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The unsearchable riches of Christ, Pt28

From foreigners to fellow-citizens, Pt1

Scripture: Eph 2:11-13.

The word “wherefore” at the beginning of this, the second part of the chapter, indicates that Paul is drawing some conclusions from that which he has stated in the previous verses. He had already reminded them in the earlier verses, of their spiritual state before the grace of God delivered them. He was now going to reinforce those memories.
I. REMEMBERING OUR FORMER STATE IS AN ESSENTIAL EXERCISE FOR THE CHILD OF GOD.
1. How quickly we forget God’s merciful dealings with us. James 1:23-24. We are not inclined to retain spiritual impressions. In Egypt, Israel’s circumstances were terrible, Exodus 2:23-25; 3:7. But once delivered, they soon forgot, Ex 16:1-3. This was but four weeks later!
So it is still with God’s people. Gal 1:6. They had turned away from the gospel, having forgotten what it had done for them. This church at Ephesus was to do the same, despite Paul’s exhortations here, Rev 2:4.
2. Such forgetfulness leads to great sin. It is the seed-bed of all rebellion. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God,” Psalm 9:17. It is the basis of apostasy, Rom 1:28. “And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish,”  Deut 8:19. Job 8:11-13. Gal 4:9; 2 Pet 1:9-15.
3. God repeatedly commands remembrance of His dealings with us. “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day,” Deut 5:15. “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no,”  Deut 8:2.
There is a “looking back” that is essential to our wellbeing. “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him,” Isaiah 51:1-2. “Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led,” 1 Cor 12:2.

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Pt27

Faith not works

Scripture: Eph 2:8-10.

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III. WHILE WORKS HAVE NO PART IN OUR SALVATION THEY DO HAVE A PART IN OUR RELIGION
We are created unto good works.

1. Pattern of good works decided. Just what good works are is determined by God. The path of holiness is mapped out by Him. It is a doing of His will; it is a being like Him. 1 Pet 1:16. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people, Jeremiah 31:33.The will is renewed. Q35:What is sanctification? A:Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, 2Thessalonians 2:13
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, Ephesians 4:24.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Romans 8:1.

2. Persistence in good works demanded. Walk. We must progress in good works. 2 Peter 1:3-11. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them, Ezekiel 36:27.

3. Power for good works supplied. Gal 2:20; Phil 2:13. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:37-39. Overflowing power is to be found in Christ whereby we live for Christ and become a source of blessing and life to others. Let us drink from Christ.

The unsearchable riches of Christ, Pt26

Faith not works

Scripture: Eph 2:8-10.

Stream or download The unsearchable riches of Christ, Pt26

The emphasis that Paul places upon grace and faith and on the positive and negative aspects of how a sinners is saved, underscores the importance of these doctrines. These verses serve as a summation of what has been set down in the previous seven verses.

These verses tell us again how we are saved and why we were saved.
The word “for” links what is about to be said to what has been said already.

I. HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW WE BECAME CHRISTIANS

Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones said that many mistakes flowed from a misunderstanding of this vital matter. If we get the foundations wrong, then we will get the whole structure wrong.

1. Salvation is all of grace. It is entirely of God. This is the sixth reference to grace in this epistle son far. All told there are twelve mentions of grace in the epistle. This is the middle reference. It is one thing to know the meaning of these words with your head. It is another thing to know the meaning with your heart.

2. Salvation came to the most undeserving and worthless of beings. Twice in this chapter our deadness is mentioned, verses 1, 5. There is a world of difference between carrying a conscious person and an unconscious person. One can assist you the other cannot! The dead sinner can render no assistance in their own salvation.

II. IT IS IMPORT FOR US TO LEARN THAT WE HAD NO PART IN OUR SALVATION

1. That is underscored for us. Verse 8. Even the faith we exercised in order to cling to Christ was not of ourselves. It was a gift from God.
It is given, Romans 10:17; 12:3; Gal 3:23, 25. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, Gal 5:22. Faith COMETH by hearing –  a spiritual process, Luke 24:32, 45.

2. Our redemption is spoken of as a work of creation. Verse 10, Col 1:6. Therefore, it is a work of God alone. A new work had to be wrought in order that we might be delivered from sin. It was not a case of renovation but of creation. The Christian is one in whom God is working! Gal 4:19, Phil 1:6; 2:13.

3. The Christian has no grounds for boasting. Man tends to boast of his works and become proud whenever he thinks he has had a part in his won salvation. “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others,” Luke 18:9.