1 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:07,760 Well, good morning. It's good. 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,400 To be with you. This morning. 3 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:17,280 Couple of weeks ago, Elon Musk launched his latest commercial 4 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,960 venture. Called XAI. 5 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,640 If you look on the website for XAI, you'll. 6 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:29,470 See pictures of very, very intelligent looking people and 7 00:00:29,470 --> 00:00:33,590 you'll be able to read the the tagline on the mission statement 8 00:00:34,110 --> 00:00:36,590 of what XAI? Is all about. 9 00:00:36,950 --> 00:00:40,350 And this being Elon Musk, it's suitably modest. 10 00:00:41,190 --> 00:00:42,630 Here's the. Here's the. 11 00:00:42,630 --> 00:00:44,230 Tagline, Here's the. Goal of what? 12 00:00:44,230 --> 00:00:47,350 They're trying to do to understand the true. 13 00:00:47,350 --> 00:00:52,950 Nature of the Universe To understand the true nature of 14 00:00:52,950 --> 00:00:55,030 the universe. Well, that's that's a laudable 15 00:00:55,030 --> 00:01:00,750 goal, but unfortunately I think. XAI will not be successful 16 00:01:00,950 --> 00:01:04,830 because I don't think what. Paul has got to tell us this 17 00:01:04,830 --> 00:01:08,590 morning in our text is on Elon's radar. 18 00:01:09,430 --> 00:01:14,190 More on that in a moment. Well, in Ephesians so far we've 19 00:01:14,190 --> 00:01:19,430 seen Paul has been praying. For the Ephesian Christians, 20 00:01:19,630 --> 00:01:22,310 he's been praying, as we saw last week, if you were. 21 00:01:22,310 --> 00:01:25,710 Here that they would know. God better. 22 00:01:26,460 --> 00:01:30,540 He's been praying, particularly that they would know God's love 23 00:01:30,580 --> 00:01:32,180 and God's. Power for them. 24 00:01:32,180 --> 00:01:38,260 That's in chapter one, verse 19. I guess Paul could have ended 25 00:01:38,260 --> 00:01:42,740 his letter at the end of chapter one and it would have been A. 26 00:01:42,740 --> 00:01:45,900 Great little letter there in our Bibles, it would have been. 27 00:01:46,580 --> 00:01:49,060 A prayer letter. It would have been something 28 00:01:49,060 --> 00:01:50,900 that would. Shape our prayers. 29 00:01:51,940 --> 00:01:55,170 He could have ended it there, but Paul wants to write more and 30 00:01:55,170 --> 00:01:57,210 part. Of what Paul wants to do is to 31 00:01:57,210 --> 00:02:00,930 begin to answer his own. Prayer through what he? 32 00:02:00,930 --> 00:02:05,810 Writes, Paul writes. So that the Ephesian Christians 33 00:02:05,970 --> 00:02:09,970 would know. God better and the way that. 34 00:02:09,970 --> 00:02:15,090 Paul does that in our text today is by reminding them, reminding 35 00:02:15,090 --> 00:02:17,890 the Ephesian Christians. Of all that God. 36 00:02:17,890 --> 00:02:23,900 Has done for them, so Paul wants to remind reminders are 37 00:02:23,900 --> 00:02:27,860 important for us, aren't they? Whether it's to do lists or Rd. 38 00:02:27,860 --> 00:02:34,460 signs, Diaries, anniversaries, daily triggers for our memory, 39 00:02:34,620 --> 00:02:40,740 forgetting can be. Embarrassing or worse, our 40 00:02:40,740 --> 00:02:43,620 spiritual lives need to be full of reminders. 41 00:02:44,060 --> 00:02:47,020 Too. Like the Ephesian Christians, we 42 00:02:47,020 --> 00:02:52,430 too need reminding we are. A forgetful people when we. 43 00:02:52,430 --> 00:02:57,190 Forget the gospel when we stop. Feasting our eyes on it the. 44 00:02:57,190 --> 00:03:01,270 Ways of the world become more real to us than the. 45 00:03:01,270 --> 00:03:05,910 Ways of God. The the gospel leaks out of us. 46 00:03:06,630 --> 00:03:10,110 We begin to take on the patterns of thinking that we see around. 47 00:03:10,990 --> 00:03:14,830 We begin to to read our lives and our experiences. 48 00:03:14,830 --> 00:03:16,790 Through through a grid. Through the grid that the 49 00:03:16,790 --> 00:03:19,190 culture. Around us gives. 50 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:26,280 So can I suggest that our weakest faculty is our spiritual 51 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,480 memory? And so we need regularly to be 52 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,160 reminded. Of the gospel, and that's what 53 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,360 Paul. Does for us here. 54 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:40,120 So how does? Paul work to remind the Ephesian 55 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,720 Christians how does he set things up in these. 56 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,000 Verses that. We're going to be looking at 57 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,880 this morning, which is. Ephesians Chapter 2, verses 1 to 58 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:54,960 10. If you have that text open. 59 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:56,440 In front of you. That would be really helpful. 60 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:02,560 I'm going to be using the ES. Version and I will. 61 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,720 I'll read that. Passage now so Ephesians chapter 62 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:11,200 2, verses 1 to 10 and you were. Dead in the trespasses and sins 63 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,640 in which you once walked following the. 64 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,920 Course of this world. Following the Prince of the 65 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,440 power of the air, the spirit that is now at work. 66 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,640 In the sons of disobedience, among whom we all. 67 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,120 Once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the 68 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,200 desires of the body and the mind, and we're by nature. 69 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:36,400 Children of Roth like the rest of mankind, but God being rich 70 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:38,400 in mercy. Because of the great love with 71 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,960 which? He loved us even when we were 72 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,960 dead in our trust. Trespasses made us alive 73 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,800 together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. 74 00:04:48,260 --> 00:04:51,300 And raised up with him, and seated us with him in the 75 00:04:51,300 --> 00:04:57,220 heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he 76 00:04:57,220 --> 00:05:00,100 might show the immeasurable. Riches of his. 77 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:04,340 Grace and kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. 78 00:05:05,100 --> 00:05:08,460 For my grace you have been saved through faith, and this is. 79 00:05:08,460 --> 00:05:10,140 Not your own doing. It is the gift of. 80 00:05:10,140 --> 00:05:13,060 God not. A result of works. 81 00:05:13,060 --> 00:05:16,590 So that no man may boast. For we are God's. 82 00:05:16,590 --> 00:05:21,150 Workmanship created in Christ. Jesus for good works which God 83 00:05:21,470 --> 00:05:24,270 prepared. Beforehand that we should. 84 00:05:25,630 --> 00:05:27,670 In them. Amen. 85 00:05:29,070 --> 00:05:31,590 Well, one way of thinking about what Paul is doing. 86 00:05:31,590 --> 00:05:36,390 Here is that it's to think of Paul painting a picture, 87 00:05:37,030 --> 00:05:41,270 actually painting 2 pictures with a hinge. 88 00:05:41,650 --> 00:05:44,850 In between in between them. Now that the fancy word for. 89 00:05:44,850 --> 00:05:49,010 This is a diptych. And so I've got on the heading 90 00:05:49,010 --> 00:05:52,610 there Paul's Diptych, Ephesians 2 one to 10. 91 00:05:55,450 --> 00:05:58,530 Now in each of these two pictures that Paul paints. 92 00:05:58,890 --> 00:06:02,570 On the left, on the right, he's got 3 things that he wants to 93 00:06:02,570 --> 00:06:03,650 say. Three things. 94 00:06:03,650 --> 00:06:07,970 First of all, about life before. Christ and three things about 95 00:06:07,970 --> 00:06:10,410 life after. Someone has become. 96 00:06:10,830 --> 00:06:15,910 The Christian and so. Here's here's Paul's diptick. 97 00:06:17,190 --> 00:06:21,750 Here's how it goes on the left hand side he says in verses 1:00 98 00:06:21,750 --> 00:06:24,070 to 3:00. You were dead. 99 00:06:24,390 --> 00:06:26,350 You were dead because of these three things. 100 00:06:26,350 --> 00:06:29,110 The. Course of this world, the devil, 101 00:06:29,950 --> 00:06:32,350 the desires of the body and mind. 102 00:06:32,350 --> 00:06:38,310 And so you were by nature children of Roth walking in sin. 103 00:06:38,900 --> 00:06:41,900 So that's the left hand. Side of the diptych on the right 104 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:43,860 hand side in Paul's second picture. 105 00:06:43,860 --> 00:06:47,220 Second painting. The picture of a Christian now 106 00:06:47,260 --> 00:06:52,020 you have been saved through being three things, made alive 107 00:06:52,020 --> 00:06:57,220 with Christ, raised up with Christ, seated with Christ. 108 00:06:57,940 --> 00:07:01,300 By grace, you are God's workmanship. 109 00:07:01,820 --> 00:07:05,380 And now walking in. Goods works. 110 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,600 That's the structure. That I want to unpack for this 111 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:12,480 text in Ephesians. Let's look a little bit more. 112 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,240 Closely at Paul's painting, first of all the left hand side. 113 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,880 Of the. Diptych versus 1/2. 114 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:24,720 You were dead. How are we to assess human 115 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,920 nature? Some people think that humanity 116 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,920 is yet there. There are problems, but humanity 117 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,200 is basically. Fixable. 118 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,000 The right combination of politics, economics, 119 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:42,400 philanthropy, education, trade, can can sort things out. 120 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,640 Can can help us to make progress. 121 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,440 Other people, well, they face the issues of global warming 122 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,840 head on. They think about a I They think 123 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,120 well if rising temperatures and sea levels. 124 00:07:56,280 --> 00:08:02,200 Don't get us a I sure will. It will make humanity redundant. 125 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:09,240 So some folks are optimistic and some folks are pessimistic, but 126 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,280 almost nobody in the kind of public square is saying what? 127 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:17,480 Paul is saying here almost nobody reaches this conclusion 128 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,840 that you see there in verse one. That people are already. 129 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,880 Dead. You were dead. 130 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:26,360 Sis Paul. Paul. 131 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,390 Looks out on the. World full of activity, full of 132 00:08:29,390 --> 00:08:35,470 ideas and inventions, emotions. Joys, sorrows, and Paul sees it 133 00:08:35,470 --> 00:08:40,950 as one great cemetery. What is Paul saying? 134 00:08:43,070 --> 00:08:45,310 He's saying that. People who live without God, 135 00:08:45,310 --> 00:08:49,070 however, however physically fit and mentally alert, however 136 00:08:49,350 --> 00:08:52,670 polite, kind, respectable. They may. 137 00:08:52,670 --> 00:09:01,300 Be are actually the living dead. It's a shocking picture, but how 138 00:09:01,300 --> 00:09:07,180 can it be? Well, unconsciousness is a. 139 00:09:07,620 --> 00:09:11,940 Characteristic of death and in the same way someone can be 140 00:09:11,940 --> 00:09:14,460 alive, but they can be unconscious. 141 00:09:14,900 --> 00:09:17,660 To the whole spiritual realm, people can be. 142 00:09:17,660 --> 00:09:22,180 Unresponsive to God, not in touch, not aware. 143 00:09:22,180 --> 00:09:25,060 Of what God is. Doing in their lives day by day? 144 00:09:27,070 --> 00:09:29,390 Well, how might people respond to both statements? 145 00:09:30,750 --> 00:09:32,030 Or some. People might say this is just 146 00:09:32,030 --> 00:09:35,590 rubbish. Of course we're alive. 147 00:09:35,590 --> 00:09:37,510 We're more alive than we've ever been. 148 00:09:37,510 --> 00:09:40,430 Look. At What Humanity Can Do, it's 149 00:09:40,430 --> 00:09:45,070 you Christians who are dead. We're more alive. 150 00:09:45,310 --> 00:09:47,030 You need to get with the project you need to. 151 00:09:47,030 --> 00:09:49,510 Wake up. Stop. 152 00:09:49,510 --> 00:09:51,310 Just thinking about life and get on and. 153 00:09:51,310 --> 00:09:55,560 Live life. It is a curious thing that so 154 00:09:55,560 --> 00:10:00,480 many people cling on to life without really knowing quite. 155 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:02,720 What it's. Supposed to be about? 156 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,400 What is life for the Irish playwright Oscar? 157 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:12,880 Wilde said this. To live is the rarest thing in 158 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,040 the. World most. 159 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:20,560 People exist, that's all. Besides that, don't. 160 00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:25,850 Don't people say things like the friendship evaporated, the 161 00:10:25,850 --> 00:10:30,210 marriage died? Family life ceased. 162 00:10:31,250 --> 00:10:33,050 He's nothing. To me anymore. 163 00:10:34,930 --> 00:10:39,490 So why can't God say something similar if someone has lived 164 00:10:39,490 --> 00:10:43,450 their whole life making 10s of thousands of decisions without 165 00:10:43,530 --> 00:10:48,890 any reference to God if they've never given a moment's? 166 00:10:48,890 --> 00:10:51,850 Thought to God, Well, there is no relationship, is there? 167 00:10:53,490 --> 00:10:56,250 That person is dead. To God. 168 00:10:58,290 --> 00:11:00,450 So Paul then reminds the Ephesian Christians of what they 169 00:11:00,450 --> 00:11:01,930 once. Were you were dead? 170 00:11:02,450 --> 00:11:06,290 He says, and then he goes on in verse 2 and he talks about the 171 00:11:06,290 --> 00:11:10,210 ways that they once walked. So it's the living. 172 00:11:10,210 --> 00:11:14,690 Dead Paul's choice of language is interesting. 173 00:11:14,690 --> 00:11:17,370 Isn't it walked. He doesn't say Run. 174 00:11:17,850 --> 00:11:21,570 It's not, it's not wild and violent language is it walking? 175 00:11:21,570 --> 00:11:23,370 It's kind of the most. Normal thing people do. 176 00:11:23,370 --> 00:11:31,050 It's measured, calm, leisurely, respectable even, and yet 177 00:11:31,130 --> 00:11:35,730 utterly dead. How can that? 178 00:11:35,730 --> 00:11:41,170 Be well, Paul goes on now to add in some detail into his 179 00:11:41,170 --> 00:11:44,170 painting. On this left hand side he adds 180 00:11:44,170 --> 00:11:49,690 in some shades of darkness to it by telling us of three powers. 181 00:11:50,490 --> 00:11:53,130 That led people. That has led him to this bleak 182 00:11:53,130 --> 00:11:55,210 conclusion and the three things of the world. 183 00:11:55,650 --> 00:11:59,130 The Devil. And the desires of body and 184 00:11:59,130 --> 00:12:00,890 mind. Let's look at each of those 185 00:12:00,890 --> 00:12:02,090 three things in turn. Verse. 186 00:12:02,090 --> 00:12:05,490 Two talks about the course of this world. 187 00:12:06,610 --> 00:12:08,530 Paul tells people that they can be in. 188 00:12:08,530 --> 00:12:12,690 Cultural bondage. Cultural bondage. 189 00:12:12,690 --> 00:12:16,610 Verse 2. People can drift along in the 190 00:12:16,610 --> 00:12:19,170 current. Of this world's. 191 00:12:19,170 --> 00:12:22,330 Ideas of living Now in the case of the Ephesians, this would 192 00:12:22,330 --> 00:12:26,050 have been probably shaped by the goddess Artemis that we read. 193 00:12:26,050 --> 00:12:30,450 About in in X, Chapter 19 in our Climate, of course, we don't 194 00:12:30,450 --> 00:12:34,370 have Artemis, but we have plenty of other influences that operate 195 00:12:34,370 --> 00:12:37,890 in the same way. That she did back then. 196 00:12:39,710 --> 00:12:42,110 People often like to think that they're free. 197 00:12:42,470 --> 00:12:44,750 I choose my life, I make my decisions. 198 00:12:44,750 --> 00:12:48,030 And yet, actually, most of us are shaped very much. 199 00:12:48,030 --> 00:12:51,390 By the culture in which we live, most of the time we really want 200 00:12:51,390 --> 00:12:55,470 to fit. In most of the time it's just 201 00:12:55,470 --> 00:12:58,110 easier to accept the values and the. 202 00:12:58,110 --> 00:13:03,110 Ways of the culture. Around us and a grid. 203 00:13:03,110 --> 00:13:07,110 Kind of develops, which determines often how we see 204 00:13:07,110 --> 00:13:10,100 life, how we measure things, how we order. 205 00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:13,140 Priorities, what we think of as valuable. 206 00:13:14,180 --> 00:13:17,300 When people try to kind of step back and justify their grid, 207 00:13:17,300 --> 00:13:20,220 well, it's it's very hard to. It's just kind of there all the 208 00:13:20,220 --> 00:13:24,060 time. So that's the first power that 209 00:13:24,060 --> 00:13:27,380 Paul talks. About the course of this world. 210 00:13:28,620 --> 00:13:32,060 The second power there's two, the Prince of the. 211 00:13:32,060 --> 00:13:36,220 Power of the air. That is the devil. 212 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,160 The third. Power the desires of the body. 213 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:47,960 And the mind? The body so central isn't it to 214 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,800 Western living, to Western culture, the. 215 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,600 Insatiable appetites always seeking newer. 216 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:58,800 Always seeking more people, often for whom these passions 217 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,960 are out of. You can see them in the center 218 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:06,400 of any city. Late at night, late on a Friday 219 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:10,610 or Saturday night, or on the darker recesses of the Internet. 220 00:14:11,290 --> 00:14:13,810 But notice that Paul quickly adds a second thing here, 221 00:14:13,810 --> 00:14:18,290 doesn't he? The Desires of the Mind, another 222 00:14:18,290 --> 00:14:22,650 central plank of Western. Culture what? 223 00:14:22,650 --> 00:14:26,650 I think What is Paul covering here Well? 224 00:14:26,650 --> 00:14:31,210 These are less obvious things things self-confidence. 225 00:14:32,050 --> 00:14:34,970 Pride condemning others who are different to me. 226 00:14:34,970 --> 00:14:39,760 Racism, self righteousness, envy. 227 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:45,320 Assuming that what I decide is true and you can see these. 228 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:49,520 Attitudes Well, where? Where can you see them in the 229 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:56,360 nice leafy suburbs? In the smarter parts of Town 3 230 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,520 powers then that are very active in this first painting that Paul 231 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:03,480 gives us on the left hand. Side the course of the world. 232 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,610 The devil and the desires. The body. 233 00:15:06,930 --> 00:15:10,530 And mind and Paul's Paul the Painter's conclusion here in 234 00:15:10,530 --> 00:15:12,450 verse. Have a look at it there. 235 00:15:13,330 --> 00:15:18,610 His conclusion that? We are or we were children of 236 00:15:18,810 --> 00:15:20,850 wrath. You see it there. 237 00:15:22,010 --> 00:15:24,770 Really. Can we accept that? 238 00:15:26,770 --> 00:15:29,770 Is that really likely to be true in our day and age? 239 00:15:35,830 --> 00:15:38,310 Well, someone who doesn't believe in God will likely 240 00:15:38,310 --> 00:15:42,270 dismiss this out of hands, surely? 241 00:15:29,770 --> 00:15:33,330 We're modern people. Seems such an oldfashioned. 242 00:15:42,270 --> 00:15:44,790 If there is a God he's not going to be like. 243 00:15:44,790 --> 00:15:48,390 This Ross will be a very unattractive attribute. 244 00:15:48,390 --> 00:15:51,550 For him to have isn't he supposed to be a loving God? 245 00:15:54,150 --> 00:15:57,510 Yet how would that same person respond if one of their loved 246 00:15:57,510 --> 00:16:02,700 ones was the victim of violence? Surely feelings of anger and a 247 00:16:02,700 --> 00:16:05,380 passion for justice would would spontaneously well. 248 00:16:05,380 --> 00:16:10,580 Up inside of them? Or again, what would God be like 249 00:16:10,580 --> 00:16:14,140 if he didn't hate sin? If if he loved sin. 250 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:19,740 And rebellion and violence. I imagine that our world would 251 00:16:19,740 --> 00:16:22,420 be a very different place than the world. 252 00:16:22,940 --> 00:16:28,960 As it is, I suppose ultimately the rejection of. 253 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,520 God and the idea that he can be angry shows again the influence 254 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,200 of that grid. On people's ways of. 255 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:39,440 Seeing life if people see a life. 256 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,480 Through a grid that doesn't take sin seriously, then they're not 257 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,280 likely to take God's. Condemnation of sin. 258 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:46,840 Seriously. Either are they? 259 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,880 And so Paul completes the first. Half of his dipsych and it's a 260 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:56,200 dark portrait, isn't it? If it was in an art in an art 261 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,320 gallery, there'd be howls of protest. 262 00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:09,440 Well, we come to the hinge in Paul's dipstick. 263 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,600 You can't put that up in here. Take it down. 264 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:03,040 People don't want to see that, sort of. 265 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:12,599 That holds the two. Together, have a look there at 266 00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:19,000 the 1st 2 words of verse 4. But God but God. 267 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:23,849 You could say that these two words sum up the whole gospel if 268 00:17:23,849 --> 00:17:26,530 you're ever in a place where someone asks you what you 269 00:17:26,530 --> 00:17:28,450 believe and you don't have very long to answer. 270 00:17:28,450 --> 00:17:34,130 Just say but God, maybe the whole theme of the Bible is 271 00:17:34,130 --> 00:17:35,890 there, encapsulated in those two. 272 00:17:35,890 --> 00:17:40,930 Words but. God a turning point. 273 00:17:42,170 --> 00:17:46,090 The Gospel begins where. Men and women ends. 274 00:17:47,090 --> 00:17:51,490 Whereas Doctor Martin Lloyd Jones puts it Man's extremity is 275 00:17:51,490 --> 00:17:56,470 God's opportunity we have run from. 276 00:17:56,470 --> 00:18:03,910 Gods, but God has not run from. US Jr. 277 00:18:03,910 --> 00:18:12,990 Tolkien Said the Gospel. Is sudden miraculous grace, and 278 00:18:12,990 --> 00:18:16,510 Paul is going to show us that none of us contribute anything. 279 00:18:17,030 --> 00:18:19,670 In this to this hinge. After all, we were dead. 280 00:18:20,310 --> 00:18:24,830 How could we? And what a sudden surprise it 281 00:18:24,830 --> 00:18:26,630 is, isn't it? From talking about wrath in 282 00:18:26,630 --> 00:18:30,590 verse three, suddenly now talking about love. 283 00:18:30,590 --> 00:18:35,110 In verse 4, Wrath and Love meets. 284 00:18:35,110 --> 00:18:40,070 At this hinge and so we can see that the hinge is talking. 285 00:18:40,070 --> 00:18:46,030 About the cross, God's wrath, God's love, both of them are 286 00:18:46,030 --> 00:18:49,890 personal. Aren't they God? 287 00:18:50,210 --> 00:18:52,770 We we learn from this that God is not an impersonal. 288 00:18:52,770 --> 00:18:58,210 Force but a personal God. A God who relates to humanity 289 00:18:58,210 --> 00:19:01,370 with infinite holiness and infinite. 290 00:19:01,370 --> 00:19:04,890 Love somehow, these two things, Roth and lover. 291 00:19:04,930 --> 00:19:08,530 Are held together. In God's character, his constant 292 00:19:08,530 --> 00:19:14,370 hostility to evil in all its forms, and his tender 293 00:19:14,370 --> 00:19:19,290 compassion. Towards a helpless dead people. 294 00:19:22,350 --> 00:19:25,910 And suddenly, as we cross over the hinge, we're in another 295 00:19:25,910 --> 00:19:29,510 land. Before we were in the land 296 00:19:29,510 --> 00:19:32,870 controlled by the devil, and now we're in the land. 297 00:19:32,870 --> 00:19:36,830 Controlled by the good king. So let's then move. 298 00:19:36,830 --> 00:19:41,750 To see the beauty of the 2nd. Painting in Paul's Dipsy in 299 00:19:41,750 --> 00:19:46,190 verse three he said once you were this way by nature and now 300 00:19:46,190 --> 00:19:49,610 in verse five he. Says you are this way by grace. 301 00:19:49,610 --> 00:19:53,930 Do you see that? Contrast in the language what we 302 00:19:53,930 --> 00:19:55,810 were when we were. Left to ourselves. 303 00:19:56,890 --> 00:19:58,850 And what we are now that God has stepped. 304 00:19:58,850 --> 00:20:04,970 In to our lives. But God because of the great 305 00:20:04,970 --> 00:20:09,210 love with which he loved. US in verse 4. 306 00:20:11,050 --> 00:20:17,370 Why did God pursue us? Here we come back to Elon Musk 307 00:20:17,410 --> 00:20:21,790 and his quest. What is the true nature of the 308 00:20:21,790 --> 00:20:23,550 universe? What is at the very center of 309 00:20:23,550 --> 00:20:25,230 the universe? The heart of all. 310 00:20:25,230 --> 00:20:34,630 Things The Bible's answer Love. Love is the most central reality 311 00:20:35,070 --> 00:20:39,750 in the universe because God is at the center of the universe 312 00:20:39,750 --> 00:20:45,550 and he is an eternal and beautiful relationship of love. 313 00:20:47,570 --> 00:20:52,770 Why did God create the universe to share His love with others? 314 00:20:54,370 --> 00:20:57,650 Why does God step into a dark place, the dark place of verses 315 00:20:57,650 --> 00:21:02,810 one to three here, to share his love with others? 316 00:21:07,450 --> 00:21:05,690 According to these verses. What does God's love? 317 00:21:09,690 --> 00:21:14,550 Well, many many things but here. One of the things love does is 318 00:21:14,550 --> 00:21:18,150 it accelerates. Salvation Love accelerates 319 00:21:18,510 --> 00:21:21,510 salvation. Look at verse five. 320 00:21:21,990 --> 00:21:24,550 What does Paul? Say you have been saved. 321 00:21:25,230 --> 00:21:28,310 You have been saved so profound that he repeats himself later on 322 00:21:28,310 --> 00:21:29,630 at. Verse 8 Doesn't he? 323 00:21:30,230 --> 00:21:34,190 Now these words are so familiar to us that we gloss. 324 00:21:34,190 --> 00:21:36,470 Over them we say. Yes, you're right, I know that. 325 00:21:36,630 --> 00:21:40,540 On to the next thing. But actually these words are. 326 00:21:40,540 --> 00:21:45,340 Shocking and they are stunning and they are revolutionary. 327 00:21:46,780 --> 00:21:49,860 You see in the in the Jewish religion of the time when 328 00:21:49,860 --> 00:21:52,660 Ephesians was written, you could be a. 329 00:21:52,660 --> 00:21:54,500 Good Jew. And you could follow all the 330 00:21:54,500 --> 00:21:56,060 laws. But you had to wait until you 331 00:21:56,060 --> 00:21:58,860 died to know where you stood with God. 332 00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:02,900 In our day, it's the same with all the world's. 333 00:22:02,900 --> 00:22:08,620 Religions with, Islam with. There's no assurance that now I 334 00:22:08,620 --> 00:22:14,940 have a relationship with God. Even secular people are future. 335 00:22:14,940 --> 00:22:18,460 Thinking, Yeah, people talk about. 336 00:22:18,460 --> 00:22:20,420 Living in the moment. But actually they're not living 337 00:22:20,420 --> 00:22:22,420 in the moment. They're living for the future. 338 00:22:23,220 --> 00:22:25,980 Listen to what the French rider. Blaise Pascal says. 339 00:22:26,140 --> 00:22:31,620 We are never. Satisfied with the present, we 340 00:22:31,620 --> 00:22:34,340 scarcely ever. Think of the present. 341 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,120 If we do, it is only to obtain. Light to organize the future. 342 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,240 People are future. But Paul says something. 343 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:44,600 Amazing, he says. You have. 344 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:50,200 Been saved in the. First painting that Paul showed 345 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:51,880 us. He talked about accelerated 346 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:54,840 death. You aren't dead. 347 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,840 Now he's talking about accelerated salvation. 348 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,840 And that's what love brings. And there is nothing like this 349 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:05,320 anywhere else in the world. And no other religion, no other 350 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,200 worldview, no other story by which people live. 351 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,800 Has got anything like? This to say, it's revolutionary. 352 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:16,320 How is? This salvation possible? 353 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,320 Well. Paul is not explicit here. 354 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:23,240 He doesn't mention the cross, but the little phrase. 355 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,880 There being. Rich in Mercy verse. 356 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,040 Four, being rich in most surely points us to the cross. 357 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,520 How does it do that? Well, mercy is costly. 358 00:23:35,430 --> 00:23:39,710 You know that in your own experience, to forgive someone 359 00:23:39,710 --> 00:23:42,750 is costly. Why? 360 00:23:42,750 --> 00:23:45,350 Because it because to. Forgive someone. 361 00:23:45,350 --> 00:23:49,990 You have to absorb the hurt you have to. 362 00:23:49,990 --> 00:23:55,310 Absorb the offence. And let it go, which is what God 363 00:23:55,310 --> 00:23:56,190 did. Didn't he? 364 00:23:56,190 --> 00:23:58,310 He absorbed. The sin. 365 00:24:00,110 --> 00:24:03,930 There's no easy mercy. Or cheap grace. 366 00:24:05,690 --> 00:24:09,010 And only love can be the source of that kind of forgiveness. 367 00:24:10,050 --> 00:24:12,530 That's what for. This for is telling us because 368 00:24:12,530 --> 00:24:15,570 of the great love with which he loved. 369 00:24:18,450 --> 00:24:21,250 Why can only love be the source of forgiveness? 370 00:24:22,130 --> 00:24:24,410 Because true. Love is unconditional. 371 00:24:27,010 --> 00:24:29,810 If I say I love you because you're good. 372 00:24:30,820 --> 00:24:34,820 What happens if you stop? Performing if love. 373 00:24:34,820 --> 00:24:39,660 Depends on physical appearance or or smartness or income. 374 00:24:40,380 --> 00:24:42,300 What happens when those things are gone? 375 00:24:44,380 --> 00:24:47,900 Love is unconditional. Love loves because it loves. 376 00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:51,620 Which is tremendously freeing when you think about it, because 377 00:24:51,620 --> 00:24:54,020 if love is the. Basis of our relationship. 378 00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:57,300 Then it no longer depends on my performance. 379 00:24:57,300 --> 00:24:59,860 I don't need to be insecure in that relationship. 380 00:24:59,900 --> 00:25:02,780 I don't need to be insecure in my relationship with God. 381 00:25:04,740 --> 00:25:07,100 So then, love at the heart. Of God, and at the heart of the 382 00:25:07,100 --> 00:25:11,260 universe that. God has made I. 383 00:25:11,260 --> 00:25:15,300 Wonder how quickly are you able? To remind yourself of that fact. 384 00:25:16,660 --> 00:25:18,100 Love at the heart of the universe or. 385 00:25:18,100 --> 00:25:21,500 Or is it just an idea or just words? 386 00:25:22,340 --> 00:25:25,060 What is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? 387 00:25:27,780 --> 00:25:30,180 Maybe a a spectacular. Place some. 388 00:25:31,220 --> 00:25:34,340 A piece of art, an act of kindness. 389 00:25:34,340 --> 00:25:37,220 A friendship? Your spouse? 390 00:25:38,580 --> 00:25:43,180 A newborn child. Do you realize that all these 391 00:25:43,180 --> 00:25:49,300 wonderful, amazing good things are but a reflection of a deeper 392 00:25:49,580 --> 00:25:53,700 beauty, the beauty of the love of God? 393 00:25:55,220 --> 00:25:57,300 And friends, there's no. Limit to the kind of 394 00:25:57,300 --> 00:26:01,140 contemplation. That we can have of God's love. 395 00:26:01,340 --> 00:26:02,580 No limit. Why do I say that? 396 00:26:02,580 --> 00:26:07,780 Look at verse. 7 Paul talks about immeasurable. 397 00:26:08,300 --> 00:26:12,060 Riches. Immeasurable riches. 398 00:26:13,460 --> 00:26:18,460 Are you enjoying them? Are you indulging in this love? 399 00:26:19,950 --> 00:26:22,950 Is it a feast for you or have other loves? 400 00:26:22,950 --> 00:26:27,230 Taken over, have other loves. Displaced this love financial. 401 00:26:27,950 --> 00:26:29,270 Sporting. Family. 402 00:26:29,790 --> 00:26:31,670 Leisure. They're not bad things. 403 00:26:31,750 --> 00:26:34,430 But are those things closer to your heart than God's love? 404 00:26:35,790 --> 00:26:40,630 Are your loves rightly ordered or are they disordered? 405 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,960 Last week I bumped into a friend of mine in the shops and I was 406 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,920 asking him about his family and how they were doing and he was 407 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:52,920 telling me about his granddaughter and he said as she 408 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:55,920 works on a super. Yacht Right now she's somewhere 409 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:59,360 in the Pacific. Ocean between Tahiti and Fiji, 410 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:01,360 he said. I. 411 00:27:01,360 --> 00:27:03,800 Can't begin to comprehend that kind of wealth. 412 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:09,720 And then we were standing in pack and save in the household 413 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:13,670 cleaning products aisle. Among the large, medium and 414 00:27:13,670 --> 00:27:17,150 small bin bags and with the smell of disinfectant in the 415 00:27:17,150 --> 00:27:21,550 air. And I couldn't help thinking, 416 00:27:21,550 --> 00:27:27,550 yeah, wouldn't it be wonderful? And later on I reminded myself 417 00:27:27,710 --> 00:27:29,310 of what Paul is. Paint. 418 00:27:29,310 --> 00:27:34,390 What Paul is painting? Here, immeasurable riches, 419 00:27:35,310 --> 00:27:37,950 greater riches. Than can be found. 420 00:27:37,950 --> 00:27:42,860 Anywhere in the world. Well, Paul now. 421 00:27:42,860 --> 00:27:45,500 Paints in in some detail in the second painting. 422 00:27:45,500 --> 00:27:48,500 Just as he painted. In the first, but now rather 423 00:27:48,500 --> 00:27:53,380 than grey tones, he's using glorious Technicolor 3 colors. 424 00:27:53,660 --> 00:27:56,620 Three things God has done for us in Christ. 425 00:27:57,300 --> 00:28:02,820 Verse five made us alive with Christ, raised us up with 426 00:28:02,820 --> 00:28:08,970 Christ, seated us with Christ. These three events are about 427 00:28:08,970 --> 00:28:11,650 Christ, but suddenly they're also about us. 428 00:28:14,370 --> 00:28:16,810 This is. The language of love in Christ 429 00:28:16,810 --> 00:28:21,370 with Christ. And do you see the implication 430 00:28:21,370 --> 00:28:26,490 of what Paul is saying here? As a Christian, I don't have 431 00:28:26,490 --> 00:28:31,410 anything left to prove. Not in the office. 432 00:28:32,130 --> 00:28:35,250 Not in my marriage. Not in church. 433 00:28:35,730 --> 00:28:40,080 Not in family life. Because I am utterly and 434 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:45,600 completely secure in. Christ when I'm. 435 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:51,440 Criticized I have deep. Roots to face it, I have 436 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:53,120 resources basically to cope with. 437 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:56,880 Anything in life because. I am in Christ I. 438 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:00,040 Wonder if you sometimes think to yourself, You know, I'm not 439 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,640 really I I don't. Feel I'm good enough to pray. 440 00:29:04,260 --> 00:29:07,060 I don't feel I can sing those songs that we've sung this 441 00:29:07,060 --> 00:29:12,500 morning because you know that the way that I behaved, I don't. 442 00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:14,420 Feel I can do it. Look at the six. 443 00:29:14,420 --> 00:29:19,700 What does it say? Seated God has seated us with 444 00:29:19,700 --> 00:29:22,460 Christ in the heavenly places. Where am I? 445 00:29:26,780 --> 00:29:23,700 God loves me. That's my position. 446 00:29:24,140 --> 00:29:30,630 I'm. One last thing that Paul wants 447 00:29:30,630 --> 00:29:33,110 to show us in this. Right hand painting that Chapter 448 00:29:33,110 --> 00:29:34,750 2, verse 10. Have a look at that. 449 00:29:34,990 --> 00:29:37,590 We are his. Workmanship created in Christ 450 00:29:37,590 --> 00:29:40,270 Jesus. Paul moves from this incredible, 451 00:29:40,350 --> 00:29:44,950 incredible tapestry of what Christ has achieved for us to 452 00:29:44,950 --> 00:29:50,070 suddenly talking about us. The way we walk has changed from 453 00:29:50,070 --> 00:29:51,950 verse 2. Remember, he said you. 454 00:29:51,950 --> 00:29:54,630 Once walked this way. To verse 10. 455 00:29:54,630 --> 00:30:01,100 Now this is how you should walk. You see, our salvation is not 456 00:30:01,100 --> 00:30:07,740 only a rescue, but a recreation. Not only a rescue but a 457 00:30:07,740 --> 00:30:10,820 recreation. Paul doesn't unpack here what he 458 00:30:10,820 --> 00:30:14,060 means by good works. Can I suggest that? 459 00:30:14,060 --> 00:30:15,620 That's because he wants us to have a. 460 00:30:15,620 --> 00:30:18,940 Very wide view of. Them and why would? 461 00:30:18,940 --> 00:30:21,620 That not be the case. After all, we've come back to 462 00:30:21,620 --> 00:30:25,290 life. Now we're to live a new life in 463 00:30:25,290 --> 00:30:28,850 every domain of our existence. Yes, in church, but also in the 464 00:30:28,850 --> 00:30:32,490 office in the factory. In school, In leisure. 465 00:30:32,970 --> 00:30:35,250 In the lecture hall on the Internet. 466 00:30:36,650 --> 00:30:38,730 On the sports field at the shops. 467 00:30:40,610 --> 00:30:42,410 In all these areas, we are to walk. 468 00:30:42,410 --> 00:30:45,330 In good works. I wonder what God has got lined 469 00:30:45,330 --> 00:30:49,810 up for you this week. In the way of good works. 470 00:30:50,570 --> 00:30:53,690 And non Christian friends might accuse us of being out of touch 471 00:30:53,930 --> 00:30:56,090 with life and with the world. But Paul? 472 00:30:56,090 --> 00:31:00,890 Paints a vision of people who are ready to serve the world. 473 00:31:04,890 --> 00:31:09,410 So Paul wants to remind the Ephesian Christians, and through 474 00:31:09,410 --> 00:31:12,450 what he's written here, the Holy Spirit is reminding each one of. 475 00:31:12,450 --> 00:31:17,490 Us this morning. I guess the more you see 476 00:31:17,490 --> 00:31:19,930 yourself. As having been in picture one. 477 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:24,360 The more you'll be able to enjoy and rejoice in being. 478 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:30,120 In picture 2. And to appreciate the hinge, but 479 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:34,480 God. Why an illustration about a 480 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,520 painting? How is that an appropriate 481 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:40,560 metaphor for what Paul is? Doing here. 482 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:46,010 Well, because I think Paul wants the Ephesian Christians to see 483 00:31:46,010 --> 00:31:48,610 that the, to see the. Beauty of the painting, the 484 00:31:48,610 --> 00:31:52,330 beauty of the gospel. The most beautiful thing. 485 00:31:52,690 --> 00:31:59,570 In all of creation the beauty of the. 486 00:31:59,570 --> 00:32:04,090 Gospel and of the gods, who has? Made it known to. 487 00:32:04,170 --> 00:32:09,570 Us let me ask. You Has that beauty captured 488 00:32:09,970 --> 00:32:13,410 your hearts? Let's pray. 489 00:32:15,180 --> 00:32:17,460 Heavenly Father, we thank you for these verses. 490 00:32:17,460 --> 00:32:20,340 We thank you that you stepped. In when we were. 491 00:32:20,340 --> 00:32:23,420 Dead in our sins. We thank you. 492 00:32:23,420 --> 00:32:25,820 For your Grace, We thank you. For the beauty. 493 00:32:25,820 --> 00:32:30,500 And the wonder of the gospel. Make it to be the most 494 00:32:30,500 --> 00:32:32,140 beautiful. Thing in our lives the. 495 00:32:32,140 --> 00:32:35,100 Thing that we contemplate and the. 496 00:32:35,100 --> 00:32:39,220 Thing that we enjoy in all its richness as we come to. 497 00:32:40,730 --> 00:32:42,370 In Jesus name on there.