Christians get really excited about God’s grace. They write books and sing songs about God’s “Amazing grace.” Many Christians give their churches and even their children the name “grace.” This morning’s message is titled “Abounding Grace.”
- So what is all the commotion about grace?
- Why exactly is God’s grace so “Amazing?”
Ephesians 2 offers a beautiful explanation of God’s grace. In Ephesians, Paul shows God’s grace to be abounding, extraordinary and worthy of an eternity of celebration.
In English, the word “grace” has several meanings. 
It can mean:
To move about in an elegant or refined way. (The ballerina moved with grace and poise)
- A period of time allowed to comply with a law or condition before a penalty applies. (The was a grace period before I needed to pay the fine)
- A prayer said before a meal. (OK kids, let’s say grace)
- A way to address a duke, duchess or archbishop. (His grace, the Duke of Earl)
- To honor someone with your presence. (I will grace you with my presence in the pulpit today)
The English language is so confusing and unhelpful sometimes! When Christians talk about God’s grace, it doesn’t refer to ANY of these common uses of the word! When we talk about grace this
morning, we are speaking about God’s generosity and unmerited kindness towards us. Commonly pastor’s use the G.R.A.C.E. acronym to define grace as “God’s Riches AT Christ’s Expense.” Now that is helpful!
The Bible explains that the only way to be reconciled to God is through what Jesus did for us on the cross. Easter is a celebration of this reconciliation. The Bible says we’ve been brought from our natural state of spiritual death into a new spiritual life by the grace of God or by God’s unmerited kindness.
How we get from spiritual death to spiritual life is a bit of a roller coaster ride. So hang on while we dive down to the depths of our sin so we can rise up to the explosive heights of God’s unmerited kindness for those who have trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Spiritual Diagnosis
I have found that most people (including myself) have an overly inflated view of themselves. 
It like 2 miners emerging from a pit and one saying, “I might be a little dirty, but I’m not quite as dirty as that guy.” If one filthy person compares themselves to another filthy person, they may believe themselves to be relatively clean, when the truth is that they are both totally filthy!
Spiritually speaking, if we try to compare ourselves with another sinful person, we might fool ourselves into thinking that we are relatively righteous. David warns us about jumping to these types of comparisons. Psalm 36 1-2 says,
Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
When we compare ourselves to God and His perfect righteousness, then we are quickly brought to the realization that we are so far from being spiritually clean. Without Jesus, we are not just a little dirty, we are spiritually filthy. But the diagnosis is not just intended to make us feel bad about how unrighteous we are. It is intended to expose our helplessness so that we can see our great need for a Savior.
This news about our spiritual condition without Jesus may be alarming to some. There might be someone here this morning who would say, “Well pastor, I’m not that bad.” Our flesh and our pride often bristle and resist an honest assessment.
You could think of the Bible’s spiritual diagnosis like three heart patients going in to meet with their doctor. The doctor lines up all three patients and says, “I have some good news for you all, but you won’t realize how good the news is until I tell you how bad things are first.”
“All three of you have serious heart disease because you’ve been on a steady diet of hamburgers and French fries for the last thirty years. Your arteries are clogged. Your hearts are all a mess. Each of you will probably all die within the year unless you have surgery. The good news is that I know how to perform that surgery!
The first patient yells at the doctor. “That’s outrageous,” he says. “How dare you criticize my health. It is my right to eat whatever I want. I paid good money today for you to give me some good news, but now I just feel terrible. You’re a quack and a disgrace to the medical profession. My heart is fine. I don’t care what you say.” Then the first patient storms out
The second patient responds with a similar disgust. He says, “My diet is way better than other people I know. Other doctors think I’m just fine. You have a problem doctor. You are the most arrogant doctor I ever met. How dare you criticize me!” The second patient storms out as well.
The third patient sits, thoughtfully, for a few minutes. He does not like the doctor’s diagnosis any more than the other two. After a few moments he says, “Doctor, it’s a huge surprise to hear that I need surgery. I’m so disappointed that I did this to my body, but thank you for telling me the truth. I’m so relieved that you know how to perform the operation. Please tell me more about the cure.”
We find ourselves in a wonderful and in a terrible situation with Paul in these verses. He holds in his hand the good news of a cure, but he must first expose the disease of sin. As we turn to Ephesians 2, we’ll see that Paul describes a person without Jesus as DEAD, DEFIANT and DOOMED.
Verse 1 says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.”
Paul begins this passage by describing a life without Christ. The picture without Jesus is not good. Paul is asking us to take an honest look at ourselves and face the truth of our situation if Jesus has not entered into our lives yet. The Bible describes the spiritual condition of a person without Christ with one word: DEAD.
Without Jesus, we are spiritually DEAD- Ephesians 2:1
What the Bible says about us is the complete opposite of the message the world tells us about ourselves. The world says that even if we don’t have Jesus, we are still basically good people. The world encourages us to believe in ourselves, not in God. The great “philosopher,” Miley Cyrus once said, “Believe in yourself. Anything is possible.”
It’s true that a spiritually dead person may do some amazing things. That person may paint a beautiful picture or sing a great song. They may be a fabulous athlete, successful businessman or even generous philanthropist. But… the Bible says that none of those commendable works earn salvation or even favor with God without Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.
The Bible is clear that a person without Jesus can do nothing of eternal, spiritual value because they are simply not connected to the source of spiritual life. This diagnosis often drives people to offer up arguments like:
- “But I’m a good person”
- “I do nice things for people”
- “I’m very spiritual”
The Bible is very plain that good works and emotional experiences without Jesus are not life-giving to spiritually DEAD people.
- Without the cross of Christ, there is no hope for everlasting life.
- Without the cross of Christ, there is no eternal life with God.
- Without the cross of Christ, there is only a continuation in spiritual death.
To make matters even worse, the Bible says that those who are spiritually dead are held captive to a triple tyranny. Let’s read Ephesians 2:1-3:
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, [satan] the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
These three verses outline our sad predicament without Christ. Paul explained that we are not morally good without Jesus. We aren’t even neutral – having done neither good nor bad things. Instead, he describes the person without Jesus as spiritually dead, disobedient to God and servants of the world, the devil and their own flesh.
Without Jesus, we are DEFIANT toward God – Ephesians 2:1-3
That passage describes three forces at work in our lives that are keeping us in bondage: The world, satan and the flesh. Let’s look at those one at a time:
3 Causes of our defiance against God
#1 The course of this WORLD – Ephesians 2:2, 1 John 2:16
Those defiant against God are controlled by the world’s influence. The values of our world are usually contrary to God’s values. They look at the pleasure of sin and desire those pleasures more than the infinitely better blessings of God. Those in this “course” assume the attitudes, habits and lifestyles of the secular culture. In 1 John 2:16, it says that they are marked by “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life.”
Our flesh, our eyes and our pride are like a maximum security prison. They are impossible to break out of, so in order to be set free from the bondage of the world, we all need Jesus to come save us.
Secondly, it says that those without Jesus will often choose to follow satan instead.
#2 The PRINCE of the power of the air – Ephesians 2:2
Ephesians talks more about principalities and powers that any other New Testament book. The “prince of the power of the air” is referring to satan, the ruler of demons. In this letter, Paul is clear about the spiritual forces behind everything outside of Jesus. All spirituality apart from Christ is controlled by satan – the prince of demons.
Ephesians 2:2 says that this “prince,” is now “at work in the sons of disobedience.” What a description for those who are captive to sin! How terrible it is to be ruled by and controlled by the same force that commands the demons.
Satan holds sway over those who are without Christ. He constantly lays out poisoned bait that is irresistible to those who are under his influence. Every time the bait is taken, it is one more act of defiance against God.
Satan is a terrible, evil, oppressive master, and we are all in desperate need of a new and better Lord. But it’s not just satan who tempts us. We can get wrapped up in our own desires as well
#3 The passions of our FLESH – Galatians 6:16-20, Romans 8:8, Ephesians 2:3
Paul tells us in Galatians 6:16-20 that our flesh will tend to take us away from the pursuit of Jesus in order to pursue anger, immorality, idolatry, sorcery, jealousy, strife, dissention and substance abuse. These things are some of the works of the flesh. Romans 8:8 says that, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
So do you think that Paul got carried away here? Is it really true that our condition is that bad? I’m afraid it is the truth. The diagnosis is grim. Without Jesus, we are trapped by sin, oppressed by satan and unable to please God by our own merit. Theologians call this condition, “Total Depravity.”
The doctrine of “Total Depravity” explains that all aspects of our lives have been infected by sin. Not one part of our life is sacred outside of Christ. Paul is also describing our “total inability.” We are totally unable to free ourselves from the bondage of sin, to resist the temptation of satan or to desire God more than we desire the passions of our flesh.
These are the reasons why we need God’s grace. We need God to intervene and show His kindness to us when we are totally undeserving of His mercy. Without God’s intervention, the last part of the diagnosis says that we are doomed.
Without Jesus, we are DOOMED – Ephesians 2:3, 5:5-6
Take a look at verses 1-3 again. It says,
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
There is a simple equation in this passage: spiritual death + defiance against God ⟶ God’s wrath.
Because of who we are and what we’ve done, we rightly deserve to face God’s wrath. It would be wrong if God didn’t judge our sins. Turn over a page or two to Ephesians 5:5-6. It says, “ 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
God is a holy and righteous judge. He does not sweep sin under the rug. Some people think that the God of the Old Testament was hard on sin, but that the God of the New Testament doesn’t really care how we act. He’s just jolly, like a heavenly Santa Clause.
However, the Bible never describes God as nonchalant. It describes him as a judge who punishes sin and takes defiance pretty seriously. In the midst of our condemnation, two of the greatest words in the Bible show up in the text.
Turn back to Ephesians 2 and look at verse 4, “BUT GOD.”
At this point, Paul begins to describe the good news of the gospel.
The Good News of the Gospel – Ephesians 2:4-7, Romans 8:11
Paul switches gears and moves from the depth of our despair to the riches we have with Jesus. Paul begins to celebrate what we come to celebrate today on this Easter Sunday.
In the next few verses, Paul will explain how we are made ALIVE, how we will ASCEND to heaven and how we will AQUIRE the eternal riches of God’s grace – all because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. God in His sacrificial and sovereign grace reached down into our utter helplessness to help us when we were completely without hope.
Let’s read the next section, starting at verse 4,
“4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
The journey from our spiritual depths to new life in Christ is only accomplished by resurrection. Our spiritual condition before Jesus was one of spiritual death. We needed God, in His kindness, to raise us up from the grave spiritually, just like he raised Jesus up from the grave physically.
Romans 8:11 says, “11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”
If you are a Christian, you have experienced resurrection power “through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Humanity is divided into two camps: those who are resurrected and those who are not.
Those who are not resurrected won’t be helped by trying to be better. Self-help will be no-help at all. No one can crawl out of their own grave. A person must be made “alive together with Christ.” When we were dead in our sins, we were depraved in every way, but once we have been made “alive together with Christ,” we are completely covered by Christ’s righteousness and fundamentally changed as a result.
The good news of the gospel is that:
#1 We are made ALIVE together with Christ – Ephesians 2:5
On Wednesday, some of our Senior saints were talking about the “Old Fashioned Revival Hour” with Charles Fuller that used to play on the radio on Sundays. 
On the night of his conversion, the soon-to-be evangelist, Charles Fuller, wrote a letter to his wife and made the following statement:
“There has been a complete change in my life. Sunday I went up to Los Angeles and heard Paul Rader preach. I never heard such a sermon in all my life… Now my whole life and aims and ambition are changed. I feel now that I want to serve God if He can use me instead of making the goal of my life the making of money.”
Charles Fuller experienced a spiritual resurrection on that July evening in 1916. The change was so radical that it completely altered the course of his life.
Perhaps this morning, for the first time, you are seeing, hearing and understanding your need for Jesus. As we are explaining the Word of God, perhaps to you are hearing the voice of the Savior calling out to you to rise up from the spiritual grave to be made “alive together with Christ.”
With spiritual resurrection comes a heavenly ascension. Secondly, the good news of the gospel is that:
#2 We will ASCEND to the heights of heaven – Ephesians 2:6, Romans 8:16-17
Look again at verse 6. It’s saying that God, in His grace, “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” We are promised to be co-heirs with Christ and to be seated alongside other believers with Jesus on His heavenly throne.
Romans 8:16-17 says, “16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
It is a wonderful and glorious truth that, as a believer, I am a joint heir with Christ! In one respect, eternal life with Christ begins at the very moment of salvation. Paul says that right now the believer is raised up with Jesus and is seated with Jesus in the heavenly places. (Eph 2:6) Then it says we have been given this new position so that “in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:7)
Thirdly, the good news of the gospel is that:
#3 We will AQUIRE the riches of God’s grace – Ephesians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17
The gift we receive for calling out to Jesus and even suffering for the gospel is a gift of immeasurable worth. Every day for one eternity after another, God promises that there will never be a single moment when His grace isn’t perfectly and thoroughly applied to our lives. God promises an endless future of unending blessing for those who are “in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
God willingly poured out His wrath on Jesus (instead of on us) on the cross so that all who call on Jesus as Lord and Savior might be forgiven from the penalty of their sins and freed up to enjoy God for all of eternity. Christians celebrate Easter because justice and mercy met at the cross.
The story of the cross does not end when Jesus died.
Christians often call Easter, “Resurrection Sunday,” because on Easter we celebrate not only our salvation, but Jesus’ resurrection.
Before He died, Jesus said in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” In other words, Jesus claimed that if they killed Him, He would come back to life three days later. On the third day after his death, Jesus came back to life.
We celebrate Easter today because we don’t serve a God whose Son is dead in the grave, but a God whose Son is alive and ruling and reigning and proving that he holds the keys to eternal life.
Application
Have you been “made alive together with Jesus”? We have a promise extended to us from God’s word that says, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 
Here’s what calling on the name of the Lord might look like:
1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
2. Be willing to turn from your sins (Repent).
“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior).
“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
How to Pray
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now receive You into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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