The Plan… Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God made us in his image to know him and enjoy him forever.1 The Problem… Ephesians 2:1-3
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.2
Our default position is separation from God:
Verse 1 – Separated by trespasses and sins
Verse 2 – Following the course of this world
Verse 3 – By nature children of wrath All have sinned:
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Sin earns spiritual death:
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Revelation 20:14-15 –“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.3
1Westminster Assembly, The Westminster Confession of Faith, Edinburgh ed.
(Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851), 387.
2Unless noted otherwise, all Bible references are taken from the English Standard Version.
3See The Great White Throne Judgement in Rev 20:11-15.
Spiritual death is called second death. It is everlasting separation from God, his grace, love, provision, and his people.
All die physically:
Hebrews 9:27 – “… it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
John 3:3 – Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The Solution… Ephesians 2:4–7
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ takes our place so that God may save us:
Verse 4 – God is rich in mercy and he loves us
Verse 5 – Makes us alive with Jesus Christ
Verse 7 – Demonstrates immeasurable grace and kindness to us While we were sinners, Christ died for us:
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Ephesians 1:7 – “In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”
John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
The Good News:
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 – “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you … For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
The Response…Ephesians 2:8-9
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.”
By God’s love we are saved through faith:
Verse 8 – Salvation is by God’s grace, it is a gift from God.
Verse 9 – Good works do not save: morals, religion, baptism, or ritual
“Salvation is a gift from God’s abundant kindness and his lavish grace.
There is nothing at all within us that has inclined God to choose us. There is absolutely nothing we have done to catch God’s attention and earn his favor. It is entirely a ‘gift.’”4
Salvation is by grace alone, in Christ alone, by faith alone.
Receive and Believe:
John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Believe: – That Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God.
– That he is God in Flesh, and lived a sinless life.
– That he died on the cross to pay for your sins.
– That he rose from the grave on the third day.
Receive: – His forgiveness by accepting it through faith.
– His ruling authority over every aspect of your life.
How do I Believe and Receive?
Admit you are a sinner against God and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you.
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Believe that he died to pay for your sin and was raised back to life.
Acts 16:31 – “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
Confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life.
Romans 10:9-10 – “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Determine that with God’s help you will live under his authority from this day forward.
Luke 9:23 – Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
4Clinton E. Arnold, ed., Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; Ephesians (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 139.
You Can Be Saved (Born Again) Now!
If you 1) believe this message, 2) are ready to trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness, and 3) ready to commit to live for him, then you are ready to be saved!
It is Jesus Christ who saves you based on his death, burial, and resurrection and your belief in him. You can express your trust in Jesus and your acceptance of his forgiveness by praying to him. Your prayer may sound something like this:
Lord Jesus, I realize that I have sinned against you, that my ways are sinful and worldly. I know I need forgiveness and I am asking you to forgive me. I believe that you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I believe that you rose from the grave, and I am asking you to save me and help me live for you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for dying for me. And, thank you for saving me. I confess you as my Lord. Amen.
If you accepted Christ today, record your decision below to help you remember this day.
Name Date
If you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior today, we want to know so that we can help you grow in your faith and take your next steps with Jesus. In the next break, please tell one of our pastors about your decision.