Trip Lee Born Again Christian Eph 2 Sermon

I believe that nothing is more than foundational to the Christian life than for the believer to understand his or her position in Christ Jesus.

Our position in Christ is our legal standing with God: Are we guilty or not guilty? Debtors or free? His enemies or His friends? Understanding these things makes a difference in how we alive 24-hour interval in and day out.

In His goodness and past His grace, God changes our standing — our position — before Him when we place our trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Ephesians two:vii affirms that our new status flows out of that wonderful phrase "the riches of God's grace."

This report will explore the riches of God's grace in regard to the believer's position in Christ.

Hither'southward where this commodity is headed:

Defining Grace

What Our Position in Christ Means (and What It Doesn't Hateful)

How to Establish These Truths in Our Hearts

The Riches of God's Grace for the Believer

Next Steps: Acquire About More Cadre Christian Beliefs

Defining Grace

How do we define grace? A mutual definition is "God's riches at Christ's expense." Another way to describe grace is "the unmerited favor and kindness of God." And oh how He has acted out of his kindness for the good of the believer! There was justice due for the penalty of our sin, but God paid that debt through the sacrificial death of His Son. Ephesians one:three says nosotros were (past tense – when we first believed in Jesus) blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace!

The riches of God'due south grace requite us a new position in Christ, and this makes all the divergence in living with purpose and satisfaction. Most of the campaigner Paul's letters in the New Testament draw a sharp distinction between what God has done for the states by grace and how we are to alive in view of this fact. The Book of Ephesians, for instance, first makes united states "sit and larn" of our position in Christ and and so, in view of this position, encourages us to alive a life consistent with it.

In other words, the Christian life is becoming (in experience) who you already are (as God sees you). This divine social club is conspicuously seen in the books of Ephesians, Colossians and Romans amid others. Every bit a study of your own, read the book of Ephesians and write downward all that God has washed for you and that which you are chosen to do yourself. You should see a sharp distinction between the first iii chapters and the terminal three (with the connection between the two at 4:1). Commenting on Ephesians, Watchman Nee says:

Most Christians make the mistake of trying to walk in club to be able to sit, but that is a reversal of the truthful gild. Our natural reason says, If we exercise not walk, how can we always reach the goal? What can nosotros attain without effort? How can nosotros get anywhere if we do not motion? But Christianity is a queer business organisation! If at the outset we try to practice annihilation, we miss everything. For Christianity begins not with a big DO, but with a big Washed. Thus Ephesians opens with the argument that God has "blessed us with every spiritual approving in the heavenly places in Christ" and nosotros are invited at the first to sit downwards and savor what God has done for us; not to set out to try and accomplish it for ourselves.ⁱ

Then we desire to build on that which is Washed and, through organized religion, be enabled to rest in the finished piece of work of Christ (significant what Jesus accomplished past His decease and resurrection) and our position in Him.

What Our Position in Christ Means (and What It Doesn't Hateful)

The framework for the following has been loosely taken from "Salvation" past Lewis Sperry Chafer. Before looking at that which God has done for the believer in Christ, hither is a summary of the five points Chafer raises²:

Our position in Christ is a result of our new life in Christ from which precious experiences may grow. For example, justification – meaning all of our past sins being covered – leads to joy and peace.
The Christian position is every bit perfect and consummate the instant it is possessed equally it ever will be in the ages to come.
This position has cipher to do with what we have achieved or earned. Information technology is based solely on the merit of the Christ. The Christian is "accepted (now and forever) in the beloved."
This position does not e'er change. Our sensation and feelings about our position may vary day to day, simply the abiding fact that we are a new creation in Christ remains.
Our position can only be known through God revealing it to u.s.. Its reality can be grasped merely by believing the Word of God. These eternal riches of grace are for anyone who will believe.

How to Establish These Truths in Our Hearts

At present, nosotros volition explore the riches of God. But earlier you get-go racing through the list, think! Yep, think about His riches. Meditate on them and what they mean for you. You see, I've read lists like this before, and I know the temptation to race through them. But I believe that these are truths that God wants to firmly constitute within our hearts, for they glorify His grapheme and show the extent of His work on the Cross for us. In his volume "Sit, Walk, Stand," Watchman Nee says:

Our Christian life begins with the discovery of what God has provided. From this point onwards Christian experience gain as it began, not on the basis of our own work but e'er on that of the finished work of some other.³

Every new spiritual experience begins with acceptance by faith of what God has washed. As you lot read each point, retrieve what y'all accept but read: These truths are eternal and are as truthful of you today equally they ever will be. They do not grow or increase just are complimentary gifts of God'due south astonishing grace.

God has subconscious these truths from the proud and self-confident. But for those who truly see their need of God, the gifts of grace get their greatest delight!

You enter into new experiences of God'south love as y'all take past organized religion that which God has done in Christ.

The Riches of God'due south Grace for the Believer

The following things are true of everyone who has placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. They are God's gifts to all through the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus. (The Bible verses are taken from the English Standard Version.)

In the Eternal Plan of God

Before the world had even been created, God knew and chose those who would be His children through religion, and in the course of time, He chosen them to Himself. Exercise we fully sympathize it? No style! Not until He explains it all in sky. Do we still believe it? Yes, both through the Give-and-take of God and the feel of God's phone call upon our lives. Believers are:

Foreknown: Romans viii:29 — "For those whom He foreknew He too predestined to be conformed to the epitome of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Also see one Peter 1:two.)
Elected: 1 Thessalonians one:four — "For nosotros know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you." (Also meet Romans 8:33; Colossians iii:12; Titus one:1.)
Predestined: Ephesians 1:11 — "In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will"
Chosen: 1 Peter 2:9 — "But you are a called race, a purple priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession ..." (Also see Matthew 22:14.)
Called: Romans 9:eleven — "... though they were not yet born and had washed zippo either adept or bad — in order that God'southward purpose of election might go along, not because of works just because of Him who calls." (Too come across i Thessalonians 5:24.)

Brought About to God

The Bible says the blood of Christ brings united states of america virtually to God. In the apostle Paul's writings, everything the claret of Christ accomplishes is also accomplished past the expiry and the cross of Christ. They are interchangeable ideas. If we are declared righteous by the blood, we're declared righteous past His death. It isn't the concrete makeup of the blood that accomplishes something, it is the sacrificial giving of life that allows us to come virtually.

Reconciled past God: 2 Corinthians five:18 — "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled the states to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (Also see Colossians ane:twenty.)
Reconciled to God: Romans 5:10 — "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God past the expiry of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life." (Also see two Corinthians v:20.)
Redeemed: Colossians 1:14 — "... in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Also see 1 Peter one:eighteen; Romans 3:24.)
Brought Well-nigh: Ephesians 2:13 — "In Christ Jesus you lot who one time were far off have been brought well-nigh by the blood of Christ."
Given Access: Ephesians 2:eighteen — "For through Him we both accept admission in one Spirit to the Male parent." (Also come across Ephesians 3:12; Romans v:2; Hebrews 4:fourteen-xvi; ten:nineteen- 20.)

Children of God

Can someone who is born get unborn? Can a son or girl in a family unit somehow finish existence a son or daughter? No! If you accept been born into a family and then you may change your proper name, merely you cannot alter your DNA. You are forever a son or daughter of your father. The same applies to our spiritual birth! The believer is a son or girl of God.

Born Once again: one Peter 1:23 — ". . . since you have been born once again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God." (Besides see John 1:12; 3:7.)
Children of God: 1 John 3:2 — "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we volition be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears nosotros shall be like Him, because nosotros shall see Him as he is." (Also see 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians iii:26.)
New Creations: two Corinthians 5:17 — "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new cosmos. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (Also run into Galatians half dozen:15; Ephesians two:10.)
Adopted: Romans 8:fifteen — "For you did non receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fright, but yous have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we weep, 'Abba! Father!'" (Also come across Galatians 4:v.)
Heirs: Galatians 4:7 — "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Totally Acceptable to God Through Jesus Christ

Practise yous have to be perfect to go to heaven? Most say no because no one is perfect. Yet could a perfectly holy God let anything less than perfection into His presence? No! So therefore, yes, y'all practice have to be perfect. Merely how could this ever be accomplished by an imperfect, sinful creation? In Christ, righteousness and perfection are a gift! His declaration is that believers are forever justified – a position that means we are declared righteous. He completely covers our past.

Justified: Romans five:i — "Therefore, since nosotros accept been justified past faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Likewise encounter Romans 3:24; 8:30; ane Corinthians 6:xi; Titus iii:seven.)
Righteous: Philippians three:8-nine — "... in society that I may gain Christ and exist plant in Him, non having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, simply that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on organized religion." (Also run across Romans 3:22; 5:17; 10:3-4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; ii Corinthians 5:21.)
Sanctified: 1 Corinthians 1:30 — "And because of Him you lot are in Christ Jesus, who became to us … sanctification and redemption ..." (Also see 1 Corinthians 6:eleven; Hebrews 10:10.)
Made Perfect: Hebrews 10:14 — "For past a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Also see Hebrews 10:ane-2 for the results of being made perfect.)
Accepted: Ephesians 1:5-vi — "... he predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed the states in the Love." (As well see 1 Peter ii:v.)
Forgiven: Colossians two:13 — "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your mankind, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses." (As well see Colossians one:14; three:13; Ephesians 1:7; 4:32.)
Complete: Colossians ii:10 — "Yous have been filled in Him, who is the head of all dominion and authorisation."

Forever United and Joined with Christ

Believers take been placed "in Christ" so that whatsoever has happened to Christ has also happened to them. When Jesus died and rose once more, so did we spiritually, and never again volition God see a laic as anything other than a new creation in Christ Jesus. Nosotros are forever united and joined to Christ, and His history is our history!

Crucified: Romans 6:half-dozen — "We know that our former self was crucified with Him in order that the torso of sin might be brought to nothing, then that we would no longer exist enslaved to sin." (Also see Galatians 2:xx.)
Dead: Romans 6:8 — "Now if nosotros accept died with Christ, nosotros believe that we will too live with Him." (Besides Colossians 3:iii.)
Cached: Romans half-dozen:4 — "We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in gild that, merely as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Begetter, we as well might walk in newness of life." (Too run into Colossians 2:12.)
Raised: Colossians 3:1 — "If then y'all have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." (As well meet Romans 6:4.)
Ascended: Ephesians 2:6 — "... and raised united states of america upwards with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Jesus' Very Ain Possession

In a parable most the kingdom of God, Jesus likened Himself to a homo who found a treasure in a field (Matthew thirteen:44). And considering of His immense joy, He sold all that He had so that He could buy that field. The treasure in the field stands for those in the world who believe in His name. For them, He was willing to give up all that He had (His life), and for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross (Hebrews 12).

His Souvenir: John 6:37 — "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.'' (As well see John x:29; 17:6,xi,12,20)
His Bride: 2 Corinthians 11:2 — "For I experience a divine jealousy for y'all, since I betrothed you to i husband, to present you every bit a pure virgin to Christ." (Likewise see Ephesians 5:25-32; Revelation 19:7; John 3:29.)
His Inheritance: Ephesians one:18 — "... that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints."
His Possession: Ephesians 1:fourteen — "... who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of information technology, to the praise of His celebrity."

Blessed With the Holy Spirit

Believers are also given the Holy Spirit, not only as a ways of living the Christian life in this historic period merely as well every bit a guarantee that, as God's possessions, nosotros will participate in the glory of the historic period to come up! There is no true Christian alive who has not been given the Holy Spirit.

Born of the Spirit: John three:6 — "That which is born of the mankind is flesh, and that which is built-in of the Spirit is spirit."
Baptized: 1 Corinthians 12:13 — "For in one Spirit nosotros were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were fabricated to drink of one Spirit."
Indwelt: 1 Corinthians vi:19 — "Exercise you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within yous, whom you accept from God?" (Also come across i Corinthians two:12; John seven:39; Romans 5:5; 8:9; 2 Corinthians one:21; Galatians 4:6.)
Sealed: Ephesians ane:13-14 — "In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until nosotros acquire possession of information technology, to the praise of his glory."

Within the "How Much More" Care of God (Romans v:10)

Remember of it – when we were sinners and enemies of God, He fully justified usa from every charge because of our faith in His precious Son, Jesus. How much more now, as His treasured possession, volition believers discover themselves the objects of His care!

Objects of His Love: Ephesians 2:4 — "Merely God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved u.s.a. ..." (Too run across Ephesians 5:2; 1 John iii:ane.)
Objects of His Grace: Romans v:two — "Through Him we take also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in promise of the glory of God." (Also see Ephesians 2:vii-viii; Titus ii:12-xiii.)
Objects of His Power: Ephesians 1:xviii-nineteen — "... that yous may know ... what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe." (Likewise see Philippians ii:thirteen; 1 Peter i:5.)
Objects of His Faithfulness: Hebrews 13:five — "I will never leave y'all nor abdicate y'all." (Also meet Philippians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 1:viii-9; Jude 24.)
Objects of His Peace: Philippians four:9 — "The God of peace will be with you lot." (Besides see Philippians iv:7.)
Objects of His Encouragement: two Thessalonians 2:xvi — "At present may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Male parent, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace ..." (Also see Romans 15:four-5.)
Objects of His Intercession: Hebrews vii:25 — "Consequently, He is able to save to the farthest those who draw almost to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Also see Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24.)

A Heavenly Home Assured

Last, but near importantly of all, He has given u.s. citizenship in heaven – where we volition be beau heirs with the Rex of kings! We live every bit strangers and exiles on this earth, far from our truthful abode to come. We are ambassadors of God in a land not our own. Just our heavenly home is assured, and our inheritance is waiting, kept safe by God himself!

Heavenly Citizens: Philippians 3:twenty — "Our citizenship is in sky." (Also see Ephesians two:nineteen; Hebrews 12:22.)
Members of God'due south Household: Ephesians 2:19 — "You are beau citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Also see 3:15; Galatians 6:10.)
Have a Heavenly Inheritance: 1 Peter 1:4-5 — "... an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God'southward ability are being guarded through organized religion for a conservancy ready to exist revealed in the last time." (Besides meet Ephesians 1:14; Colossians 3:24; Hebrews ix:15.)

One terminal thought: From the simplicity of a blossom to the complexity of space, the more humankind explores the work of God, the more we stand in awe of His perfection. With such a creative and all-powerful God, do you call up He would complete anything less than perfection in the important piece of work of our conservancy?

The riches of God's grace are incredible! Only every bit Chafer says, it's only the showtime! One day, when Christ comes again, the process shall be complete and we shall exist inverse into His likeness. And and then, for the ages that are to come, His helpmate shall be a visible witness to the incredible kindness and grace of God (Ephesians two:7). Allow me cease with a quote from Jonathan Edwards that reflects what our reality will one day be: "Grace is but glory begun, and glory is merely grace perfected."

Adjacent Steps

Learn more about core Christian beliefs such as the Holy Spirit, heaven and the Trinity.

Notes:

Watchman Nee, "Sit, Walk, Stand" (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Business firm, 1977), p. ii.
Lewis Sperry Chafer, "Salvation" (Findlay, OH: Durham Publishing Company, 1917), pp. 57-59.
Nee, "Sit down, Walk, Stand," p.five.

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