The Letter to the Ephesians   Message Seven   Ephesians 2:4-10

Last week we reviewed the riches of God through His grace which brings peace to us each day.  We saw that –

      a.  He is rich in Power  Ephesians 2:5,6

      b.  He is rich in Provision –   Ephesians 2:7

      c.  He is rich in Promises –   Ephesians 2:8

        1).  Grace. 

        2).  Saved

        3).  Faith. 

This week we continue to look at the riches of God to us through His grace resulting in His peace.

      d.  He is rich in Purpose – His plan works –

        1).  To Exclude pride.

Ephesians 2:8b     Not of works, lest any man should boast.

        2).  To Exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:9 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus

        3).  To Engage man

Ephesians 2:9b-10  …..unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

From the beginning, man has declared religion over relationship.  Man’s pride insists that he add his own works (religion) to God’s offer of salvation (relationship).  God has set forth clearly that salvation is completely by His grace according to man’s faith in Him.  We trust and accept, then we work because we are saved, not work to be saved!

Multitudes of people have said “No one can save me, not man and not God”, but God had stated that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”

Jeremiah 32:27  Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Put away your pride, humble yourself before Him and trust God alone for your salvation.  We also learn that –

      e.  He is rich in Presence –

Ephesians 2:11-13  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Romans 3:2  Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Psalm 139:7-12  Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

As we consider the riches of God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, let’s review His riches in the light of the account of the Samaritan’s notice of one in need –

As I was considering these character traits, I thought again of His provision, being encouraged not only by His unlimited store but also by His infinite kindness which manifest the fulness of all that we are reminded of this morning.

Ephesians 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Kindness – actions based on attitudes –

Luke 10:30-37  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

We see in the Samaritan the meaning of God’s words –

Philippians 2:3-5  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

He had the power to help – strength and ability to deliver the man from danger

He had the prestige to help – respected and trusted by the innkeeper

He had the provision to help – immediately and in the future

He had the presence to help – he went to where the need was

He had the mercy to help – he had compassion instead of accusation – using a convenient reason to cross to the other side of the road –

“I am not from here and am just passing through this area.  Being from Samaria, if I do try and help you, the Jews, who despise Samaritans, may think that I am the one who beat and robbed you.  I feel sorry for you, but I do not want to get involved, I don’t want any trouble.”

But we see that the Samaritan had the grace to help by putting his own journey aside, and putting this man’s needs before his own

We are put in mind again of our Lord –

2 Corinthians 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

“…for his great love wherewith he loved us….”

Ephesians 2:5   Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Conclusion

      f.  He is rich in Prestige which leads to Praise –

Isaiah 45:22-23  Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Ephesians 2:6   And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Our eternal life, which has already begun when we turned to God for salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, is all of Him and about Him.  Thank Him now and every day.