Four Reasons We Tend to Forget Four Reasons We Tend to Forget God’s GRACE… God’s GRACE…

1). Baptized early in life 1). Baptized early in life

2). Life-long Christian 2). Life-long Christian

3). We take things for granted 3). We take things for granted

4). We never really got it4). We never really got it

OUR PROBLEMOUR PROBLEM1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions

and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of

the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. work in those who are disobedient.

OUR PROBLEMOUR PROBLEM3 All of us also lived among them at one time, 3 All of us also lived among them at one time,

gratifying the cravings of our flesh and gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

We were We were DEADDEAD in in transgression and sins transgression and sins

(v. 1) (v. 1)

Transgression =Transgression =

fall away; slip up; mess up fall away; slip up; mess up

Sin = miss the mark of perfection Sin = miss the mark of perfection

Death comes through sin, and in Death comes through sin, and in this way death came to all people, this way death came to all people, because all sinned because all sinned

(Romans 5:12)(Romans 5:12)

We used to We used to LIVELIVE and and WALKWALK (v. 2) (v. 2)

• in the ways of this world

• in the ways of the ruler of the kingdom of the air

• in the ways of the spirit disobedience

When we When we LIVEDLIVED this way we (v. 3a) this way we (v. 3a)

• Gratified the cravings of our flesh

• Followed its desires and thoughts

The Son of Man will send his The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In them into the fiery furnace. In

that place there will be weeping that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:41 – 42)(Matthew 13:41 – 42)

HIS SOLUTIONHIS SOLUTION

TO OUR TO OUR

PROBLEMPROBLEM

But because of his great love for us, God, who is But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the us up with Christ and seated us with him in the

heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7 in order that in the coming ages he might show 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in

his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and grace you have been saved, through faith—and

this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.not by works, so that no one can boast.

God has a solution God has a solution because he is because he is RICHRICH in mercy in mercy and loveand love

For God so loved the world that For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him that whoever believes in him

shall not perish, but have shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not eternal life. For God did not

send his son into the world to send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save condemn the world, but to save

the world through him.the world through him. (John 3:16 – 17)

God has made us God has made us ALIVEALIVE even even though we were though we were DEADDEAD (v. 5) (v. 5)

God’s solution God’s solution is tois to SAVESAVE us us by by grace grace through faith through faith (v. 5, 8)(v. 5, 8)

SALVATIONSALVATION – to be rescued from sin, – to be rescued from sin, death and eternal condemnation death and eternal condemnation

GRACEGRACE – to be shown the kindness of – to be shown the kindness of God even though we don’t deserve itGod even though we don’t deserve it

FAITHFAITH – to have complete confidence – to have complete confidence and trust that Jesus work on the cross and trust that Jesus work on the cross is enough is enough

To be saved by grace through To be saved by grace through faith means to acknowledge faith means to acknowledge thatthat

–This is a This is a GIFTGIFT of God (v. 8a) of God (v. 8a)

–This is This is NOTNOT something I could do something I could do myself (v. 8b – 9a)myself (v. 8b – 9a)

–This is something that only This is something that only Jesus Jesus GETSGETS the credit! (9b) the credit! (9b)

God’s solution is God’s solution is toto RAISERAISE us up us up with Christ and with Christ and SEATSEAT us in the us in the heavenly heavenly realmsrealms (v. 6)(v. 6)

OUR LIFE WITH HIS OUR LIFE WITH HIS SOLUTIONSOLUTION

10 For we are God’s handiwork, 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do created in Christ Jesus to do

good works, which God prepared good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.in advance for us to do.

By grace we are By grace we are SAVEDSAVED to do to do GOODGOOD in in this worldthis world

IN CHRIST WE ARE BLESSED IN CHRIST WE ARE BLESSED AND WE ARE ONE!AND WE ARE ONE!