CHIRSTIAN’S PARDON

May 19, 2020 (1 Tim. 2:1-6)

Reading to the hearer: Ephesians 2:1-22

 

The Sinful State of Man

               “ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2     Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3     Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Salvation Through Grace

4     But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5     Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6     And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7     That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8     For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9     Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10     For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The Hopeless Condition of the Heathen

11     Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

 

 

 

The Transformation Wrought in Gentile Believers

      12     That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Jew and Gentile One in Christ

13     But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14     For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15     Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16     And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17     And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18     For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

The Church, a Spiritual Temple.

19     Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20     And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21     In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22     In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

 

  1. THE PAST—vv. 1–4

The Sinful State of Man

  1. Problem—v. 1. Before salvation, doomed to hell.
  2. Past—v. 2. Before salvation, lived in sin.
  3. Passion—v. 3. Obeyed the lusts of the flesh. By birth, children of wrath.

Salvation Through Grace

  1. Pleasure—v. 4. Though in sin, God still loved us.
  2. THE POWER—vv. 5–7
  3. Spirit—v. 5. His Spirit quickened us while in sin.
  4. Salvation—v. 6. Raised from sin to heavenly places.
  5. Showing—v. 7. Show what God has done for us. This is the first purpose of salvation.

III. THE PARDON—vv. 8–13

  1. Saved—vv. 8–9. Note salvation is by grace, through faith. Not by good works, but God’s grace!
  2. Sharing—v. 10. His workmanship. After salvation, He makes and molds us into His image.

The Hopeless Condition of the Heathen

The Transformation Wrought in Gentile Believers

Jew and Gentile One in Christ

  1. Salvation—vv. 11–13. Before salvation, separated from God. Only through His blood are we saved.

 

  1. THE PEACE—vv. 14–18
  2. Redemption—vv. 14–15. Through redemption we have the peace of God. The Jewish laws could not do this.
  3. Reconciliation—v. 16. Joined back to God.
  4. Reception—vv. 17–18. Able to enter His presence through the blood of Christ.
  5. THE PICTURE—vv. 19–22

The Church, a Spiritual Temple.

  1. Conversion—v. 19. Born into God’s family.
  2. Cornerstone—v. 20. Christ the chief cornerstone, and we the small stones in the building.
  3. Construction—vv. 21–22. We are part of the family of God, as well as the kingdom of God. This comes through the new birth.

 

    VI.   Three Amen from Romans chapter 16:

                          

16:20 – Paul predicts victory for believers when the God of peace soon will crush Satan.

16:24 – Paul makes a prayerful pronouncement.  He summons “the grace of our Lord Jesus to be with you.

16:27 – Glory in God’s ability.