Text:

Ephesians 1:3-6:

3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly

     places in Christ:

4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame

     before him in love:

5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his

     will,

6: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

 

Theme:

God’s Amazing Grace

 

Introduction:

• The scripture is taken from the New Testament book of Ephesians, the letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus. The letter is not written to any specific issues with the church itself.  However, it addresses the need for a general Christian understanding and application of sound doctrine.
• The text from the first chapter is contexted by Paul’s greeting to the church in Ephesus and his reminding the church of 1)the preparation of God’s blessings and 2)our being purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ.

 

Body:

• In our text Paul enlightens us on the importance of God’s Amazing Grace.
• What is Grace?
  • Grace is understood to be a PARDON…an overlooking …”Don’t worry about it”…”It’s alright anyhow”
• What is God’s Grace?
  • Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” – It is not of our own doing.
  • Romans 9:15-16, “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
    • God can do what He wants to do!
    • God is sovereign:
      • God can do what ever he wants to do when He wants to.
      • God can do what ever he wants to do where He wants to.
      • God can do what ever he wants to do how He wants to.
• What is God’s Amazing Grace? What makes God’s Grace AMAZING?
  • The Bible also says in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” – It is God’s Grace that saves us!
  • Ephesians 2:5, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
    • “Even when we were dead in sins”
      • When I was more concerned about MY MONEY than GOD’S UNSPEAKABLE GIFT
      • When I was more concerned about MY WORDLY FUN than MY SPIRITUAL JOY
      • When I was more concerned about MY THINGS than MY GOOD THING in Jesus
      • When I was DEAD
        • Too MEAN to LOVE right
        • Too BLIND to SEE right
        • Too DUMB to TALK right
        • Too DEAF to HEAR right
        • Too CRIPPLE to WALK right
        • Too DEAD to LIVE right
      • “Hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved)”
        • What is amazing about GRACE is that it is how are saved
        • Grace saved US!!
• Our text explains how God’s Amazing Grace has saved us:
  • Verse 3 says that it has BLESSED US
    • “with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”
    • He has given us a FORETASTE now and a REWARD later
  • Verse 4 says that it has CHOSEN US
    • “in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”
    • Many are called but few are chosen
      • God calls all to be obedient but only few are chosen to benefit from His grace
    • Verse 5 says that it has PREDESTINED US
      • “unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
      • What God has for me, it is for me!
    • Verse 6 says that it has MADE US ACCEPTED
      • “wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved”
      • I am His, and He is MINE!

 

Conclusion:

• We need to accept God’s Amazing Grace
  • God’s Amazing Grace is the:
    • Foundation for faith
    • Fuel for repentance
    • Motivation for works
    • Provider of eternal life
    • Entrance to God’s love
    • Seal for our relationship with God

 

• First of all, Grace wasn’t given because we are so good, but because God is so GOOD!!!
• Secondly, Grace is available to all of who will:
  • REPENT
  • BELIEVE
  • BE BAPTIZED
  • RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST

 

• I know this because GRACE SAVED ME!!!

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now I’m found

Was blind but now I see.

Through many dangerous toils and snares

I have already come,

But grace has brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home.

 

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