Four Reasons We Tend to Forget God’s GRACE… 1). Baptized early in life 2). Life-long Christian 3). We take things for granted 4). We never really got it

OUR PROBLEM 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 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.

OUR PROBLEM 3 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.

We were DEAD in transgression and sins (v. 1)

Transgression = fall away; slip up; mess up Sin = miss the mark of perfection Death comes through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned Death comes through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned (Romans 5:12) (Romans 5:12)

We used to LIVE and WALK (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 LIVED this way we (v. 3a) Gratified the cravings of our flesh Followed its desires and thoughts

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:41 – 42)

HIS SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM

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

7 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. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

God has a solution because he is RICH in mercy and love

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16 – 17)

God has made us ALIVE even though we were DEAD (v. 5)

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

SALVATION – to be rescued from sin, death and eternal condemnation GRACE – to be shown the kindness of God even though we don’t deserve it FAITH – to have complete confidence and trust that Jesus work on the cross is enough

To be saved by grace through faith means to acknowledge that –This is a GIFT of God (v. 8a) –This is NOT something I could do myself (v. 8b – 9a) –This is something that only Jesus GETS the credit! (9b)

God’s solution is to RAISE us up with Christ and SEAT us in the heavenly realms (v. 6) God’s solution is to RAISE us up with Christ and SEAT us in the heavenly realms (v. 6)

OUR LIFE WITH HIS SOLUTION

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

By grace we are SAVED to do GOOD in this world

IN CHRIST WE ARE BLESSED AND WE ARE ONE!