공동체와 양육

But God...(Eph 2:1-10)

2010.02.21Rev. Mike Lee

Though we were once dead in our sins and under the sway of the world and Satan, God's great love and rich mercy have made us alive with Christ, seated us with Him, and saved us by grace so that we may do the good works He prepared for us.

Remember where we were: dead in sin and under the ruler of the air (vv. 1-3)

Paul begins by asking us to consider our past. We were dead, not physically but spiritually, living apart from God with nothing to look forward to. We followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, and we gratified the cravings of our sinful nature. This sinful side is in all of us, and it shows when we are tested, whether in sports, shopping, academics, or money. Sin is also all around us. By nature we were objects of wrath, because God's constant displeasure toward sin is real and He does not overlook it.

But God reverses our sin through mercy and grace (vv. 4-7)

Verse 4 begins with the word but, and here it signals that God reverses the flow of sin in our lives. Because of His great love and rich mercy, God made us alive with Christ, raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms. This is God's own initiative, not something we accomplished. Mercy is God's covenant loyalty to His people, given even when we are unfaithful and do not deserve it. Like a man who received the full amount of his car accident debt from a generous member of his small group, we should look at God's grace with humility and gratitude, and keep remembering what He has done for us.

Rejoice in grace and live out the calling we were made for (vv. 8-10)

Paul repeats that we are saved by grace through faith, and that this is not from ourselves but is the gift of God. No one can boast, because salvation is not something we achieve through works. Yet we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God prepared in advance for us. Our faith is proved by our works, and each of us has a unique calling, whether it is serving the homeless, caring for orphans, praying for the lost, or supporting missionaries. Like a cheap violin that becomes beautiful music in the hands of a great violinist, we are useful to God because it is His hands that hold us.

Apply to Life

  • Let us honestly consider our past and remember what we were without Christ.
  • Let us be thankful for the grace of God that covers us from head to toe.
  • Let us not waste our lives wondering what we are called to do, but ask God to show us the good works He prepared for us.
  • Let us pray for the lost and for missionaries, and support others as God gives us opportunity.
  • Let us live with integrity, blameless and pure, as salt and light in this world.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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