Signup for Weekly Newsletter What if your entire understanding of salvation could be transformed by grasping the true power of God's grace? Join us in our latest episode, “Dead in sin," where we promise to take you on a journey from spiritual death to life in Christ. We'll explore Ephesians 2:1-10, breaking down the monumental shift that occurs when we are made alive through God's sovereign choice, and how living as the temple of God, as taught by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12-19, calls us to resist worldly influences. Expect to leave with a renewed perspective on how it's not our own efforts, but God's intervention and the work of the Holy Spirit, that empower us to overcome sin.
Ever wondered why God chooses to save humanity? In the chapter "God's Purpose for Saving Us," we tackle this profound question by delving into passages from Ephesians, 2 Timothy, and more. Discover the depth of God's grace and love, which is freely given through faith and not earned by works. We'll discuss the incredible significance of being seated with Christ in heavenly places, signifying our authority and power in Him. As we unravel our divine purpose to glorify God and partake in His nature, you'll understand how trials and tribulations are designed to mold us into His likeness, shifting our focus from fleeting worldly pleasures to eternal joy in Christ. Tune in for a transformative discussion that will deepen your understanding of God's magnificent plan for your life.
Signup for Weekly Newsletter What if your entire understanding of salvation could be transformed by grasping the true power of God's grace? Join us in our latest episode, “Dead in sin," where we promise to take you on a journey from spiritual death to life in Christ. We'll explore Ephesians 2:1-10, breaking down the monumental shift that occurs when we are made alive through God's sovereign choice, and how living as the temple of God, as taught by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12-19, calls us to resist worldly influences. Expect to leave with a renewed perspective on how it's not our own efforts, but God's intervention and the work of the Holy Spirit, that empower us to overcome sin.
Ever wondered why God chooses to save humanity? In the chapter "God's Purpose for Saving Us," we tackle this profound question by delving into passages from Ephesians, 2 Timothy, and more. Discover the depth of God's grace and love, which is freely given through faith and not earned by works. We'll discuss the incredible significance of being seated with Christ in heavenly places, signifying our authority and power in Him. As we unravel our divine purpose to glorify God and partake in His nature, you'll understand how trials and tribulations are designed to mold us into His likeness, shifting our focus from fleeting worldly pleasures to eternal joy in Christ. Tune in for a transformative discussion that will deepen your understanding of God's magnificent plan for your life.
Hello, welcome back to the Takeaway. I'm your host, pastor Harry Behrens, and in today's episode we're going to discuss our position prior to salvation, before God indwelled us with His Spirit and empowered us to overcome sin. As we look at Ephesians 2, verses 1-10. In chapter 1, we learn about God's purposeful choice to place us into the body of Christ with the intention that we would glorify him and find fulfillment in him. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have a significant role in this world, and we should always hold on to that truth. Without doubt, our Heavenly Father's love, adoption and gifting of us enabled us to experience the joy of the Lord. This is not due to anything we have accomplished, but rather it is a result of God's work. Paul expressed gratitude for the believers in Ephesus because of their authentic faith, which was evidenced by their continuous support for one another through prayer and good works. We are also called to put our faith into action, to cultivate the same assurance of being in Christ. Otherwise, as we will soon see in this chapter, we could remain spiritually lifeless and enslaved to our sins. This is not the life that a Christian should lead. Instead, it is meant to reveal what we have been rescued from and what we have been brought into. We are now considered the temple of God and should treat ourselves accordingly. Now considered the temple of God and should treat ourselves accordingly.
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1 Corinthians 6, verses 12 to 19. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything. Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never. Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her, for, as it is written, the two will become one flesh. But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one body with her, for, as it is written, the two will become one flesh. But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but sexually immoral person sins against his own body, or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?
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We are called to conduct ourselves differently from the people of the world as we have been made into the holy temple of God. Paul emphasizes the need for self-reflection and urges us to assess our position in Christ. We understood that we have been selected for a specific purpose in God's grand plan of redemption, which is to bring glory to himself. In chapter 2, paul continues to stress this idea by making it clear that we were spiritually dead due to our sins, and it is only through God's grace that we have been saved.
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Throughout history, humans have sought spiritual fulfillment through various means, often through religious practices based on works. This approach involves doing what we believe God expects of us, with the expectation of receiving a place in the heavenly realm in return. The concept of free will and the idea that we choose to respond to God is an extension of this mindset, placing the power in our hands. This human-centered belief system denies God's sovereignty and control over all things. We were not created to fulfill a need that God had, but rather we were created for his glory. Paul emphasizes our previous state before being chosen to serve this purpose, making it explicitly clear that it was God who chose us and we could not have chosen to follow Him on our own.
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Ephesians 2, verses 1-3. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 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 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. Paul emphasizes the profound truth that we were once dead in our sins, unable to bring ourselves to life. It is only through the divine act of God that we have been made alive in Christ, as stated in chapter 1. Satan, the prince of the power of the air, works tirelessly to deceive and lead people astray, especially believers, causing doubt and lack of assurance in their position with God. However, it is God's desire for us to have full assurance of our place with Him, as this is where the power of the Holy Spirit works to overcome the world and the evil one. Recognizing this is crucial, as it strips Satan of his power over us as he uses everything at his disposal to prevent us from realizing this truth Luke 10, 19,.
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In verse 3, it's crystal clear that we all used to live according to the desires of the flesh, willingly following the deceptive waves of the world. The deceptive waves of the world. When someone claims I chose Jesus, they're actually mistaken, believing for choosing because it was God who instilled the belief in them, while their true choice was to live for their own desires. There was no part of God that they actively sought or desired. Let me make this abundantly clear you didn't choose God. He chose you, saved you, rescued you, empowered you and protected you. Without his intervention, you would have returned to serving your fleshly desires. Knowledge alone doesn't save people. It's the Spirit of God that does, and it's a gift from God, not a mere illusion or something that could be acquired through personal means. Acts 8, 18-24.
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Now, when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money. You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you and Simon answered. Peter said and Simon said you would be forgiven. It's only possible if God grants forgiveness based on his electing power. There has to be a work of God for it to be genuine and not of flesh and blood, as we will see in verse 9. It's important to regularly assess our commitment to our faith. If we find that our faith is lacking, we should follow the example Peter gave Simon and humbly seek forgiveness through prayer. 2 Corinthians 13 5.
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Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves or do you not realize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test? If the thought of failing the test worries you, then rest assured you are in the faith. Those who are dead will not even. One of the main struggles people have with election is worrying about whether or not they have been saved. That is the same issue those who believe in free will also have. How do they know if their decision to follow Jesus was genuine From the election standpoint, how do we know if we are chosen? In either case, the evidence is that you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, repent from your sins and humble yourself to submit to a life glorifying Him. The test of faith will determine if you have genuine saving faith or a works-based faith that will leave you empty and wanting. Those who fail the test will eventually return to their old way of living, and those who don't take the test were never saved to begin with. Only a true believer will care to test their faith and endure the trials and tribulations that come their way to refine it.
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2 Peter 2, 15-22. Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Baor, who loved gain for wrongdoing but was rebuked for his own transgression. A speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them, the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved For speaking loud boasts of folly. They entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for whatever overcomes a person to that he is enslaved For. If, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first, for it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness.
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I want to be clear. That is not about someone losing their salvation, as they never had it in the first place. Instead, they only had the appearance of a religious person. Their heart was never converted and they either do things in works, try to earn their way to God, or be deceptive for selfish gain. In either case, they were in a position to hear the word but were never truly transformed by it, and they ended up going back to the vomit or mire from which they came. The last state is worse than the first because they will be judged on the truth that they heard and would have been better off never hearing in the first place. When we are transformed in salvation, we become a new man. But notice, these individuals are called swine. They were cleaned up but never transformed. So they do what is natural and they return to their mire.
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Our world is currently filled with evangelists who preach a deluded version of the gospel, devoid of power. Instead, they offer a message of prosperity that fails to bring about any real transformation in the listener. This approach merely appeals to people because it aligns with their desires. The authentic gospel, on the other hand, confronts the values of this world and brings about a profound change in individuals through the influence of the Holy Spirit. This transformation leads people to renounce the ways of the world and live for God. This is the reason why devoted believers around the globe are willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the gospel, while still praising God. Such a profound change is a testament to the genuine impact of the gospel.
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But why would God even bother to save us when all we are deserving of is death? Ephesians 2, 4-7. But God, being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace, you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness toward us. In Christ Jesus. Did you catch that? God's grace has saved you. That comes from his great love for you. Even though you were dead, he made us alive in Christ, not of anything we did, but by grace, which is getting something you don't deserve On top of that.
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As if it wouldn't be enough to be freed from sin and saved from death, he then raised us with Jesus and seated us with him in the heavenly places. Again, he didn't say he would seat us. He said we are seated as we are currently present. Right now, today. We are seated with him. Now you will ask how can I be if I am still in this world? Because it's not a place, it's a position. You are seated with him, in power and authority to rule with him.
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2 Timothy 2.11. The saying is trustworthy, for if we have died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. Ephesians 2.8-9,.
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For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing. It is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Again, paul is clarifying that your salvation was a gift of God and not of works of any kind. It was by faith, and even that faith was given to you by God so that you could believe. To emphasize that, paul says so that no one can boast. The idea here is that you recognize that you can't boast about anything except Christ and Him crucified. Galatians 6.14. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord, jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. And 1 Corinthians 2.2, for I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Now, if salvation has been given to you, you can be assured you can't lose it either. Philippians 1.6.
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So for what purpose did God save us? We know the why because he loved us. But for what purpose? Ephesians 2.10,. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Workmanship in Latin is poeum, where we get the word poem. That could be translated as we are his poem.
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How beautiful is that? We aren't just something God threw together because he was bored and needed something to do. We are part of his grand design in creation to glorify himself, and not just outwardly. He is sharing his glory, or should I say expressing it in us and through us, so that we could participate in it. God wants us to be satisfied in him and take great pleasure in him. He did not create us because he was lacking anything or needed someone to love or love him. He is and always will be self-satisfied in himself and lack nothing.
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Acts 17, 24 to 25. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. However, because of his nature to give share and love, he creates human beings to share the fullness of joy with us. That is his nature, not something he lacks and wants to fill, but something that overflows from his character. We are a result of his great love, manifested through his mercy, grace and power towards us. How amazing is that? That should blow your mind when you think about it. The God of the universe created you so that he could share himself with you and that you should be satisfied in him. That's probably not something you have heard or has never sunk in. Hopefully. Today is the day that it will. God created you to glorify himself, which is to express himself in us and through us, and, as a result, we have an opportunity to experience the same fullness of joy that Jesus has in the Father.
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2 Peter 1, 3-4. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him, who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises so that, through them, you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. Did you catch that in verse 4? So that we may become partakers of the divine nature. Did you catch that in verse 4? So that we may become partakers of the divine nature? That's His nature, that's God's purpose for doing all that he does. Everything we go through, all the suffering, trials and tribulations in this world are designed so that you can take part in His divine nature.
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We often want the pleasures of this world as proof that God loves us, but in reality, as we just learned, that is your sin nature trying to get what it wants. Jesus didn't come into this world to obtain or experience the pleasures of it. He came to get what rightly belongs to him, that which the Father gave him. He came and redeemed back to himself so that we who are his will be where he is and that our joy may be full in him. That should be the greatest news you have ever heard. If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, our Lord, your sufferings are not designed to punish you, but purify you and sanctify you, so that you will become more like Jesus and submit to the Father, who wants to share his divine nature with you. If everything were to go perfect in your life, you would never get on your knees and pray and ask Him for help. That is the position he wants us in to ensure that we ask for Him to rescue us, so that we may know Him and how much he loves us.
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Psalm 50, 15,. Pray to me. I will deliver you and the result will be that you will glorify me. Psalm 73, 25 to 26. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire beside you, my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Let's pray, father.
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God, thank you so much for your word. Thank you for the truth, the insight and the inspiration that you show us and teach us that it's all about your glory. You show us and teach us that it's all about your glory, that you are expressing your love, your forgiveness and your power in us and through us. Father, there is nothing we can offer you of ourselves. We are sinful, broken, worthless people in the flesh. There is nothing we can offer you, and everything that we have that is good and can be offered to you is from you in the first place. It's because of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross that we have access to you on the throne by the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Father, I pray that you open our eyes today. You will touch the hearts of our listeners, that they will know that their purpose is to live for your glory, to praise you all their days, and that you promise that they will find fullness of joy in you. Father, we love you and we thank you in Jesus' name, amen. I want to thank you for joining us today and I hope this message helped you take a step closer in your relationship with Jesus and that you have a better understanding of just how much God loves you and wants you to know him.
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In our next episode, we're going to look at the method God used to construct the church to present our holy and blameless before him. Not only did he raise us from the dead with Christ, but he is sanctifying us and preparing us to rule and reign with him for eternity. The church is God's method of doing that and, as we will see, he has given us everything we need to be equipped for this life. And before we go, I want to encourage you to visit us at the takeawayfaith. On our website, you can sign up to receive email notifications or send us a text message from the link provided in the description of this episode. We hope that you would use this podcast as a resource to help others and that you would send us a message, a word of encouragement or any questions or comments, as we would love to hear from you. God bless, and we'll see you next time on the Takeaway. Goodbye.