The Devil has influence, but he is not reigning. He is captive, having been defeated by Christ.
- Changing our environment will not fix our sin problem. Even if the conditions in our environment were changed, we would still be children of wrath.
- Paul paints a stark picture of our bleak condition in sin. Against this backdrop, we recognize the awesome riches of God’s love, mercy and kindness in the gospel.
- In saving us, God has poured out the power that raised Jesus, making us alive and setting us as rulers with Christ.
- God has made us alive together with Christ by the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead.
- In Christ, we now share in the eternal life of the Godhead. We have hope because God is with us in the world.
- We have ascended with Christ. That is our spiritual location, having been taken out of the world. We are not just elevated, but we are enthroned in heaven with Christ.
- This should give us every confidence to go out into the world and to do the works of Christ.
- The mercy and love of God are the reason why God has granted us such rich spiritual blessings (Psalm 103).
- Christ redeems our life from the pit so we can be seated with Christ in heavenly places.
- The grace of God is seen in the love of the father toward the prodigal son. It is because of God’s great love that we’re saved.
- We have been saved by grace. We cannot save ourselves (cf. Gal. 2:20).
- We are saved by grace through faith. Faith recognizes the grace of God and believes the Son of God gave Himself for us.
- Faith rests in a sure trust that every blessing described by Paul in this passage is true for us.
- Even the good works we do are by God’s grace; they are acts which He prepared for us to do.
- We are God’s workmanship and our lives are directed for His glory.
- In every little act of obedience, we are called to participate in the work of God.
Application Question
- What has God saved us from in the gospel?
- How did God accomplish salvation?
- Why did God save us, and for what purpose are we saved?
- What is saving faith, and what does that faith rest in?
- How are we to make known the love of Christ?
- What is the basis of our confidence to do God’s work in a hostile world?