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The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Pt 23

“But God” 

Scripture: Eph 2:4-7.

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Having considered the lost estate in which we as sinners were born, Paul takes us on to consider the change God wrought and how it was God delivered us from such a dreadful condition. The Christian has had a spiritual resurrection.

I. The author of man’s salvation is God.
“But God.”

1. Can we ever emphasis this truth sufficiently? It is the chief of errors for man to believe that he is the author of his own redemption. (Article on salvation – RC Church).
Chief for it was the first manifestation of man’s sinfulness, Genesis 4:3, the labour of man’s hand brought as a sacrifice. Chief for it is to this error man every reverts. Chief for it is universal.

2. This error is the greatest hindrance to conversion. As long as man feels that he controls this matter he will not heed God’s warnings and exhortations.

3. This error is the last to be overcome in the sinner’s heart. This sin keeps the sinner hard and unbowed. It must be overcome before there is a bending of the knee before Christ.

This man must learn before he can be saved.

II. SALVATION SPRINGS FROM GOD’S LOVE AND GRACE.
If it is not of man then it must be of God and that unmerited and undeserved.

1. Love is the foundation of God’s plan of salvation. Love is the fountain, the spring of all that God undertook to do for His elect. John 3:16; 1 John 4:10; Titus 3:4.

2. He graciously undertook the work of redemption. Out of His love sprang His free unmerited plan of deliverance, verses 5, 8.

3. His rich mercy in Christ was the result. His benevolent action toward the sinner sprang from His love and grace. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, Titus 3:5.

The unsearchable riches of Christ, Pt22

The Christian’s Past, Pt2

Scripture: Eph 2:1-3

Stream or download The unsearchable riches of Christ, Pt22


II. IT WAS A STATE OF SLAVERY.
1. In the company of sinners. Verses 2-3. Among whom etc. Notice the words “we all.” Two companies of people in this world. “And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them,” Acts 4:23. Psalm 1:1-2.
2. In the course of this world. We lived according to the ways of the age we were in. We follow the crowd. “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,” verse 3.
3. In the control of Satan. Verse 2. This is an alarming and sinister truth. The devil rules the hearts of men. He is the “prince of this world,” John 14:30. He is the “god of this world,” 2 Cors 4:4. “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19. The picture is of an infant cradled in the arms. So sinners lie contented in the arms of the “wicked one.” How willingly sinners follow Satan’s devices and deceits to the damnation of their souls.

III. IT WAS A STATE OF CONDEMNATION
Being “children of disobedience” we became “children of wrath.”
1. Note that we are by nature children of wrath. The phrase means “by birth.” We were born sinners  under the wrath of God. This is the result of Adam’s transgression. We have inherited his sinful nature and the condemnation under which his fall brought all his posterity.
2. A right understanding of this truth we cause the sinner to see their need of Christ. Christ is not an accessory without which we can get along very successfully. No, being under God’s wrath we need a Redeemer Who can deliver us from that wrath.
3. It explains why Christ suffered at the cross. He endured what His people deserved to endure. The sufferings of Christ were more than that which was visible to man. He bore the wrath of God for His people.

Reject Him and you will bear that wrath throughout eternity.

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Pt21

The Christian’s Past

Scripture: Eph 2:1-3

Stream or download The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Pt21


The first word of the chapter reminds us of the link between what was said in the previous verses. There were no chapter divisions in the original letter of Paul, do remember that. Paul had been speaking of his prayer for the Ephesians that they might understand more fully the greatness of the power that had brought about their conversion, even the power that had raised Christ from the grave. That same power had raised them from death — spiritual death.

These first three verses reveal the spiritual state of the Ephesians before conversion. It is the spiritual state of us all. Here is a very important doctrine. Our eternal salvation depends upon our receiving of this truth.

I. IT WAS A STATE OF SIN.

1. The double term refers to sin within and without. “Trespasses and sins.” This is a reference both to the root and the fruit of sin within us. We trespass because of the sinful nature that we have. There are trespasses in our lives because there is sin in our hearts.

2. The degree of our sinfulness. How spiritual diseased are we? There is no life — we are dead in sins. Three deaths in New Testament illustrate this doctrine. Luke 8:51-55; Luke 7:12; John 11:39-44. All were dead but there was a differing degrees of corruption. All men are equally dead in sin but some more subject to its corruption than others.

3. Sin within produces death without. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death, James 1:15. The death within brings forth the harvest of death in our lives. The human heart can only bring forth this fruit. That is why we need a new heart, Ezekiel 36:26. We are the children of disobedience, verse 2. Disobedience marks our every action.