May 19, 2019
Authentic Spirituality 2019 #4
Realize I’m Raised With Christ, Eph. 2:1-10
By Louie Marsh, 5-19-2019
TO BE AUTHENTICALLY SPIRITUAL…
1) I ACCEPT & ACT on my condition outside of Christ.
WE ARE SPIRITUALLY…
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins Ephesians 2:1 (ESV)
You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God. All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do… Ephesians 2:2-3a (GW)
Kosmos – organized system of things, culture – not planet
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 10 “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind… Jeremiah 17:9-10a (ESV)
3 … and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:3 (ESV)
47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47 (ESV)
47 Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal." Luke 7:47 (MSG)
By refusing to admit or believe this – and by conveniently leave it out of our Gospel presentations we are doing ourselves, those we talk too, and God Himself a disservice.
2) I BELIEVE & RECEIVE what we can become by Grace.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, Ephesians 2:4 (ESV)
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. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:4-6 (NIV)
His MERCY (vs. 4a)
LOVE, (vs. 4b)
GRACE (vs. 5 & 8)
KINDNESS. (vs. 7)
that he might display in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7 (Darby)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
3) I GRASP & GLORIFY Whose I am!
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. Jeremiah 29:11-14 (ESV)