1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,680 This is City Post Church. We're about three things. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,680 Build equipped and send. All under the Lordship. 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,240 Of Jesus Christ. A small church plant in Fort 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,400 Worth, TX. Who decided to do things a 5 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:16,880 little differently? Adoramos ayesu cristo I love 6 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,480 city post because of the people. It's where I belong. 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,640 We truly preach the Word. I love City Post because of the 8 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,000 community we've been able to build. 9 00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:28,040 To do ministry like Jesus. For light to push back. 10 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:38,880 Darkness. This is City Post podcast now, 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,200 so before we dive into the text, let me pray for us and then 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,240 we're going to talk about childhood real quick. 13 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:47,720 All right? So, Lord, thank you so much for 14 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,440 all that you do. Thank you so much for everything 15 00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:53,600 that you have given us. So, Father. 16 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,480 I pray that for these next couple of moments that we're 17 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,000 able to focus on your. Word that we're able to. 18 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:01,720 Man, just just listen. To what you have to. 19 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,640 Tell us God. Lord, I pray for myself. 20 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:06,480 Father that you speak through me. 21 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,000 Lord that help. Me remember everything. 22 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,200 That was studied God and that everything. 23 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:15,600 Just be about you in the 80s. I'm going to say that a lot. 24 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,520 So I was raised a little bit different and when we were kids. 25 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,280 My mom and dad would. Encourage us to go play outside. 26 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:26,560 I know that was a. Little bit of a strange. 27 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,440 Thing. I know times have changed, but I 28 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:34,400 was outside constantly and I was telling Libby. 29 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,120 This the other. Night 'cause she was asking. 30 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,320 Questions about like my childhood And then she asked me 31 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:42,240 like I got her water and she goes Dada. 32 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,400 Do you have something to? Drink when you go to bed. 33 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,480 And I was like, no. I get up. 34 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,560 And I go to the kitchen and I get something to drink and then 35 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,400 I come back to bed. And then she goes when you were 36 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,120 a kid. Did you have a bottle of water? 37 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,040 I said no. We just got up and. 38 00:01:58,120 --> 00:01:59,600 Got it. And I told her something that 39 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,680 blew. Her mind and I said. 40 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,360 Libby, you know what we would do when we played outside and we 41 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,639 were thirsty? You don't go inside because 42 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:10,240 you're sweating. Smell. 43 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,400 So what did mom and dad say? Turn on that water hose. 44 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,880 You use the hose like that was normal like that was like you go 45 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:21,520 you get a drink from the water hose. 46 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,320 You have a friend or somebody turn it on. 47 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,960 You go to the spigot, go, go, go, go, go, right. 48 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,440 You turn it off and let's go back to playing football on the 49 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,040 street or to the park like it's it's normal. 50 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,200 If it's super hot, you just go ahead and doused your head with 51 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,640 there was no going inside. Like my mom did not come up to 52 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:42,120 me with a tray of iced tea. But are you thirsty? 53 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:46,160 People knowledge the manga. That's where you got your drink 54 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,400 from. But here's what's crazy. 55 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,240 So when I'm thirsty, the hose is not what quenched. 56 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,120 My thirst. The water that came from the 57 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,320 hose is what quenched my thirst, so I didn't. 58 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,480 I don't go like, oh, the hose is what doesn't. 59 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,840 No, the hose is the vehicle. The hose is the tool to get the 60 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,760 water to me. And when we talk about the 61 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,160 gospel and when we talk. About salvation we have. 62 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:14,480 To think of the same way. It is through by grace, through. 63 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:19,680 Faith that we attain salvation. Listen, faith is the tool that 64 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,280 gets. Grace to you and that way when 65 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,880 you receive the grace of God, that is what brings salvation to 66 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:28,680 your life. Saved by works. 67 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,200 You're not saved because you raised your hand. 68 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:35,200 No, like you're saved through the amazing and the immense 69 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,000 grace of God. But in order for you to attain 70 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:39,440 grace, you're going to have. Faith. 71 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,040 And that's exactly. What we're going to lead today. 72 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:43,360 Man, this is a. This is a. 73 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,080 Strong passage. Ephesians chapter 2, we're 74 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:47,400 going. To walk through verses one 75 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,120 through 10 and I want to. Encourage you guys I I think 76 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:52,520 that there's. Sometimes in the word. 77 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,080 Of God, there's some really strong teachings. 78 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,080 There might be some things that challenge our culture, that 79 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,240 challenge what we've grown. Excuse me? 80 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,320 What we've grown up with, don't run from it lean. 81 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,360 Into it. Lean into the truth. 82 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,720 Of God, because I know like, you know, some I'm sharing with some 83 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:10,240 of the guys I was like. Man, this thing was a. 84 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,720 Bear because I was prepared. I've been praying, asking the 85 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,839 Lord like Lord, show me, what is it that you? 86 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,800 Want us to know from? This incredible passage of 87 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,400 Scripture. So let's go ahead and dive in. 88 00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:26,680 As we look at. The gospel today, we're kind of 89 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:28,600 seeing like, how does grace? Work. 90 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:32,720 It is by grace that we indeed salvation through our faith 91 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:37,080 because it is a gift of God. So look at let's look at the 92 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,760 verse three first 3 verses. And in. 93 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,840 Ephesians says, As for you, you were dead in your 94 00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:46,360 transgressions, or might say trespasses. 95 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,560 And sins. In which you used to live when 96 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,200 you follow the ways of this world and of the ruler of the 97 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:58,680 Kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who 98 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,240 are disobedient. All of us lived among them at 99 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,720 one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and 100 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,320 following its desires and thoughts like the rest. 101 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,600 We were like nature deserving A wrath. 102 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,240 Paul here is giving us a. Reminder, let's go back to. 103 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,360 Verse 1 and 2. Because I think this is. 104 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,760 Really important for you and me to understand because before 105 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,440 there's good news, there's got to be some bad news. 106 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,520 I know we keep saying that, but it's true what Paul is saying 107 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,160 here. He goes ask for you. 108 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,440 So he's talking to every single person who is reading the 109 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:34,760 scripture. Every. 110 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,480 Single every single body, all of. 111 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:41,360 Us in this and you were dead in your transgressions and in your 112 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:43,880 sins. You weren't wounded, we were 113 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,720 dead. Now I'm not the smartest person 114 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,320 in the room. But I do. 115 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,680 Know what dead means? Feel like I sound like Forrest 116 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:51,920 Gump. I'm. 117 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:54,680 Not a smart man, but I know what. 118 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,280 Dead is, I mean like, like we. Know what this is? 119 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:58,880 And if you want to. Think about it. 120 00:05:58,880 --> 00:05:59,440 Don't. Don't. 121 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,240 Overthink it when when Paul is saying that we were dead, that 122 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,640 means that we were unable to do anything. 123 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,640 Now, I'm not a doctor and I don't, I can't play 1 on TV. 124 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:14,880 They don't grab it. They are unable to make any 125 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,360 decisions. They're unable to do anything. 126 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,120 They're dead. And what Paul is saying is that 127 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:26,520 all of us are spiritually dead. We are unable to see the gospel. 128 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:30,520 We're unable to see salvation. We're unable to do or think or. 129 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:34,400 Decide anything that is of. God. 130 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:39,000 We're dead in our what trespasses or transgressions in 131 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,960 our sins. I like the word trespasses 132 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,760 better because what trespass means is that you cross the. 133 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,880 Line. You challenge God's boundaries. 134 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:49,880 We talked about this a few weeks ago. 135 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,280 We were rebellious to our Creator and because. 136 00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:57,080 Of our rebelliousness we now. Deserve separation. 137 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:01,120 We are now dead in our transgressions and our sins. 138 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,800 We're not dead because of our sinful acts. 139 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,240 We're dead. We're guilty by association. 140 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:11,040 It's our sinful nature. We're born into a sinful world. 141 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,280 We see that in Genesis. Chapter 3. 142 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,760 But it also indicates. With what Paul is saying here, 143 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,480 the transgressions in their sins like this is where like 144 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,760 unregenerate, like sinners exist, like our hearts have not 145 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:26,800 been transformed yet, our hearts are not. 146 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,240 Changed. We are sinners Matthew 1235 I 147 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,440 love this passage he says a good man brings good things out of 148 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,040 the good stored up in him, but an. 149 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,120 Evil. Man brings evil things out of 150 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:44,600 the evil stored up in him. So out of our dead is out of our 151 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,480 sinful nature. We are dead in our sins. 152 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:51,080 There's nothing that we can do. And you know what? 153 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:54,960 Else I notice about dead. They look comfortable in a 154 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,080 coffin. They're peaceful because. 155 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,200 Somebody. Dead belongs in a coffin. 156 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:02,520 They are comfortable in the environment. 157 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,480 That they could set it. Now if you put somebody. 158 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,960 Alive in the coffin. It's like kill nobody too. 159 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:11,120 I got to. Get out of here. 160 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,480 This is claustrophobic, like I don't belong here. 161 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,320 I got, I got to figure out a way to get out of here. 162 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:18,920 This quarter's a little bit snug. 163 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,080 So if what the possibility is like if you're dead, then you 164 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,480 are comfortable in the environment that you're in. 165 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:28,720 What is that environment that you're in? 166 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:33,360 He tells us in verse 2 in which you used to live when you follow 167 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,480 the ways of this world and the ruler of. 168 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,799 The Kingdom of the Air. The Spirit who is now at work 169 00:08:38,799 --> 00:08:43,120 and those who are disobedient. So what Paul is saying is that 170 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,760 that Satan, that's the ruler of the air. 171 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,040 The scripture talks about Satan as the Prince of Light. 172 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:51,920 You know Satan. Is not in hell right now. 173 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,200 That's coming when Jesus comes back. 174 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,520 He will be in hell in Revelation, but but he is the 175 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,880 ruler of this world. So we're comfortable because of 176 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:03,080 our sinful nature in the systems of the world that Satan has 177 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,600 implemented. And also he's at work using 178 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,560 other people. Who are those other people? 179 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:09,960 We're going to see that. They're called sons of 180 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:16,000 disobedience. Satan is at work so people that 181 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:21,160 are dead are comfortable in their sin and trespasses. 182 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,360 It doesn't. Phase them in first, John. 183 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,440 That's called a habitual. Sin like they do like we do 184 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,160 stuff. And there's no conviction of the 185 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,040 Holy Spirit. There's no like oh, I missed 186 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:32,640 that. One, I shouldn't do that, no. 187 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:33,960 It's like that's just what it is. 188 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:36,560 It is what it is. That's just the way life is. 189 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,480 So people that are dead are comfortable in the environment. 190 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:42,840 Or world of. Temptation. 191 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:47,160 Satan also operates in them. We are all children. 192 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,800 What he says is we used to be children of disobedience. 193 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:53,680 And of his? Wrath, and it was. 194 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:56,560 Just kind of like. Hey Rick, chill out, but. 195 00:09:56,560 --> 00:09:59,920 We got to really understand what it means like our spiritual 196 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:03,040 condition, because when we are dead, we. 197 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,360 Respond to Satan's guidance in our life. 198 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:14,440 So as human beings, our default is our wickedness, so without 199 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,440 God. Even if I try. 200 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:22,440 To do good because of my sinful. Nature, even my good. 201 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:27,800 Intentions can be simple. My feelings, my thoughts like. 202 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:32,280 Everything about me, my emotions are coming out of my sinful. 203 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:36,480 Nature. So I am dead, you know, I see 204 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,440 this. Is that you don't have to fight. 205 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,120 In our culture. For wickedness, actually, we 206 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,000 tend to. Celebrate our wickedness. 207 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:46,600 Like we, we're like excited about it. 208 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,920 I mean, we see like a group of guys like man, I like got drunk 209 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:51,320 and drove home last night, almost died. 210 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,880 It was great. Like, like that's, that's like 211 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,960 where we're at. Like we, we celebrate in our 212 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,800 wickedness, in our wickedness because our default as human 213 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:02,840 beings are. Things that we don't. 214 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,440 Want from God. It's our simple nature, it's our 215 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,800 consequences. This is like what we turn up 216 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:09,560 with this. Is what we want and what. 217 00:11:09,560 --> 00:11:11,200 Paul is trying to tell us is that. 218 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,280 He's trying to show. Us the condition. 219 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,720 Of a simple man. Because the words that we. 220 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,280 Understand. And for some of us, we. 221 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,200 Really need to kind of get all the way to the bottom. 222 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,560 To see. The greatness of the Gospel. 223 00:11:24,560 --> 00:11:28,080 Message that's. The reality of the gospel is 224 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:32,160 that God is not rescuing people from like, bad marriages and 225 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,960 abuse and poverty and and hurt and loneliness. 226 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:41,240 He's rescuing you from your sin. Everything else stems from that. 227 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,680 All the brokenness, all the jacked up relationships, all the 228 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:47,400 terrible decisions and the things I think all. 229 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,520 Of it stems from my sinful. Heart. 230 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,680 And my. Sinful nature and until that is 231 00:11:52,680 --> 00:11:55,840 dealt with, you're just putting a Band-Aid on the wound. 232 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,760 The wound is too deep and you're just trying to patch that thing 233 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,440 up. It's going to be infected. 234 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,840 It's not going to heal, so we. Have to go to. 235 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:06,600 God And then what I love about this is I think Paul humbles us 236 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,400 a little bit in verse three. Look what he says in verse 237 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:11,840 three. He goes all of us lived among 238 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,560 them. At one time gratifying the. 239 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:18,000 Cravings of our flesh and following His desires and 240 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:21,480 thoughts like the rest. We were by nature deserving of 241 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,640 God's wrath. What is Paul saying here? 242 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,280 Paul is talking in past tense. So what Paul is? 243 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:30,760 Pointing to is that there's going to be a difference in how 244 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,120 your life looks. There's a difference between 245 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,400 being dead in your sins and being alive in Christ. 246 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:39,360 You don't look the same in both worlds and He's. 247 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:41,600 Also going to let us. Know remember, you used to be 248 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,880 dead too, so don't get all high and mighty and all righteous on 249 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,080 everybody just because you found a life. 250 00:12:47,560 --> 00:12:51,120 Understand that there's people out there who are are Walking 251 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,440 Dead. They're going to. 252 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,400 Act like 10 people. So if. 253 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:59,600 We get to experience the grace that God is about to pour onto 254 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,960 US, that same grace that you and I experience. 255 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,920 Needs to go. Out to the same the same way to 256 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:09,960 the people that don't have it. We have got to shift the way 257 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,000 that we see things and if we. Talk about God's will and his 258 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,520 sovereignty and how he makes it available to us. 259 00:13:16,560 --> 00:13:19,440 There's 22 trains of thoughts I want us to look at here. 260 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,880 So we're dead. That means that we don't have 261 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,520 the ability to do anything. So then how in the world do I 262 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,360 come into forgiveness like? I said like a dead. 263 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:30,920 Person can't really. How does this all work? 264 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,160 What's the God? God is the one. 265 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:35,440 Who pursues? Us. 266 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,240 He changes our hearts. He's the one that chose to. 267 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:38,600 Sacrifice. And he's. 268 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,600 The one that saves so. I love John 3. 269 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,200 And I'll just summarize this for time's sake. 270 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:47,800 John 3, three through 8, You know, Paul's talking. 271 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,760 I mean, Jesus is talking to Nicodemus and he tells 272 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,000 Nicodemus. Those. 273 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,400 Who see the Kingdom of. God only born of the Spirit. 274 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,000 They have only have to be born of the Spirit first. 275 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:02,960 So you can't. See the things of God until the 276 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:06,240 Holy Spirit reveals them to you. So we. 277 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:10,760 Have to attain him first. Because we're dead now. 278 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,840 How does? All this happen because if I'm 279 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,320 not qualified enough. To. 280 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,080 Attain salvation, but I'm not qualified enough to go to God 281 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:24,400 for him to forgive me, and the only thing I could bring to the 282 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,280 party is my sin. Then how does it all work? 283 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,280 Look at verse 4. There's 2. 284 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,320 Words. I know everybody likes to say 285 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:32,240 like. But God. 286 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:36,720 But I think it's but because. So look at verse 4. 287 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,840 But because of his great love for us, God who's rich in mercy, 288 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,640 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our 289 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,240 transgressions. It is by grace you have been 290 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,480 saved. So there's 2 words. 291 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,600 But because and what God is using is he's connecting these 292 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,920 two words on the reason why He wants to reconcile us back to 293 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:00,800 Him. But. 294 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:02,680 Because it's tying it all together. 295 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:07,400 Why does God want to reconcile us back to him dead in our sin? 296 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:10,800 We jacked it up like we rebellions our Creator. 297 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,560 Why does God want to reconcile us 2? 298 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:15,240 Reasons and I'll put him on the screen. 299 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,680 Because he's rich in mercy. And because. 300 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:19,840 Of his great love. That's what Paul's saying. 301 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:21,160 God. Is rich in. 302 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:24,920 Mercy and God has great love for. 303 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:29,840 Us, and he hates who he is. As character, his mercy and his 304 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,160 love. And he shifts the focus and he. 305 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,560 Puts that on us, so. We messed. 306 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:38,880 Up we sin, we're dead. We're unable to do anything to 307 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:42,920 go back to him and when he does that, he loves us so much. 308 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,400 He creates a way for us to get back. 309 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:47,480 And how does he create? A way? 310 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,200 Well, because of his love and his rich mercy. 311 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:54,320 What does he do for? God so loved the world that He 312 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,600 sent His only Son. Whoever believes in him will not 313 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:02,840 perish but have eternal life Verse 5 He made us alive with 314 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,080 Christ, even when. We were dead in our 315 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:09,320 transgressions. It is by grace that you have 316 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,960 been saved. I love how Paul pieces this 317 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,760 whole thing together. It is How so then my? 318 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,800 Question is how? Do we become alive? 319 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,560 In Christ. What does that look like? 320 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:23,120 Man? Rick, you're asking a lot of 321 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,600 questions today. I. 322 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:27,560 Know because I'm. My mind, I'm like man. 323 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,000 Like this gotta make. Sense like like I. 324 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,840 Think some of us just spit this stuff out, but we don't. 325 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,400 Truly comprehend how the. Gospel works. 326 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:39,600 So we have to understand this. How do us, how do we become made 327 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,320 alive in? Christ, so the way. 328 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,760 It works. Is that he places us together 329 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:50,800 with Christ, he takes so God. Chose an eternity past he. 330 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,880 Because of his. Love, He chose Christ to be the 331 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:58,640 atoning sacrifice for the whole entire world to become 332 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:00,800 reconciled back to Him and what he. 333 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:05,280 Does is that he places. Us with Christ because God chose 334 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:07,720 to sacrifice. Christ went to the cross. 335 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:11,319 God placed sin of Christ. I'm sorry God placed sin on 336 00:17:11,319 --> 00:17:16,200 Christ as we were there, so Jesus took him our place. 337 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:18,560 And he took. Our sin. 338 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,200 Because the penalty of sin. Is death you see that Romans 339 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,480 623? And we? 340 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:29,360 Died with Christ. So that way we could rise. 341 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:32,040 With Christ. And we could resurrect with 342 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,680 Christ though. Romans 663 says baptized. 343 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:40,240 We're baptized into Christ. We have been immersed. 344 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:43,520 Into Christ and his dead. Burial. 345 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:48,800 And resurrection. So I've been Galatians. 220. 346 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,600 I've been crucified with Christ so that way I no longer live, 347 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:56,280 but it is Christ who lives in me and through me now. 348 00:17:57,360 --> 00:17:59,680 So how are you and I? Made alive in Christ. 349 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:03,120 He took. Our place on the cross. 350 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,080 God put us with him. So. 351 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,400 We. Died with Christ so that we were 352 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,840 justified, but we're also resurrected with Him. 353 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,760 So that way we can attain his righteousness and all. 354 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,880 Of this happens, all of this goes down. 355 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,200 Not by anything that you did. It's everything that God did. 356 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:23,760 Man in my prayers that some of y'all in this room. 357 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:28,920 You hear it, but I want you to, I want you to get this like get 358 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:29,440 it in. Your heart. 359 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,920 There was nothing that you did. To. 360 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:38,720 Attain God's favor. It's a gift. 361 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:45,120 It's through His wonderful grace and we see this in in Isaiah 53 362 00:18:46,120 --> 00:18:49,600 as God. Crushes his son on the cross. 363 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,160 You and I. Now are crushed by his grace. 364 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:56,600 We are packed and we are. We are crushed. 365 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,680 By the grace of God, and it's through His grace. 366 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:02,480 That we're able to become. Alive in. 367 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,040 Christ, and it's through His. Grace that you and I are able to 368 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,040 become saved. Now we have a right relation 369 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,400 with. God, we're able to stand before 370 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,800 him in glory. Our sins are now forgiven. 371 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:16,200 And we? Have the Holy Spirit. 372 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:18,440 And now we're able to live and. In. 373 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,760 That the benefits keep going. Look at verse six and seven. 374 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,440 And he goes, and God raised us up with Christ and seated us 375 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:29,080 with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. 376 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,720 In order. That in the coming ages He might 377 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:36,240 show the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His 378 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,000 kindness to us. In Christ Jesus. 379 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:44,440 So our salvation now is going to show His glory. 380 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:49,200 Because this is, this is so. This is just. 381 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,360 So wonderful. That because we've been 382 00:19:51,360 --> 00:19:55,360 resurrected with Christ, we now sit on. 383 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:56,240 We. We are. 384 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:59,280 We sit at the right hand of the throne, we are now considered 385 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:04,160 his heir, his children, and we get to bask in his glory and 386 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:08,760 exaltation. So as Jesus is exalted, we get 387 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:13,520 to be testimonies, we get to be living proof of the power of God 388 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,240 and His grace in our lives. So we need to walk. 389 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,520 Around We need to show people what he's done and what do we 390 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:23,720 show him in verse 7. His incomparable riches of his 391 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:25,720 grace. Expressed through the kindness 392 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:27,320 that God. Gave us so the. 393 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:29,920 Spiritual realm are as believers. 394 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,160 These are kind of where our blessings are at, right? 395 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,840 So we we get inheritance and that's how the first Peter 396 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,040 chapter one, verse 4, our affections are there. 397 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:43,800 That's Colossians 3 three, we find our joy and fellowship with 398 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:48,160 the Lord there. Listen, because we are now saved 399 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,400 and now we are right hand of God. 400 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:54,160 We are heirs to the throne. We are going to celebrate in. 401 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:57,000 Glory with Him one day. It's going to be. 402 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,920 Incredible. It's going to be wonderful in 403 00:20:59,920 --> 00:21:03,080 all of this. We attain because of grace of 404 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:03,800 the. Purchase. 405 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:06,160 You know when I used to work for the. 406 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,200 City I I used to work a lot with. 407 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:12,680 Neighbor associations, Hoas, Pids, and I always found HOA is 408 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,640 fascinating. Guess what? 409 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:16,920 Hoas are right, Homeowner associations. 410 00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:20,440 The cycle, that's all right. So what HOA is doing is. 411 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,400 That you pay an annual. Fee. 412 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,480 And you choose to live there and. 413 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,960 There's all of these standards and and rules and regulations 414 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,360 that you must follow. Like you can't paint your house 415 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:34,480 turquoise. You can't have. 416 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,880 Chickens, you can't. Like have parties, passive Newt, 417 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:40,600 like all these things so. When you choose to live. 418 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:45,080 There, that's what you want. But you got to talk about the 419 00:21:45,120 --> 00:21:47,600 good stuff sometimes too. Like because you choose to live 420 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:51,120 there, because you purchase the house in that HOA, you also have 421 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:55,200 access to the amenities. You get to hang out at the pool. 422 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,000 You get. To use the clubhouse, you get to 423 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,360 eat there, you get to use the grill, whatever they have 424 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,400 because you purchased. And because you. 425 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:07,160 Pay you get to take part in the amenities. 426 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,840 That thinks the. Same thing when we look at the 427 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:11,760 heavenly. Realm because. 428 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,240 Christ purchased our sins because He paid for our sin. 429 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,240 We get to take part in the heavenly amenities. 430 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,880 We get the Holy Spirit. We get the revelation of His 431 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:24,000 Word, we get righteousness, we get peace, man. 432 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,480 We get all of these things. And it's not because you pay for 433 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,360 it, because somebody else paid for it is. 434 00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:31,960 It is Jesus. We get to. 435 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:33,720 Take part in all of that and it's. 436 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,440 Wonderful and it's great. And we get to. 437 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,280 Uphold his standards so. Now it gets into. 438 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:47,320 Where he talks about grace now he's going to show us why so he 439 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,720 said this all of this is done because of my grace and then 440 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:51,560 he's. Going to remind. 441 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,760 Us in verse 8 and. 9 Now this is where it's going to push on us a 442 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:58,920 little bit, for it is by grace that you have been saved. 443 00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:03,440 Through faith and this. Is not from yourselves. 444 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:05,520 It is the gift of. God. 445 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:09,400 Not by work so that no one. Can. 446 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:12,960 Boast guys, this is not. Something that you did There's 447 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,640 not enough works. There's not. 448 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:16,880 Enough church. Attendance. 449 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,000 There's not enough money. That you can do. 450 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:22,000 Where God? Looks at you and says. 451 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,560 I'm so happy it's. All through the grace of God 452 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,560 that he gives on. US and you get that grace when 453 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,200 you. Accept and you put. 454 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,560 Your faith in Him once. You put. 455 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,240 Your faith in. God he allows. 456 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:37,200 That grace to pour into your life. 457 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:39,280 The gift? That he's referring to here. 458 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:42,880 That Paul's referring to here is the gift of salvation, the 459 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:47,640 forgiveness of. Sins and it is a gift, because 460 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:48,760 you and I don't. Deserve it. 461 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:50,240 That's why it's. Called Grace. 462 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:51,920 And that's why Paul. Continues to say, man, it's 463 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:53,960 God's mercy. His kindness. 464 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:58,400 That we give that. I love Second Corinthians 4/4 465 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,000 talks about the the God of this age, the God of the. 466 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,040 Saves Oh Gee has blinded the. Minds of unbelievers. 467 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:07,680 So they can't. See the light of. 468 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:09,880 The Gospel. So there's really nothing you 469 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:11,360 can do. Did You Know? 470 00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:14,040 That you could not be. Saved. 471 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,880 And still do good things because there's things that you can do 472 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:19,040 in. Life to make yourself feel good 473 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,240 and make yourself feel better but what Paul wants to argue 474 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,320 here is that because we are saved by. 475 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,760 Grace, and not of ourselves, we not God's workmanship. 476 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:32,560 And we do good things as a result of a. 477 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,480 Changed heart through His grace. So the good comes out, it's it's 478 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:39,080 an effect, it's an. Outcome. 479 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:40,240 So it is by. Grace. 480 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:43,960 That we're saved and also. That way nobody could boast. 481 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,720 That means that you cannot walk around telling. 482 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:51,000 Everybody how you came into? Salvation and how you did. 483 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,160 AB and C so. God be happy with you. 484 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,800 Because if that's the case, then what? 485 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:58,560 You're. Going to do is create a template 486 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,840 for others to follow in order to attain salvation as well, and 487 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,800 last time I checked we make pretty lousy gods because the 488 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,840 truth is how many of us have. Failed. 489 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:10,440 Ourselves more than. Ourselves. 490 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:13,520 How many? Times Have you told yourself 491 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:14,880 you're going to write a 5K issue? 492 00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:17,200 Or like you had to fill in the blank. 493 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,000 I'm going. To and then you make. 494 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,520 A promise to yourself. And three days later, what 495 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:22,640 happens? You failed. 496 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,080 See, The thing is. Our God doesn't fail. 497 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:30,000 It's not in his nature. And because we default to our. 498 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:31,560 Wickedness. When our. 499 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,440 Sinful nature creeps in and. The Holy Spirit. 500 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,000 Checks us. You see, God doesn't have all 501 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:38,520 that. God is just good all the time. 502 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,800 And his promises. Are pure all the time. 503 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,040 And when he says something. It happens. 504 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:45,480 He's all. Sovereign and all. 505 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,480 Knowing so, he's the one that saves us. 506 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:49,960 He's the one that changes. Our heart. 507 00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:53,840 He's the one that gives us that grace so that when you and I 508 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:58,120 could be forgiven of our sins. And that way we can live a free. 509 00:25:58,120 --> 00:26:01,320 Life and then our. Last verse Look at verse 10 510 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:06,600 because I love verse. 10 verse 10 is like the outcome of a new 511 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:10,480 heart and a new life. So we've been saved through 512 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,960 grace God. We put our faith in Christ. 513 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:18,120 We are forgiven of our sins because it's great mercy and it 514 00:26:18,120 --> 00:26:23,680 is rich to be alive in Christ, for we are God's handiwork. 515 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:26,320 Well, I like the the version I like better is workmanship. 516 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,160 You see the word workmanship, There's a Greek term for it. 517 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:30,280 It's called. Poema. 518 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:32,840 That's where we. Get the word poema from. 519 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:34,640 We'll put on the screen. So you guys can. 520 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:36,800 Kind of see the the. How that word works? 521 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,040 So what is Paul saying here? Listen, we are God's. 522 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:45,240 Poema we are. God's beautiful work of art. 523 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,640 And if there's somebody in this room that thinks that they're a 524 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,120 mistake. That's not what Scripture says. 525 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:54,080 You are. God's wonderful, beautiful. 526 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:58,240 Work of art, we are made, we are God's workmanship. 527 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,080 Why does Paul use this word poem? 528 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:05,680 To describe us because as. A result of the grace that's 529 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:10,840 been given in our lives, we now are made to do good works. 530 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,080 We don't do good works to attain salvation. 531 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,720 We do good works because we have salvation. 532 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:19,040 That's how. It comes out. 533 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:22,680 That's why we want to serve people and love people and man. 534 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:25,240 We don't want to do it to make ourselves feel good. 535 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,960 We want to do it to connect people to this Amazing Grace 536 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,520 that we have discovered and that God has rained down on our 537 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:34,680 lives. Y'all, it's. 538 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:39,760 Not about doing good to the. Poem We are God's creative work. 539 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:43,520 And we're. Created in Jesus Christ to do 540 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:48,280 good works which God prepared advance for us to do. 541 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:51,720 So. Obedience whenever you look at 542 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,280 the fruit of someone who has got been delivered and given your 543 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:57,280 life to Christ. So if you go back to verse 10, 544 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,840 obedience is an outcome of fruit. 545 00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:05,160 That shows. That you've been regenerated so 546 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,960 you want to talk about fruit? 2nd Corinthians chapter 2 I 547 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:13,040 mean. 2nd Corinthians. 517 You are a new creation the. 548 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,000 Old is. God and the new has. 549 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:19,520 Come, you cannot be made. Alive in Christ if you're going 550 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:22,200 to continue to live, dead makes. Absolutely no. 551 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:26,120 Sense it doesn't work that way. So those who have made been made 552 00:28:26,120 --> 00:28:28,960 reveal that the grace of God, it changes you. 553 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:31,240 There's something that changes, and now you. 554 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,320 Want to be obedient? To what God has constantly 555 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,520 called you. To the fruit of this birth is 556 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:39,720 obedience. And we see that over. 557 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:43,240 And over here Jesus said, man, you will know those who belong 558 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:45,560 to me, those who do what I command. 559 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:46,280 So. This whole. 560 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:48,040 Idea we got to start. Asking ourselves, like, what 561 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:51,920 through are people showing? You say you love Christ, you say 562 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,600 you're a believer in Jesus, but you don't care. 563 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:56,920 So either the word has been choked up. 564 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:00,800 That's a whole other parable for maybe, just maybe, you're not. 565 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,080 Truly understanding what the gospel. 566 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,040 Is it? Hasn't been explained right. 567 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:07,040 Don't be real honest with us man. 568 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:08,480 Like. It it's real easy. 569 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:10,720 To sit in. Church, it's real easy to. 570 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:14,560 To be committed. To moralism and workspace 571 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,480 righteousness. It's real easy to sit there and 572 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:18,760 be like that. I outworked everybody in this 573 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:21,800 church. I showed everybody up. 574 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,520 But also it's real easy. For you to do all those things 575 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:26,320 and feel to. Understand what redemption is. 576 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:31,480 And for you to miss the gospel message because if you think 577 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:32,720 that God looks at you and smiles. 578 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,040 Just because you work harder than everybody else, that's not 579 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:38,040 salvation. Salvation is by grace alone. 580 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:40,600 Through faith. Alone in Christ Alone. 581 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:42,240 And that's. What Paul is. 582 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:46,400 Getting us to and because. The default is wickedness we are 583 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:49,400 bent toward. A works based righteousness and 584 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,400 we're and. We're bent towards illegalism 585 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:57,080 and we're bent towards moralism. Those are the things that we. 586 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,880 Go to because we. Try to control it. 587 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:04,720 Or maybe it's because. We want. 588 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,880 To be able to say it was us. That did it. 589 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:12,160 That's called ego. That's called pride and what the 590 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:14,680 Bible says. Is like no that grace has been. 591 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,400 Given to you so that way you cannot. 592 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,280 Boast. That way God gets all the glory 593 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:23,040 so the way that things been in our. 594 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:24,600 Lives we have to start. Asking. 595 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,680 Ourselves. I want to end with a few 596 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:29,720 questions so we talk about. Grace. 597 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:32,560 We talk about understanding. God's. 598 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,520 Grace on our lives like bro. What do you think? 599 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,880 Someones going to act like that doesn't know Jesus. 600 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:39,880 Remember, you used to be. That way too. 601 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:42,800 Verse 3 remember. For all have sinned and. 602 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:46,080 Fallen short of the glory God. So we need. 603 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:47,640 To understand that the grace that. 604 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,720 Was given to us in. Our lives has to be that same 605 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:53,960 exact grace that sustains. Us and that same exact exact 606 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:56,960 grace that we're able. To look at somebody and give to 607 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:59,360 them as well. And understand that they. 608 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:01,480 Don't. Know Christ yet yet. 609 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:03,880 Because the prayer is that the Holies put. 610 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:06,360 Work in their life. And that they're made a life in 611 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:08,520 Christ as well, so they can express the same thing that we 612 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:09,880 have. Which is forgiveness. 613 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:11,640 And peace and. Joy and all these awesome 614 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:13,360 things. So real. 615 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:16,840 Quickly, I just want to end with a few questions for us SO 616 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:18,040 question. Number one, are you? 617 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:21,760 Trusting in Christ. Or are you trusting in the list 618 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:23,960 of things that you? Have to do. 619 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:26,760 What are you putting your faith in? 620 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:31,720 Many of us have been. Saved through grace sometimes. 621 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:33,400 Has. Have this idea? 622 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,840 That yes, I I am saved through grace, but. 623 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:42,040 I am kept by works. So yes, I believe in Jesus. 624 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:43,200 Yes, he saved. Me. 625 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,040 But now that he saved me, I have to work. 626 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:49,800 That's not how this works. The way it works is because I'm. 627 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,520 Saved I am. Now thankful and grateful and. 628 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,880 Jesus is the Lord of my life, so now I live a life out of 629 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:01,280 obedience. To him, so it's not about work. 630 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:05,080 It's about obeying. Because when you make it about. 631 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:07,720 Works then that way, then you make it about outcomes. 632 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:09,840 And if you make it about. Outcomes and you make it about 633 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:11,280 numbers. And if you make it about 634 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:15,240 numbers, then your ego gets hit. But if you make it about 635 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,040 obedience. Regardless of the outcomes. 636 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:19,960 The fact. That you said yes to. 637 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:22,000 Jesus, and that you took. A step of faith. 638 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:27,240 Shows. Your transformed heart and God. 639 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:31,960 Uses that to continually. Build us and mold us into His 640 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:32,840 glory. So. 641 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:34,760 Question number. Two we need. 642 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:37,920 To ask ourselves, do you think you are better than those? 643 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:39,920 Around you. Because. 644 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:42,000 Of what you do versus what they do. 645 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:44,760 So not. Just what how much you do? 646 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,480 But do you think that because you serve in a different 647 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:50,920 capacity, because you know more than somebody else, you think 648 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:52,560 you're better than them? And we have to. 649 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:55,720 Check our hearts, because if we truly understand God's grace, 650 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:59,040 these questions should kind of like poke at us a little bit. 651 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,080 We're not. Better man, that God saved us 652 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:04,800 all and we. Serve him. 653 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,560 Some of us also think. That yes, we are justified. 654 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:10,000 By Grace. And faith in Christ alone. 655 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:12,200 But we are sanctified through the law. 656 00:33:13,280 --> 00:33:14,440 And that's not. Spiritual. 657 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:16,240 Right, like Jesus came to. Fulfill the law. 658 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:18,160 So I think. We take those first two 659 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:21,000 questions and then we kind of change them and ask a new set of 660 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:22,920 questions. So question #3 is. 661 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:25,680 Do you glory? In the grace of God, who has 662 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:29,240 saved you and transformed you. And has. 663 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,680 Made you alive in Christ. Do you find? 664 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:33,240 Glory in that. Do you find pleasure? 665 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:37,080 Do you find joy in knowing that? God saved. 666 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:38,760 You and he poured his grace. On you. 667 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:42,560 And that you're now forgiven. I think some of us forget. 668 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:44,480 That there's times in my. Life. 669 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:46,840 Like there'll be a song I'll hear. 670 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:49,760 Like on. My on my playlist or something 671 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,000 and it's just. Just this flood. 672 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:53,840 Of memories start coming in and I'm. 673 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:57,320 And I'm driving around. And I feel almost guilty and 674 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:01,600 ashamed like God. How are you using me to pastor 675 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:05,320 knowing what I did in my past? And and I get like a little bit. 676 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:07,880 Emotional about it, but then. But that's God's grace. 677 00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:10,360 That's the. Transformative power of the 678 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:14,520 Gospel, that's to the grace. And the reason I'm doing this 679 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:17,840 today is because I recognize what He did in my life. 680 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:21,480 So my response is obedience, not outcomes. 681 00:34:21,639 --> 00:34:24,400 So I'm going to walk. In this calling that God has 682 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:26,560 given me. Because he's asked me to. 683 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,560 That's his. Grace, and that only comes. 684 00:34:30,639 --> 00:34:33,320 When I could. Just delight in what he's. 685 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:36,400 Done for me the last question along with this. 686 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,600 Is that same thing to be delight to? 687 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:40,280 Delight. And. 688 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:44,880 Obedience or do. You drive or are you driven by? 689 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:46,000 Guilt. I think some. 690 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:49,000 Sometimes some of us. Do things. 691 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:51,400 Because we feel guilty, there's a little. 692 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:53,440 Bit of self. Righteousness behind us. 693 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:57,760 There's a whole lot of pride. So we. 694 00:34:57,760 --> 00:34:59,480 Tend to. Do things out of these. 695 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:03,040 Motives the same. Grace that saves you. 696 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:06,040 Is the same grace that. Sustains you. 697 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:10,280 It's all about His grace. That's why Paul's saying like 698 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:12,640 man is by. Grace that we're saying it is 699 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:15,240 this undeserved merit that God gives us. 700 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:19,600 We are saved by his grace. So there's somebody in this room 701 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:23,440 right now that is struggling with this, this whole idea 702 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:26,000 that's struggling. To understand I have done too. 703 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:29,000 Many bad things like. My past is so jacked. 704 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:30,200 Up like. There's no way. 705 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:32,040 God could forgive me. Like does he? 706 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:34,120 Do you know what I? Just did last night. 707 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:37,200 Grace that saves you is the same grace that keeps you. 708 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:42,160 You are saved by grace alone, Christ alone. 709 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,280 And all you have to do. This is a gift all. 710 00:35:46,280 --> 00:35:47,960 You have to do is put your faith in Him. 711 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:51,080 You just confess. To him, say Jesus, like I, I 712 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:53,480 want to follow you. I want to put my trust in you. 713 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:56,080 And I. Want that grace that you talk 714 00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:59,240 about? In in your word to rule my life. 715 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:02,000 We pray. For us, and as we. 716 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:03,080 Worship. We'll have some. 717 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:05,800 Some people at the. Corners if you want somebody. 718 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:08,280 To pray with. If you want somebody to talk to, 719 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:11,240 man, there's. No shame in it, don't wait and 720 00:36:11,240 --> 00:36:13,480 that way we could be your working shit. 721 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:16,760 So Father, we love. You and we thank you for all 722 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:19,160 that you do in. Jesus name we pray, Amen.