Title: Grace and Faith / Ephesians 2:1-10
content and belief
Ephesians 2:1-10, 1 Peter 4:11
Today's text is talking about the way of salvation. These words tell us what our life is, why we must be saved, how we must be saved, and how those who are saved must live.
1. Why do we need to be saved?
You, who were dead in trespasses and sins, made you alive. 2:1
It says that we were dead in trespasses and sins. Man was created in the image of God. However, they failed to live according to God's word and disobeyed God and became stained with sin. So, in the end, man's image of God was broken, and his soul died. It was impossible to walk with God. In order to have fellowship with God who is the Spirit, we must meet through the channel of God's image, but as that image is broken, the way of fellowship with God has disappeared. So, in the end, man is a fallen being, and his soul has become a dead being.
The image of God is like a mirror that reflects God and enables us to know God. But the mirror of that spirituality was broken. When a mirror is broken, everything reflected in it is reflected as a distorted image. That is why people who are not saved cannot know God or come to know God incorrectly. Therefore, the soul must be healed. How are you treated? You are healed by the blood of Jesus Christ. So Jesus was crucified. It's like you shed your blood to put a broken mirror back together.
In this way, Jesus took on all our transgressions and sins and took the punishment on the cross. Therefore, anyone who believes and accepts this grace has the qualifications to enter into that grace. Jesus died and made us alive.
2. How should we be saved?
The most important part of today's text is verse 8.
By grace you have been saved through faith 2:8
① By that grace -- 'Because of the grace of Jesus on the cross,' these are the words.
② Through faith -- 'Through faith to understand grace and receive it'.
No matter how much Jesus took up the cross and took on all our sins, the grace cannot enter those who do not acknowledge that fact. Even if it rains like a waterfall, if the lid is closed, water cannot get in. The grace of Jesus is infinite grace given to everyone, but it cannot be received without faith because it comes through the channel of faith. That is why 'by grace, through faith'.
Just because human beings must respond in this way for the work of salvation to take place, does not mean that we can boast of our human deeds. Because they are all gifts of grace from God. What we have done is for what the Lord has done, Amen! I believe! and I just received that grace in its entirety. So I call this a gift. Gifts are received as a thank you, not in return. Just because I received it doesn't mean I did anything. That's why I can't be proud of my work. It's just thanks.
This is not from you, it is a gift from God.
It is not of works, so that no one can boast. 2:8-9
3. How should a saved person live?
Through the grace of the cross, God made a person who has been forgiven of sins a new being. It is not because of a change in appearance, nor because of a clear conscience, nor because of a change in the way we live. When the prodigal son returned, just like the father who accepted, saying, 'You are my son' without asking any questions or arguing, he just trusted him and gave him the seal 'You are mine'. So all of a sudden, my identity changed. I am the same, but my identity has changed. I became a child of God. I became a citizen of heaven. became a man of God. Your identity has changed. So salvation is grace. Salvation is a gift.
But from now on, that's the problem. If your identity has changed, you must live in a different form. Today, I will tell you the standards for living in a different way.
we are what he made
created in Christ Jesus for good works... 2:10
A Christian is a person who died with Jesus on the cross and was born again in the risen Jesus. The reason God makes us new people like this is to do good deeds.
What is good? 1 Peter 4:11 says this.
If anyone speaks, let them speak as if they were speaking the word of God
If anyone wants to serve, do it with the strength God provides.
Whatever you do in the name of Jesus, it is a good thing. Anything you can do in the name of Jesus, that is a good thing. It is a good thing to do to anyone in the name of Jesus, as we do to Jesus, out of love for Jesus. I bless you to become the saints who do anything in the name of Jesus for the glory of Jesus. It is a good work, because he raised us from the dead in trespasses and sins to do that good work.
I hope today's Holy Communion will be a time of grace to wash away my stained and stained soul, to illuminate the darkened soul with the light of grace, and to heal the wounded soul and the body weakened by suffering.
To all the saints who have been called for good works, I bless you that you may receive the grace of being born again through the Lord's Supper today and live a life that glorifies Jesus in the filling of the Holy Spirit.
.