Every one of us has a unique
story to tell. We each have our individual
traits, experiences, failures, and successes.
At the same time, there is a
commonality rooted in each believer’s testimony and it’s found in Ephesians 2.
If you ever find yourself in need of sharing your story with someone, here’s
your template!
Ephesians 2:3-5 - All of us also lived among them at one
time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its
desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us
alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you
have been saved.
Things to think about:
· If called
upon to give your testimony, could you do it with comfort and confidence?
o
For most people, I suspect it would be a little nerve wracking.
o
If we look at Ephesians 2:1-10, there is a perfect framework
anyone can attach their unique story to.
· Dead
o
Ephesians 2:1-3 - As for you, you were dead in your transgressions
and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of
this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who
is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among
them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and
following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving
of wrath.
§ This is the
sin nature we were born with, cast into the broken world we live in, adopting
its practices.
· BUT
o
My favorite word in the Bible! (coming soon in another study)
o
Ephesians 2:4-5 - But because of his great love for us, God,
who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
o
We have an active and intervening God. He did not let us stay stuck in our sin and
transgressions but because of His great love for us, made us alive in Christ.
· Grace – not works
o
Our passage tells us not just once, but twice that we are saved by
grace
o
We cannot work hard enough to earn God’s favor or forgiveness
· You have a
place in Heaven right now with your name on it
o
Ephesians 2:6-7 - And God raised us up
with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in
Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might
show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his
kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
o
Your future is fully bought and paid for!
o
Why would He do this – to show the incomparable riches of His
grace
o
How does He show it?
Through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus
· So do we just
coast until it’s time to go home?
o
Nope, we have important work to do NOW
o
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s handiwork, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
o
We are God’s handiwork to do good works – He says, “Look what I can do through these broken pieces I
picked up and put back together to be the hands and feet of my Son”
o
His plan includes YOU to get busy and make Him known to a dying
and unbelieving world
§ Not through scolding
or shaming but out of the same Love He showered you and me with
No comments:
Post a Comment