Podcast-Feed15th November 2009 - Neal Garratt - The Riches Of His Grace
On Sunday we looked together at Ephesians 2 vs 7-9 which reveal Gods amazing grace (the surpassing riches of his grace) that we are saved by grace through faith and not as a result of works. This signifies our position and identity in Christ and in essence summarised the previous 10 verses that we have looked at in previous weeks.
Questions:
1.In Ephesians 1 vs 18 Paul states that “he wants the eyes of our heart to be enlightened so that we may know what is the hope of his calling” – Do we understand what he means by this and did the word on Sunday help in this regard?
2.The first quote from Dr Lloyd Jones was “It is only as you have some conception of the depth of God`s wrath against sin, that you will understand the depth of his love.It was God himself who found the way whereby his own wrath could express itself against sin – and the sinner not be destroyed – but rather justified – because his own son had borne the punishment and been sacrificed – through the sacrifice of the one many have been saved.”
Do we fully understand Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and that we are hidden with Christ in God?
3. The second quote from Dr Lloyd Jones was “Salvation is not in any sense God`s response to anything in us. It is not something we in any sense deserve or merit. The whole essence of Pauls teaching is that we have no sort or kind of right whatsoever to salvation, the whole glory of salvation is, that we derserved nothing but punishment and hell and banishment out of the sight of God to all eternity,yet God, of his own love and grace and wondrous mercy has granted us this salvation. This is the entire meaning of of this term “grace”.” There is nothing we can do to gain our salvation, certainly not through good works and this is vital for us to understand as it fully reveals God`s plan for us and how amazing this grace really is! I love the quote above – does this help in our understanding?
4. When we become Christians the Holy Spirit starts a work in our hearts and minds to change us from our “natural” man to the “new creation” we are in Christ. Peter tells us we are partakers of the divine nature – new creatures in Christ – and our minds are being renewed. (sanctification) – Christ in us the hope of glory – This is an amazing work – do we fully understand just how radical this is and why dont we always feel like a new creation?
5. God makes us Christians in order that we may do good works – it is not a question of good works leading to Christianity, but Christianity leading to good works! (vs 10) It is the exact opposite of the way the world thinks! Why does the world think in this way and how can we stop oursleves being influenced by the worlds thinking?
At the end of the preach today Neal ran out of time but he wanted to consider how practically the truth we heard about today should affect our christian lives – The following were some of the points he had:
1.In knowing our identity and position in Christ it should set us free from the enemy constantly telling us we are not good enough and have not done enough to gain God`s favour.
2.In Hebrews Paul writes that we have confidence to enter the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. Most of us do not have that confidence but in understanding God`s grace and mercy we can gain in that confidence.
3.Understand that God`s love is unconditional – its not what we do for him that is important it is what he has already done for us! – We don`t hold onto God – he holds onto us!
4.Paul writes – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Often we condemn ourselves and the enemy will condemn you as well – Fight against your own thoughts and the enemy with truth – especially scripture – there is a release here that is very important in our daily walk with God.
Listen now! (0:34min / 11MB)