Hello Friends, and
welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School.
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We are studying
the book of Ephesians
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and it's a
powerful... beautiful study.
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We're so glad
that you've joined us.
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My name is James Rafferty
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and we are in
Ephesians... the fourth week...
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How God Rescues us.
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If you'd like to get a copy
of the Sabbath School Lesson,
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you can get that at
3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com
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that's:
3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com
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Today, we're studying
again: How God rescues us
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so, don't go away,
we'll be right back.
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Music...
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Rafferty: Hello Friends, we're
so glad that you are joining us,
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we are studying the
Sabbath School Lesson
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for the third Quarter of 2023
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and we are in
the book of Ephesians
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and it is a
beautiful, beautiful study.
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The book of Ephesians is one
of the epistles that Paul wrote
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to the church in Ephesus
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and he expounds and
focuses on the love of God
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and then what that
love produces in the life.
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Now, before we get into
our Sabbath School Lesson,
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I want to
introduce to you our Panel,
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sitting to my direct
left is Pastor John Lomacang.
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Lomacang: Good
to be here, James.
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James and John... something's
going to happen here tonight.
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Panel: Laughter.
Rafferty: We're thunder...
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Lomacang: Mine is entitled...
Once Deluded by Our Own Desires.
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Powerful... powerful topic.
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Rafferty: Amen...
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and to your left
is Jill Morikone.
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Jill: Thank you
so much Pastor James.
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I have Tuesday:
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Now Resurrected, Ascended,
and Exalted with Christ.
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Rafferty: All right, amen...
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and to your left
is Pastor John Dinzey.
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Dinzey: It's a
blessing to be here as well.
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Well, I have
Wednesday and the title is:
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Now Blessed Forever by Grace.
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Rafferty: Amen... and
finally... last but not least,
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at the very end
there, Pastor Ryan Day.
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Ryan: Amen, praise the
Lord, I have Thursday's Lesson
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entitled: Now Saved by God.
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So, we're looking at
how God rescues us...
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Ephesians chapter
2 verses 1 through 10
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are going to be our main focus
in our Lesson Study this week
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and then Ephesians 5 verse 14,
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Romans 5:17,
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Ephesians 5:6
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and 2nd Timothy
chapter 1 and verse 7.
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Before we do that,
let's have a word of prayer,
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Jill, if you wouldn't mind,
would you have prayer for us?
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Jill: Sure, "Heavenly Father,
we just come before You excited
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to be opening up Your Word...
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this wonderful
study of salvation,
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thank You for the
gift of salvation.
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thank You for the
gift of Your Spirit
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and we ask right now,
would You come and teach us...
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in Jesus' name, amen. "
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Rafferty: Amen.
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Ephesians
chapter 2 verses 4 and 5,
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let's take a look.
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I'm reading from the ESV,
the English Standard Version,
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"But God being rich in mercy,
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because of the great
love with which He loved us,
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even when we were
dead in our trespasses,
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made us alive
together in Christ... "
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Panel: Yes.
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Rafferty: It was January of 2019
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and there was a snow and
ice storm in Central Oregon.
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Trees and power poles
snapped like toothpicks
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and the snow and ice
paralyzed communities
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leaving hundreds of
people without power
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in freezing temperatures.
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In one or more remote location,
people were huddled together
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trying to survive
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and a local Elder
of a local SDA Church
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was trapped along
with his entire community
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who... some of whom
needed some medical care.
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There was nothing that
they could really count on
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from the local County.
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The local County
was completely swamped
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with calls and rescue missions.
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So, the local church...
the local Adventist Church
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organized all the
able-bodied persons they could
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and they went to work
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from both sides of
the snow-buried community.
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They began by
cutting down trees and limbs
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and shoveling
through with a tractor...
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making a narrow
pathway from one end
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while the Elder and a
group of... of his community
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worked from the other end
and they tried to come together.
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It took them two days...
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in some cases,
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they were clambering
over downed power lines
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which could have been dangerous
if they weren't turned off
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but finally... eventually,
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they got to the place
where they met together
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and the community was rescued.
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There's nothing
like a good rescue story
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and that's what we see
in the book of Ephesians.
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Ephesians chapter 2:1 through 10
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gives us an
up-close and personal view,
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the author of
the Quarterly says,
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of the grandest most-sweeping
rescue mission of all time.
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God's redemption
of the human race
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in Christ Jesus the second Adam.
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The drama of the story
is heightened by knowing
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that we are not mere spectators
of someone else's rescue
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but we are
witnesses of our own rescue.
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I love that...
what a powerful point!
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The Lesson goes on in Sunday
to describe this rescue mission
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in detail by quoting
from Ephesians chapter 2
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verses 1 through 10.
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Now, we're not going to cover
the details of all these verses
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in today's Lesson
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but I'm sure the Panel is going
to be looking at in more detail
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some of these points.
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What I'd like to do is
just do a quick overview
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of a few of the verses
here in Ephesians chapter 2
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beginning with verse 1,
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"And you... He has quickened,
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who were dead in
trespasses and sins;
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wherein time past
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you walked according to
the course of this world,
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according to the prince
of the power of the air,
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and the spirit that now works in
the children of disobedience. "
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The author of the
Sabbath School Lesson
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emphasizes these three
elements that work against us.
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The world... the devil
and our own fallen natures
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and all of those are seeking
to keep us into bondage in sin
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and away from the glorious
redemption that Christ has
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opened for us
through His great love
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but it says
here in this context,
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that while we were by
nature children of wrath,
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verse 4 says, "But
God, who is rich in mercy,
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for his great love
wherewith He loved us,
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even when we were dead in sins,
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has quickened us
together with Christ,
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by grace, ye are saved. "
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What I love about this
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is that a lot of times when
we quote the book of Ephesians,
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we... we think about
salvation in relationship to
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Ephesians chapter 2
verses 8 through 10.
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I think those are some
of our favorite verses,
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Ephesians 2:8 through
10, we've got to memorize
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"By grace, you are
saved through faith...
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it's not of
yourselves, it's the gift of God
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lest anyone should... "
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so we... we have those memorized
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but Paul actually... these
verses are just as powerful.
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The first few verses of
Ephesians chapter 2 are just as
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powerful and in a sense,
they lead up to that sense of
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crescendo in
verses 8 through 10.
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Verse 6 says, "He's
raised us up together,
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and made us sit
together in heavenly places
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in Christ Jesus:
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that in the ages to
come... " verse 7 says,
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"He might show the
exceeding riches of His grace
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in His kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus. "
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Now, the ages to
come aren't here yet
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but God is going to
show in the ages to come
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throughout all eternity,
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He's going to show the
exceeding riches of His grace,
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I mean, we think God's grace
is exceeding rich right now,
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but in the ages to come,
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we're going to see more and more
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of the exceeding
riches of His grace
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which is going to be amazing.
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You see, God...
according to these verses,
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God is the great
initiator of salvation.
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These chapters
parallel Romans chapter 5,
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verses 6
through 10 where it says
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that we... when we
were yet without strength,
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in due time Christ
died for the ungodly.
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Panel: That's right.
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Rafferty: "For scarcely for
a righteous man would one die:
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yet peradventure for a good
man some would even dare to die.
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But God
commended His love to us,
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in that, while
we were yet sinners,
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Christ died for us.
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Much more then, now
being justified by His blood,
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we shall be saved
from wrath through Him.
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For if, when we were sinners,
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we were reconciled to
God by the death of His Son,
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much more, being reconciled,
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we will be saved by His life. "
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Panel: That's right.
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Rafferty: There is something
powerful in these verses,
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Paul here is... the author says,
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"has already
described the salvation
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provided to all in Christ. "
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But all humanity had been
predestined to eternal life
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according to Ephesians chapter 1
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in Christ... not one
member of the human family
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has been left out of
God's plan of salvation.
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Panel: That's right.
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Rafferty: Christ died for all
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and Paul briefly told the
story of believers in Ephesians,
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the... the believers
who were in the world...
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who were
surrounded by the world,
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and who were
kept captive by Satan
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and by their own fallen natures
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and how God... in that moment,
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in that time...
in that experience,
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God came to our rescue,
He initiated our salvation.
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In Romans chapter
5, Paul says, you know,
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"You don't have
to get yourself right
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in order for God to
do something for you. "
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You don't have to be
good enough to come to church.
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Sometimes people say to me,
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"I'm not good
enough to come to church. "
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And my response as a pastor is,
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"You're not good enough
not to come to church. "
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God is the initiator...
we're not the initiator...
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we can't make ourselves
good enough to come to God
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but we come to God as we are
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and God does the work
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and that's what
Paul is emphasizing here
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and Paul knows this,
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he knows this by
his own experience.
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In Ephesians 2:1
through 10, the Quarterly says,
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Paul will tell... now tell
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their conversion
story in more detail,
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with a personal focus.
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He... He'll contrast
their past, sinful experience
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Ephesians 2:1 through 3,
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with the blessings
of God's salvation,
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which he portrays
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in the
resurrection, the ascension,
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and the
exaltation of Jesus Christ
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as he celebrates the
basis of that salvation
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in the grace and
creative work of God. "
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So, Paul is all about
"God has accomplished this...
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God has
accomplished in Christ Jesus
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all that you need for salvation
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and He did this
while you were yet sinners.
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He did this while
you were yet in the world
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because He wanted
you to see His goodness
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because the Bible
tells us in Romans 2:4.
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It's the goodness of
God that does... what?
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Panel: Leads us to repentance.
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Rafferty: Leads
us to repentance...
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takes us out of this world...
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it takes us out of
the hands of the devil...
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it takes us out of his grip
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and it transforms us
heart, mind, and spirit.
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Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:10:08.90\00:10:10.24
Rafferty: So, these
three sections of...
00:10:10.27\00:10:11.61
of... of Ephesians chapter 2,
00:10:11.64\00:10:14.04
there's... there's three
sections of Ephesians chapter 2
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the Quarterly goes on to say,
00:10:16.54\00:10:18.25
that paraphrase this experience.
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Ephesians 2:5, "we were
all dead in our trespasses... "
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and then, Ephesians 2:5
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goes on to say
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"but He made us
alive in Jesus Christ. "
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and then it goes on to say,
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"and by grace, you
have been saved... "
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So, you've got... we're dead...
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we've been made alive
00:10:32.79\00:10:34.13
and by grace we have been saved.
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So, Ephesians
chapter 2 verses 1 and 2,
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Paul underlines the reality of
this pre-conversion experience
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of his audience... noting
that they were spiritually dead,
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that they were
practicing trespasses...
00:10:46.57\00:10:49.34
they were dead in their sins
00:10:49.38\00:10:50.71
that was their
regular pattern of life...
00:10:50.75\00:10:52.61
that's our
regular pattern of life,
00:10:52.65\00:10:54.42
and they were
dominated by Satan.
00:10:54.45\00:10:56.15
But since Paul is
writing to these living people,
00:10:56.18\00:11:00.62
he's referring to
them as dead spiritually.
00:11:00.66\00:11:03.43
So, when he says, "You're
dead in trespasses and sins... "
00:11:03.49\00:11:05.63
he's not talking about literally
being dead... they're alive...
00:11:05.66\00:11:07.66
but he's talking about
their spiritual life is dead.
00:11:07.73\00:11:10.63
They were spiritually separated
from God... the source of life.
00:11:10.67\00:11:14.57
Now, this conversion
story is kind of vital because
00:11:14.60\00:11:18.24
it shows that God's
amazing grace is for everyone...
00:11:18.27\00:11:21.88
for all of us.
00:11:21.91\00:11:23.24
You know, you'll
notice that Paul himself...
00:11:23.28\00:11:25.58
a... a great
multi-generational religionist
00:11:25.61\00:11:28.38
makes use of corporate language
00:11:28.45\00:11:30.29
when he's talking about the
experience of the Ephesians.
00:11:30.32\00:11:32.69
He says, "us" and "we"
00:11:32.72\00:11:35.39
not "them" or "you," right?
00:11:35.42\00:11:37.53
Because he himself was in
the same place that they were.
00:11:37.56\00:11:40.93
He was dominated by the devil...
00:11:40.96\00:11:43.00
he was dominated by the world
and the way the world thought
00:11:43.03\00:11:46.03
and he was dominated
by his own fallen nature
00:11:46.07\00:11:48.00
even though he was... according
to Philippians chapter 3,
00:11:48.04\00:11:51.34
he was blameless... a
Pharisee of the Pharisees...
00:11:51.37\00:11:54.58
circumcised on the eighth day...
00:11:54.61\00:11:55.94
he was all about being
religious and righteous
00:11:55.98\00:11:58.65
but yet, he was following
the principles of the world
00:11:58.71\00:12:01.32
and, of course, he
later admits this, you know,
00:12:01.35\00:12:03.79
that he was the
chief of sinners...
00:12:03.82\00:12:05.25
he was
persecuting the church of God.
00:12:05.29\00:12:06.65
And we can be very religious
00:12:06.72\00:12:08.92
and yet, completely and...
00:12:08.96\00:12:11.39
and totally consumed...
00:12:11.43\00:12:12.83
controlled by the
devil and by his principles
00:12:12.86\00:12:16.70
and this is what
Paul is bringing out here.
00:12:16.73\00:12:18.30
So, how do we get deliverance
from this kind of experience?
00:12:18.33\00:12:20.97
Well, how did
Paul get deliverance?
00:12:21.00\00:12:22.64
Paul is not pretending to relate
00:12:22.67\00:12:24.24
to those who are dead
in trespasses and sin,
00:12:24.27\00:12:25.94
and sins... Paul
is a liberated sinner
00:12:25.97\00:12:28.58
who was once held in bondage
to righteousness by works
00:12:28.64\00:12:31.71
but he is now free
in Christ to proclaim
00:12:31.75\00:12:33.92
his completely lost condition...
00:12:33.98\00:12:37.22
his past...
00:12:37.25\00:12:38.59
and his deeply religious
commitment to Jesus Christ
00:12:38.62\00:12:41.72
his present
00:12:41.76\00:12:43.09
and this happened to Paul
00:12:43.12\00:12:44.46
by seeing the initiating
love of God toward him
00:12:44.49\00:12:48.20
when he was on
that road to Damascus...
00:12:48.23\00:12:50.17
Jesus Christ
came to him directly
00:12:50.20\00:12:52.13
and apprehended him
00:12:52.17\00:12:53.54
and... and... and
stepped into his life
00:12:53.57\00:12:56.17
and diverted him
00:12:56.20\00:12:57.74
from the disastrous task
that he was about to commit
00:12:57.77\00:13:01.21
in persecuting God's people
00:13:01.24\00:13:02.71
or continuing to
persecute God's people.
00:13:02.74\00:13:04.31
So, Paul is now
free... he proclaims Christ
00:13:04.35\00:13:07.05
to the... the Gentiles
00:13:07.08\00:13:09.98
and this is what the
gospel of Christ does.
00:13:10.02\00:13:13.42
It's not a cold
lifeless theological construct
00:13:13.46\00:13:16.83
with pleasing platitudes.
00:13:16.86\00:13:18.23
The gospel is a
bold, heavily assault
00:13:18.26\00:13:20.90
against the very
foundation of false religion.
00:13:20.93\00:13:23.33
The gospel fells,
divides, chips, chews up and...
00:13:23.37\00:13:25.73
and... and... and
destroys every counterfeit tree,
00:13:25.77\00:13:29.07
it lays bare the
forest of man's planting
00:13:29.10\00:13:31.37
and directs us
to the Tree of Life.
00:13:31.44\00:13:33.94
Panel: That's right.
00:13:33.98\00:13:35.31
Rafferty: That's
what Paul is doing here
00:13:35.34\00:13:36.68
in the book of Ephesians
00:13:36.71\00:13:38.05
and he's including himself
in that corporate experience
00:13:38.08\00:13:40.75
of what God has done for us
00:13:40.78\00:13:42.12
while we were dead in
our trespasses and sins
00:13:42.15\00:13:44.29
and what God is
going to do for us
00:13:44.32\00:13:47.39
in resurrecting us
00:13:47.46\00:13:48.79
and putting us in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
00:13:48.82\00:13:51.46
This is going to
be the emphasis...
00:13:51.49\00:13:52.83
the theme we see
00:13:52.86\00:13:54.20
as we study this week's
lesson in Ephesians chapter 2.
00:13:54.23\00:13:57.23
Panel: Amen.
00:13:57.27\00:13:58.60
Lomacang: Thank you, James.
00:13:58.63\00:13:59.97
Wow! once deluded
by our own desires.
00:14:00.00\00:14:02.84
This is a very
powerful word "desire"
00:14:02.87\00:14:05.71
I... I think about a year ago,
00:14:05.74\00:14:07.94
so, I did a sermon
called: Streetcar named Desire.
00:14:07.98\00:14:11.01
and I want to talk about
something that has to do with
00:14:11.05\00:14:14.88
how does sin actually, get born?
00:14:14.92\00:14:18.89
And I want to
begin in Ephesians 2
00:14:18.92\00:14:20.92
and we're going to
look at verse 3 together
00:14:20.96\00:14:23.89
and I'm reading this in the NIV.
00:14:23.93\00:14:26.80
I'll read it in a
couple of translations...
00:14:26.86\00:14:28.53
I'll read it in New King James
since it was started there.
00:14:28.56\00:14:32.03
The Apostle Paul
bringing us to the place where
00:14:32.07\00:14:35.80
we are exposed to a
very familiar passage,
00:14:35.84\00:14:39.37
"For by grace are we saved... "
00:14:39.41\00:14:40.91
but it reads in verse 3,
00:14:40.98\00:14:42.41
"among whom
00:14:42.44\00:14:46.68
also, we all once
conducted ourselves
00:14:46.72\00:14:49.75
in the lusts of our flesh,
00:14:49.78\00:14:52.05
fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind,
00:14:52.09\00:14:57.03
and were by
nature children of wrath,
00:14:57.06\00:15:00.30
just as the others. "
00:15:00.33\00:15:02.80
Panel: Hmmm...
00:15:02.83\00:15:04.17
Lomacang: Verse 4
brings in the transition,
00:15:04.20\00:15:05.53
"But God... "
00:15:05.57\00:15:06.90
if you put that phrase,
"But God... " in the Bible,
00:15:06.94\00:15:08.74
you're seeing so many cases...
00:15:08.77\00:15:10.44
that is the transition
between failure and success.
00:15:10.47\00:15:13.48
Panel: Yeah.
00:15:13.51\00:15:14.84
Lomacang: That is the
transition between being lost
00:15:14.88\00:15:16.24
and being saved.
00:15:16.28\00:15:17.61
"No temptation has overtaking
you but such as common to man:
00:15:17.65\00:15:20.35
but God... "
00:15:20.38\00:15:21.72
Panel: Amen.
00:15:21.75\00:15:23.08
Lomacang: And we find that yes
00:15:23.12\00:15:24.45
without that two-word phrase,
00:15:24.49\00:15:26.32
so many of us would
still be lost today.
00:15:26.35\00:15:29.12
So, Paul starts out by
talking about this human nature
00:15:29.16\00:15:32.29
that we are all possessing
00:15:32.33\00:15:33.83
but he walks
through it incrementally
00:15:33.86\00:15:36.26
and when we go back
to the Garden of Eden,
00:15:36.30\00:15:38.53
we find a very significant
phrase in Genesis chapter 3,
00:15:38.57\00:15:43.00
in the... in the intercourse...
00:15:43.04\00:15:44.97
the... the verbal intercourse
between Eve and the Serpent
00:15:45.01\00:15:48.74
when she fell and judgment
was pronounced upon her,
00:15:48.78\00:15:53.15
the Lord revealed in
Genesis 3 and verse 16,
00:15:53.21\00:15:56.72
"Your desire shall
be for your husband,
00:15:56.75\00:15:59.95
and he shall rule over you. "
00:15:59.99\00:16:02.09
Now, let's go to
Romans chapter 7...
00:16:02.12\00:16:03.96
I want you to see this.
00:16:03.99\00:16:05.33
I want to spend time on "desire"
00:16:05.36\00:16:06.73
because this is something that
oftentimes, we don't understand.
00:16:06.76\00:16:09.00
Romans chapter 7...
00:16:09.03\00:16:10.83
remember he said, "Your
desire shall be for your husband
00:16:10.87\00:16:13.74
and he shall rule over you. "
00:16:13.77\00:16:15.44
Panel: Hmmm...
00:16:15.47\00:16:16.81
Lomacang: Jill... I
know you love Romans.
00:16:16.84\00:16:18.41
It's one of my favorite
books. Jill: Agreeing... yeah.
00:16:18.47\00:16:20.08
Lomacang: It's a books
that's often misunderstood
00:16:20.11\00:16:21.64
and misquoted.
00:16:21.68\00:16:23.01
People try to get rid of
God's law by quoting Paul
00:16:23.04\00:16:25.11
but Paul had no
issue with God's law.
00:16:25.15\00:16:26.72
Romans chapter 7...
00:16:26.75\00:16:28.28
now remember your desire
shall be for your husband.
00:16:28.32\00:16:30.79
Okay, now let's start in
verse 2 of Romans chapter 7,
00:16:30.82\00:16:33.22
"For the woman who has a husband
00:16:33.25\00:16:36.29
is bound by the law
00:16:36.32\00:16:37.73
to her husband
as long as he lives.
00:16:37.76\00:16:40.26
But if the husband dies,
00:16:40.30\00:16:42.23
she is released from
the law of her husband.
00:16:42.26\00:16:46.10
So then if, while
her husband lives,
00:16:46.13\00:16:48.50
she marries another man, she
will be called an adulteress;
00:16:48.54\00:16:51.54
but if her husband dies,
she is free from that law,
00:16:51.57\00:16:56.14
so that she is no adulteress,
00:16:56.21\00:16:58.98
though she has
married another man.
00:16:59.01\00:17:01.42
Therefore, my brethren,
00:17:01.45\00:17:03.22
you also have
become dead to the law
00:17:03.25\00:17:06.72
through the body of Christ,
00:17:06.76\00:17:08.56
that you may be
married to another...
00:17:08.59\00:17:11.33
to Him who was
raised from the dead,
00:17:11.36\00:17:13.90
that we should
bear fruit to God. "
00:17:13.93\00:17:16.10
What are we talking about here?
00:17:16.13\00:17:18.23
Now, notice Paul says that
the woman is bound by the law
00:17:18.27\00:17:22.50
to her husband
as long as he lives.
00:17:22.54\00:17:25.17
What is the law of her husband?
00:17:25.21\00:17:26.91
The law of her
husband... he sets the pace,
00:17:26.98\00:17:30.08
your desire shall
be for your husband
00:17:30.11\00:17:31.81
and he will rule over you.
00:17:31.85\00:17:34.08
So, as long as
he's married to her...
00:17:34.12\00:17:36.58
as long as she's married to him,
00:17:36.62\00:17:37.95
he calls the shots.
00:17:37.99\00:17:39.32
Panel: Hmmm...
00:17:39.35\00:17:40.69
Lomacang: That
husband has to die
00:17:40.72\00:17:42.06
in order for her to be free.
00:17:42.09\00:17:43.43
That's why Romans chapter
6 talks about the baptism.
00:17:43.46\00:17:46.83
Look at this.
00:17:46.86\00:17:48.26
Romans chapter 6 verse 6,
00:17:48.30\00:17:51.83
"knowing this, that our old
man was crucified with Him... "
00:17:51.87\00:17:57.57
growing up in New York,
00:17:57.61\00:17:58.97
we used to call, "Hey,
how's your old man doing?"
00:17:59.01\00:18:01.34
And that's the "husband"
term, remember that phrase?
00:18:01.38\00:18:03.68
It was an
old-fashioned phrase...
00:18:03.75\00:18:05.51
I didn't use the
word "old-fashioned"
00:18:05.55\00:18:07.72
because I'm old-fashioned,
00:18:07.78\00:18:09.12
but it's a term
that's not used now a days...
00:18:09.15\00:18:10.72
"How is your old man doing?"
00:18:10.79\00:18:12.12
Well, the old man is that
ruling... that ruling factor
00:18:12.15\00:18:16.86
that determines what
we do when we yield to it.
00:18:16.89\00:18:20.40
Romans 6:16, "Do
you not know that...
00:18:20.43\00:18:22.06
whomever you yield
yourself as servants to obey,
00:18:22.10\00:18:25.53
you are that one's
slave whom you obey,
00:18:25.57\00:18:27.87
whether of sin leading to death,
00:18:27.90\00:18:29.24
or obedience
leading to righteousness. "
00:18:29.27\00:18:30.61
Panel: Hmmm...
00:18:30.64\00:18:31.97
Lomacang: The moment
you yield the husband rules
00:18:32.01\00:18:33.38
and as long as
that husband is alive,
00:18:33.41\00:18:35.34
whatever the husband desires...
00:18:35.38\00:18:37.58
whatever the husband desires,
you are going to carry out.
00:18:37.65\00:18:41.48
That's why the
transition from death to life
00:18:41.52\00:18:43.89
is always...
the desire starts...
00:18:43.92\00:18:46.59
the Lord gets rid
of our carnal desire
00:18:46.62\00:18:50.03
and replaces it with
His righteous desire.
00:18:50.06\00:18:53.46
And when you go
back, you find out
00:18:53.50\00:18:55.53
that the phrase
"desire" or the word "desire"
00:18:55.56\00:18:58.20
describes the
seat of our affections.
00:18:58.23\00:19:01.30
Let's go and see that in
Isaiah 14 verses 12 to 14,
00:19:01.34\00:19:04.41
I'm trying to get
this as quickly as I can,
00:19:04.44\00:19:06.54
you find that...
the fall of Lucifer
00:19:06.57\00:19:10.75
didn't begin with an action,
00:19:10.78\00:19:12.28
it began with
something that was in his heart.
00:19:12.31\00:19:14.28
Verse 12, "How you are
fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,
00:19:14.32\00:19:18.35
son of the morning!
00:19:18.39\00:19:19.72
How you are cut
down to the ground,
00:19:19.75\00:19:21.22
you who weakened the nations!
00:19:21.26\00:19:22.86
For you have said
in your heart... "
00:19:22.89\00:19:25.33
that's where desire starts.
00:19:25.36\00:19:26.90
It's a "heart" thing but
it didn't become an action
00:19:26.93\00:19:29.56
until he desired...
00:19:29.60\00:19:30.93
until he desired
to act on that desire.
00:19:30.97\00:19:34.20
Until he willed to
act on that desire,
00:19:34.24\00:19:37.91
it was just something
he was thinking about.
00:19:37.94\00:19:39.47
You said it in your heart...
00:19:39.51\00:19:41.01
and here are all
the things he said,
00:19:41.04\00:19:42.68
"I will be like the Most High...
00:19:42.71\00:19:44.18
I will ascend into heavens...
00:19:44.21\00:19:45.61
I will exalt my
throne above the stars...
00:19:45.65\00:19:47.42
and the list goes on
and on and it continued...
00:19:47.45\00:19:49.72
notice what's after "desire"
I will... I will... I will... I
00:19:49.75\00:19:52.85
will. And when
"desire" is connected to will,
00:19:52.89\00:19:56.56
then, it's
followed by the action
00:19:56.59\00:19:58.53
which... if the
desire is good...
00:19:58.56\00:20:00.43
the action is good
and the outcome is good.
00:20:00.46\00:20:03.50
Look at James
chapter 1 verses 14 and 15,
00:20:03.53\00:20:06.50
the Bible says, "But each one
is tempted when he is drawn away
00:20:06.53\00:20:10.54
by his own desires and enticed.
00:20:10.57\00:20:12.51
Then, when desire has conceived,
00:20:12.54\00:20:16.31
it gives birth to sin;
00:20:16.34\00:20:17.85
and sin, when it is
full-grown brings forth death. "
00:20:17.88\00:20:20.98
Desire is in the mind... but the
will is the precursor to action.
00:20:21.05\00:20:26.99
Notice, James says,
00:20:27.02\00:20:28.42
"You can't say, 'the
devil made me do it. '"
00:20:28.46\00:20:30.39
No... because it's your desire.
00:20:30.43\00:20:33.09
Now, when we... when we
yield as John 8:44 talks about,
00:20:33.13\00:20:37.17
you are of your
father, the devil,
00:20:37.20\00:20:38.83
you desire to do his will.
00:20:38.87\00:20:40.37
You do his will... he is
the murderer from the very
00:20:40.40\00:20:42.80
beginning. That's when we take
that thought that's in our mind
00:20:42.84\00:20:46.04
and couple it with an action
00:20:46.07\00:20:47.84
and then that action
produces what we call
00:20:47.88\00:20:50.21
"a repetition" in our
lives which becomes a habit...
00:20:50.25\00:20:52.58
which produces a character...
00:20:52.61\00:20:53.95
which produces a destiny.
00:20:53.98\00:20:55.32
And so, we... we...
we... we see that what...
00:20:55.35\00:20:57.89
what the lesson is pointing out
is deluded by our own desires.
00:20:57.92\00:21:01.79
How do we change
the seat of that desire
00:21:01.82\00:21:05.86
for good fruit to be born
00:21:05.89\00:21:08.73
on the other side?
00:21:08.76\00:21:10.10
Let's look at a
couple of other Scriptures
00:21:10.13\00:21:12.13
that talks about desire.
00:21:12.20\00:21:13.54
1st Samuel 20 verse 4,
and I'll read it very...
00:21:13.57\00:21:15.90
very carefully... very quickly,
00:21:15.94\00:21:17.84
"So Jonathan said to David... "
00:21:17.87\00:21:19.51
and this is
true about all of us.
00:21:19.54\00:21:21.61
"Whatever you yourself desire,
00:21:21.64\00:21:23.68
I will do it for you. "
00:21:23.75\00:21:25.38
And notice that again...
"whatever you desire... "
00:21:25.41\00:21:27.72
Jonathan said,
"I'll do it for you. "
00:21:27.75\00:21:29.65
Whatever God's desire...
00:21:29.68\00:21:32.29
whatever we
desire... if it's good,
00:21:32.32\00:21:34.46
the Lord will do it for us.
00:21:34.49\00:21:36.62
And we find,
carefully, in the Bible,
00:21:36.69\00:21:39.23
that the Lord
says, "I will give you
00:21:39.26\00:21:41.76
the desires of your heart. "
00:21:41.80\00:21:43.16
But do we think that
God is going to give us
00:21:43.23\00:21:45.43
the evil desires of our hearts?
00:21:45.47\00:21:46.80
The answer is: absolutely not.
00:21:46.84\00:21:48.17
But I want to
share this quotation
00:21:48.20\00:21:49.57
and I had it here in my Lesson,
00:21:49.60\00:21:51.01
listen to this...
Ministry of Healing, page 176,
00:21:51.04\00:21:54.84
"Everything depends on
the right action of the will.
00:21:54.88\00:21:59.38
Desire for good and purity
are right, as far as they go;
00:21:59.41\00:22:03.89
but if we stop
here, they avail nothing.
00:22:03.92\00:22:07.72
Desire is powerful... but
disconnect it from the will,
00:22:07.76\00:22:11.06
we are helpless.
00:22:11.09\00:22:12.79
"Desire" is where
you would like to be...
00:22:12.86\00:22:15.73
"will" is the action
that will get you there.
00:22:15.76\00:22:18.90
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:22:18.93\00:22:20.27
"Desire" is what
you would like to do...
00:22:20.30\00:22:21.64
"will" is the action
that gets you moving.
00:22:21.67\00:22:24.57
"Desire" is what
you would like to be...
00:22:24.61\00:22:27.61
"will" is the action that
brings out the plan of reality.
00:22:27.64\00:22:33.25
It always starts with desire.
00:22:33.28\00:22:34.78
And so, what the...
00:22:34.82\00:22:36.25
what the writer of the Lesson,
Dr. John McVay is bringing out,
00:22:36.28\00:22:39.42
he is saying that we
walked in this desire...
00:22:39.45\00:22:42.62
this corruptible desire
00:22:42.66\00:22:43.99
that always brought
out a corruptible action
00:22:44.03\00:22:46.66
but then, the Lord
came along and broke that
00:22:46.70\00:22:49.36
by us yielding to Him.
00:22:49.43\00:22:50.90
He doesn't break our
will or take our will...
00:22:50.93\00:22:53.03
He doesn't say, "I'm
going to take your will
00:22:53.07\00:22:55.17
and do something else with it. "
00:22:55.20\00:22:56.94
We have to
commit that will to Him
00:22:56.97\00:22:58.81
and when we
commit that will to Him,
00:22:58.84\00:23:00.58
then, the fruit on the
other side is quite different.
00:23:00.64\00:23:04.28
It's His fruit...
it's no longer our fruit
00:23:04.31\00:23:06.82
because now, as Jesus said,
00:23:06.85\00:23:09.08
"Not My will...
but Thine be done. "
00:23:09.12\00:23:12.79
"Will" is the
precursor to the action.
00:23:12.82\00:23:16.46
And notice this,
Ephesians 5 verses 8 to 11,
00:23:16.49\00:23:19.26
pause...
00:23:19.29\00:23:21.23
here's what it says,
00:23:21.26\00:23:22.60
"But you who once...
you who were once darkness,
00:23:22.63\00:23:26.30
but now are light in the Lord.
00:23:26.33\00:23:28.87
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:23:28.90\00:23:30.24
Lomacang: Now,
notice... the different fruit.
00:23:30.27\00:23:31.61
"Walk as children of light
00:23:31.64\00:23:32.97
for the fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness,
00:23:33.01\00:23:37.75
righteousness and truth,
00:23:37.78\00:23:40.12
finding out what is
acceptable to the Lord.
00:23:40.15\00:23:43.12
And have no fellowship
00:23:43.15\00:23:45.35
with the
unfruitful works of darkness,
00:23:45.42\00:23:47.99
but rather expose them. "
00:23:48.02\00:23:50.63
So, what I want to
communicate here to you
00:23:50.66\00:23:53.53
in this short period of time
00:23:53.60\00:23:55.16
is... you've got to ask
yourself, "What is my desire?"
00:23:55.20\00:23:59.17
Panel: Hmmm...
00:23:59.20\00:24:00.54
Lomacang: Where am I focused?
00:24:00.57\00:24:01.90
What am I doing?
00:24:01.94\00:24:03.27
because if the desire is good,
00:24:03.30\00:24:04.64
God will bring it
out for a blessing
00:24:04.67\00:24:06.64
but if the desire is evil,
00:24:06.68\00:24:08.38
it will pull you in
the wrong direction.
00:24:08.41\00:24:11.51
Pray and ask God to
give you the desires
00:24:11.55\00:24:14.58
that are in
harmony with His will.
00:24:14.62\00:24:16.32
Panel: Amen.
00:24:16.38\00:24:17.72
Rafferty: Thank you...
thank you, Pastor John.
00:24:17.75\00:24:19.09
So, we are just getting started
in our lesson for this week,
00:24:19.12\00:24:23.59
how God rescues us...
00:24:23.63\00:24:24.99
don't go away...
we'll be right back.
00:24:25.03\00:24:26.56
Pause...
00:24:26.59\00:24:29.96
Music...
00:24:30.00\00:24:33.30
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Save a Life... for Eternity.
00:25:00.66\00:25:02.56
James: Hello Friends,
00:25:02.60\00:25:04.00
we are studying
the book of Ephesians.
00:25:04.03\00:25:05.90
We are in the fourth
Lesson... how God rescues us.
00:25:05.93\00:25:09.77
Ephesians is for the
third Quarter of 2023
00:25:09.80\00:25:12.07
and I'm handing it
over to Jill Morikone.
00:25:12.11\00:25:14.31
Jill: Thank you so much,
Pastor James and Pastor John.
00:25:14.34\00:25:16.58
What an incredible lesson!
00:25:16.61\00:25:18.41
I think Ephesians 2
and Romans chapter 3
00:25:18.45\00:25:22.22
are two of my favorite
sections of the Word of God
00:25:22.25\00:25:25.55
as we look at that plan
of salvation Paul lays out
00:25:25.62\00:25:28.89
so beautifully in both of them.
00:25:28.92\00:25:30.93
I have Tuesday's Lesson:
00:25:30.96\00:25:32.79
Now Resurrected, Ascended,
and Exalted with Christ.
00:25:32.83\00:25:37.07
We're looking at
Ephesians 2 verses 4 through 6,
00:25:37.10\00:25:41.27
and it begins with two words
that Pastor John referenced
00:25:41.30\00:25:46.14
when he did his
Section "But God... "
00:25:46.17\00:25:48.64
Lomacang: That's right.
00:25:48.68\00:25:50.01
Jill: At this
point of the Lesson,
00:25:50.05\00:25:51.65
we pivot from sin to the Savior.
00:25:51.68\00:25:53.62
From the external
forces of culture or Satan
00:25:53.68\00:25:57.75
or the internal desire...
00:25:57.79\00:26:00.22
to Jesus the
crucified Lamb of God...
00:26:00.26\00:26:04.26
the resurrected Son of God...
00:26:04.29\00:26:06.90
the ascended
Jesus who is now seated
00:26:06.93\00:26:09.36
at the right-hand of the Father
00:26:09.40\00:26:11.80
as our Priest and King.
00:26:11.83\00:26:13.80
Are you steeped in sin
trembling under temptation,
00:26:13.84\00:26:19.07
broken under bondage?
00:26:19.11\00:26:20.98
But God...
00:26:21.01\00:26:22.91
Panel: That's right.
00:26:22.94\00:26:24.28
Jill: Are your
relationships crumbling
00:26:24.31\00:26:25.65
and children
questioning and health failing?
00:26:25.68\00:26:28.42
But God...
00:26:28.45\00:26:30.75
Panel: That's right.
00:26:30.79\00:26:32.12
Jill: Are you
doubting who you are in Christ?
00:26:32.15\00:26:34.19
Are you enslaved
with no hope for tomorrow?
00:26:34.26\00:26:36.96
Are you despairing even of life?
00:26:36.99\00:26:39.63
But God...
00:26:39.66\00:26:41.26
Jill: There's a song I
love, Larnelle Harris sings,
00:26:41.30\00:26:44.13
it's called: But God...
00:26:44.17\00:26:45.77
The second verse says, "I
know your heart is breaking
00:26:45.80\00:26:48.70
the pain just comes in waves.
00:26:48.74\00:26:50.51
Everywhere you look it
seems like there is no peace,
00:26:50.54\00:26:54.08
You try not to give up,
but the tears will not relent.
00:26:54.11\00:26:57.58
Any minute now you
might accept defeat.
00:26:57.61\00:27:00.98
And you stand
there with "impossible,"
00:27:01.02\00:27:04.32
the next word on your lips,
00:27:04.35\00:27:06.19
Your vision has been blinded
and nothing's making sense.
00:27:06.22\00:27:10.73
But God sees some way,
00:27:10.76\00:27:13.09
when miracles are
well beyond our view,
00:27:13.13\00:27:15.56
His love saves the day,
00:27:15.60\00:27:17.87
when fear would tell
us, "There's just no use. "
00:27:17.90\00:27:20.94
You can look the whole
world over for the meaning of it
00:27:20.97\00:27:25.31
all... For the purpose
that mankind has always sought.
00:27:25.37\00:27:28.91
In the end, you will discover,
00:27:28.94\00:27:31.35
there is no
other answer But God.
00:27:31.38\00:27:34.02
Panel: Amen.
Jill: Oh, I love that!
00:27:34.05\00:27:36.79
There is no
other answer but God.
00:27:36.82\00:27:39.35
No matter where you are today,
00:27:39.39\00:27:42.09
there is no
other answer but God.
00:27:42.12\00:27:44.76
But it doesn't stop there,
00:27:44.79\00:27:46.13
so, let's continue,
we're in Ephesians 2 verse 4,
00:27:46.16\00:27:48.30
"But God, who is rich in mercy,
00:27:48.33\00:27:51.53
because of His great
love with which He loved us. "
00:27:51.57\00:27:55.30
It reminds me...
Pastor James referenced this,
00:27:55.34\00:27:57.47
Romans 5.
00:27:57.51\00:27:58.84
Panel: Hmmm...
hmmm... Jill: Romans 5:8,
00:27:58.87\00:28:00.21
"But God demonstrates
His own love toward us,
00:28:00.24\00:28:01.98
in that while we
were yet... " Greek says,
00:28:02.01\00:28:04.38
"still even now, sinners,
00:28:04.41\00:28:07.22
Christ died for us. "
00:28:07.25\00:28:09.98
Panel: Amen.
00:28:10.02\00:28:11.35
Jill: Let's read verse 5,
00:28:11.39\00:28:12.72
"Even when we were
dead in trespasses,
00:28:12.75\00:28:14.86
made us alive
together with Christ...
00:28:14.89\00:28:18.43
by grace you have been
saved and raised us up together,
00:28:18.46\00:28:22.76
made us sit together with Christ
00:28:22.80\00:28:25.80
in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus. "
00:28:25.83\00:28:29.50
This is... we see the
three compound verbs here
00:28:29.54\00:28:33.17
that we're going to talk
about for the rest of my Lesson.
00:28:33.21\00:28:35.21
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:28:35.24\00:28:36.58
Jill: Made us alive together...
00:28:36.61\00:28:37.95
raised us up together...
00:28:37.98\00:28:39.51
made us sit together.
00:28:39.55\00:28:41.28
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:28:41.32\00:28:42.95
Jill: Dr. John McVay...
the author of the Lesson
00:28:42.98\00:28:44.75
did a great job
with this lesson.
00:28:44.79\00:28:46.52
We see the three-fold
participation with Christ.
00:28:46.55\00:28:49.79
His resurrection...
00:28:49.82\00:28:51.19
His ascension...
00:28:51.23\00:28:53.40
and His exaltation.
00:28:53.43\00:28:55.50
As believers, we are
co-resurrected with Christ.
00:28:55.53\00:28:59.20
We are co-ascended with Christ.
00:28:59.23\00:29:02.27
We will be
co-exalted with Christ,
00:29:02.30\00:29:05.81
reigning with Him
in heavenly places.
00:29:05.84\00:29:09.28
Now, we can say... this is going
to take place in the future,
00:29:09.31\00:29:11.71
most certainly it
will... will it not?
00:29:11.75\00:29:13.52
We know at the
second coming of Christ,
00:29:13.55\00:29:15.25
that those who have
fallen asleep in Jesus...
00:29:15.28\00:29:17.42
what's going to happen?
00:29:17.45\00:29:18.79
They're going to be resurrected.
00:29:18.82\00:29:20.16
They will ascend
with Christ to heaven
00:29:20.19\00:29:22.46
and they will reign
as kings and priests...
00:29:22.49\00:29:25.99
we will reign as kings...
00:29:26.03\00:29:27.76
you will reign as kings
and priests with Christ.
00:29:27.80\00:29:31.67
But what about here and now?
00:29:31.70\00:29:34.10
Can we actually
be resurrected now?
00:29:34.14\00:29:36.64
Panel: Yes.
00:29:36.67\00:29:38.01
Jill: Can we actually
experience ascension now?
00:29:38.04\00:29:39.97
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:29:40.01\00:29:41.34
Jill: Can we be co-exalted or
co-seated with Christ even now?
00:29:41.38\00:29:46.41
Let's talk about that.
00:29:46.45\00:29:47.78
Let's look at
co-resurrected with Christ,
00:29:47.82\00:29:51.02
this is the section that said...
00:29:51.05\00:29:52.39
"made us alive
together with Christ. "
00:29:52.42\00:29:55.06
We were dead in
trespasses and sins,
00:29:55.09\00:29:58.53
now, we are alive
together with Christ.
00:29:58.56\00:30:02.00
Panel: Hmmm...
00:30:02.03\00:30:03.37
Jill: God's resurrection power
00:30:03.40\00:30:04.73
can pull you from sin.
00:30:04.77\00:30:07.20
Panel: Amen.
00:30:07.24\00:30:08.57
Jill: Now in Jill's simple mind,
00:30:08.60\00:30:09.94
I look at this as the
justification process.
00:30:09.97\00:30:11.67
This "made alive"
to me is justification.
00:30:11.71\00:30:14.28
God pulls us from sin.
00:30:14.31\00:30:15.94
Pastor John, you
referenced, Romans chapter 6,
00:30:15.98\00:30:18.11
let's look at that,
Romans 6 verses 4 and 5,
00:30:18.15\00:30:20.72
I love this
Section... Romans 6:4 and 5,
00:30:20.75\00:30:23.28
"We were buried with Him... "
00:30:23.32\00:30:25.15
this is the symbolism
of baptism, of course,
00:30:25.19\00:30:27.26
but we're burying with Him
through baptism into death.
00:30:27.29\00:30:31.66
This is the old
man or woman of sin.
00:30:31.69\00:30:34.40
This is the desire for sin...
00:30:34.43\00:30:36.20
those evil desires that
Pastor John had talked about.
00:30:36.23\00:30:39.00
"That just as Christ
was raised from the dead
00:30:39.03\00:30:42.27
by the glory of the Father,
00:30:42.30\00:30:43.94
even so, we also should
walk in newness of life.
00:30:43.97\00:30:47.54
If we've been united together
00:30:47.58\00:30:49.04
in the likeness of His death,
00:30:49.11\00:30:50.55
certainly, we shall be in the
likeness of His resurrection. "
00:30:50.58\00:30:53.82
Paul talks about it
in Ephesians chapter 1,
00:30:53.85\00:30:55.88
verses 19 and 20,
00:30:55.92\00:30:57.72
we looked at this
in a previous lesson
00:30:57.75\00:30:59.42
but it's the same concept.
00:30:59.45\00:31:01.39
"What is the exceeding of
His power toward us who believe,
00:31:01.42\00:31:04.66
according to the
working of His mighty power
00:31:04.69\00:31:08.03
which He worked in Christ
when He raised Him from the dead
00:31:08.06\00:31:11.97
and seated Him at the
right hand in heavenly places. "
00:31:12.00\00:31:16.24
You know, we need
resurrection power in our lives.
00:31:16.27\00:31:20.48
We are dead in
trespasses and sin...
00:31:20.51\00:31:23.55
sold under sin...
enslaved in bondage
00:31:23.58\00:31:26.41
and Christ came
with resurrection power
00:31:26.45\00:31:29.22
to set you and I free
00:31:29.25\00:31:31.12
to say that He can
break those bonds of sin
00:31:31.15\00:31:34.39
and that in that moment,
00:31:34.42\00:31:36.12
when we accept
Jesus, we can be justified.
00:31:36.19\00:31:38.29
We can be forgiven...
00:31:38.33\00:31:39.66
we can be cleansed...
00:31:39.69\00:31:41.03
we can be covered with
His righteous white robe.
00:31:41.06\00:31:43.97
You know, God's Word had power
in the very beginning did it
00:31:44.00\00:31:48.47
not? Genesis 1:1...
00:31:48.50\00:31:49.84
In the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth.
00:31:49.87\00:31:53.11
God created... "bara" in Hebrew
00:31:53.14\00:31:55.41
means... to make
something from nothing
00:31:55.44\00:31:58.41
and it's used when
God is the subject.
00:31:58.45\00:32:01.35
So, in the beginning,
God spoke and it was done
00:32:01.38\00:32:04.15
and where there was
nothing... things appeared.
00:32:04.19\00:32:06.86
Do you not think God can do that
in the life of the Christian?
00:32:06.92\00:32:09.39
Do you not think when we
are dead in trespasses and sins
00:32:09.42\00:32:13.80
and when we are...
uh... we're in bondage...
00:32:13.83\00:32:17.40
God can speak
00:32:17.43\00:32:18.77
and you and I can be set free.
00:32:18.80\00:32:21.84
In fact, David says
this in Psalm 51:10,
00:32:21.87\00:32:24.51
"Create in me a clean heart... "
00:32:24.54\00:32:26.24
the word "create" is the
same word as Genesis 1:1.
00:32:26.27\00:32:29.44
"Bara" create in me...
00:32:29.48\00:32:30.95
"Create in me,
God, a clean heart... "
00:32:30.98\00:32:32.48
where there was nothing...
00:32:32.51\00:32:33.85
where there was sin...
00:32:33.88\00:32:35.22
"create" instantly...
create something from nothing.
00:32:35.25\00:32:37.85
"Create in me a
clean heart, O God,
00:32:37.89\00:32:39.32
renew a steadfast
spirit within me. "
00:32:39.35\00:32:41.89
So, we looked at...
made us alive together...
00:32:41.92\00:32:44.76
we were dead in
trespasses and sins...
00:32:44.79\00:32:46.70
we're made alive
together with Christ.
00:32:46.73\00:32:48.63
What about ascended?
00:32:48.66\00:32:50.50
This is...
raised us up together.
00:32:50.57\00:32:53.77
We are co-ascended with Christ.
00:32:53.80\00:32:56.94
I would submit to you
that God's ascension power
00:32:56.97\00:33:01.34
can keep you from sin.
00:33:01.38\00:33:03.75
Panel: Amen.
00:33:03.78\00:33:05.11
Jill: Not only does
He want to deliver us
00:33:05.15\00:33:06.48
from the penalty of
sin... that's justification.
00:33:06.51\00:33:10.52
Not only does He
want to trans... do that
00:33:10.55\00:33:12.95
but He wants to transform us.
00:33:12.99\00:33:14.32
This is the
sanctification process.
00:33:14.36\00:33:17.09
God wants to
help us grow in grace.
00:33:17.13\00:33:20.00
As Peter says in 2nd Peter 3:18,
00:33:20.03\00:33:22.73
"grow in grace
00:33:22.76\00:33:24.10
and in the knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ. "
00:33:24.13\00:33:26.23
We're not just set free from sin
00:33:26.27\00:33:28.07
and then we do our own thing.
00:33:28.10\00:33:29.87
No... our
desires need to change...
00:33:29.90\00:33:31.67
our hearts need to change.
00:33:31.71\00:33:33.88
We need to become like Jesus.
00:33:33.94\00:33:36.08
God's ascension power
can keep you from sin.
00:33:36.11\00:33:39.51
Let's look at the
co-seated and the co-exaltation.
00:33:39.55\00:33:43.49
Now, you might think I'm going
to glorification, but I'm not.
00:33:43.52\00:33:45.99
Panel: Hmmm.
00:33:46.02\00:33:47.36
When Christ was seated at
the right hand of the Father,
00:33:47.39\00:33:49.76
He was then given the
place of power and authority.
00:33:49.79\00:33:52.66
Matthew 28:18
through 20, we know this,
00:33:52.69\00:33:55.16
this is known as
the great commission.
00:33:55.20\00:33:57.63
Jesus says, "All authority... "
00:33:57.67\00:33:59.57
that's "exousia... "
00:33:59.60\00:34:00.97
power to act...
00:34:01.00\00:34:02.34
authority...
00:34:02.37\00:34:03.71
"All authority is given
Me in heaven and earth... "
00:34:03.74\00:34:06.04
and what does He say?
00:34:06.07\00:34:07.41
"Go... make
disciples... teach... baptize...
00:34:07.44\00:34:10.35
be my witnesses. "
00:34:10.41\00:34:12.35
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:34:12.41\00:34:14.32
Jill: God's exaltation
power can... what does it do?
00:34:14.35\00:34:19.62
it enables you and
I to witness for Him.
00:34:19.65\00:34:21.66
Panel: Hmmm...
hmmm... that's right.
00:34:21.69\00:34:23.63
Jill: First we were
dead in trespasses and sins
00:34:23.66\00:34:26.23
and we're made alive.
00:34:26.26\00:34:27.66
Second, we ascend with Him
00:34:27.70\00:34:29.73
or our characters are being made
like the character of Jesus.
00:34:29.76\00:34:34.57
Third, when we are transformed,
00:34:34.60\00:34:37.41
you and I are sent forth.
00:34:37.44\00:34:39.47
1st Peter 2:9,
00:34:39.51\00:34:41.14
"We're a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood...
00:34:41.18\00:34:43.85
God's own special people,
00:34:43.88\00:34:45.25
that we should
proclaim the praises of Him
00:34:45.28\00:34:47.48
who called us out of darkness
into this marvelous light. "
00:34:47.52\00:34:52.35
Isaiah 43 just says it this way,
00:34:52.39\00:34:54.86
"You are my
witnesses" says the Lord,
00:34:54.89\00:34:56.86
"that I am God. "
00:34:56.89\00:34:59.39
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:34:59.46\00:35:00.80
Jill: So, when we
look at this passage,
00:35:00.83\00:35:02.16
we see... "But God... "
00:35:02.20\00:35:03.53
we were dead in
trespasses and sins
00:35:03.57\00:35:04.90
but we are made alive together.
00:35:04.93\00:35:06.63
We are justified...
00:35:06.67\00:35:08.00
we are raised up together...
00:35:08.04\00:35:09.87
we are sanctified...
00:35:09.90\00:35:11.71
we are exalted with Christ.
00:35:11.74\00:35:14.74
We are sent
forth as His witnesses.
00:35:14.78\00:35:18.15
Panel: Amen.
00:35:18.18\00:35:19.51
Dinzey: Amen, praise the Lord...
00:35:19.55\00:35:20.88
praise the Lord.
00:35:20.92\00:35:22.25
Well, we now move to Wednesday's
portion of the Lesson,
00:35:22.28\00:35:25.52
and the title is: Now
Blessed Forever by Grace.
00:35:25.55\00:35:30.53
My name is John Dinzey
00:35:30.56\00:35:31.89
for those that are
listening by radio,
00:35:31.93\00:35:33.26
and we move to the
first question of the Lesson
00:35:33.29\00:35:36.13
in Wednesday's portion.
00:35:36.16\00:35:37.70
Compare God's
planning for salvation
00:35:37.73\00:35:40.24
in Ephesians 1 verses 3 and 4
00:35:40.27\00:35:43.14
with the eternal
results of that plan
00:35:43.17\00:35:46.21
described in
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 7.
00:35:46.24\00:35:49.04
What are
essential elements and goals
00:35:49.08\00:35:51.81
of God's "plan of salvation"?
00:35:51.85\00:35:54.22
Let's go ahead and read
first, Ephesians chapter 1
00:35:54.28\00:35:58.09
verses 3 and 4,
00:35:58.12\00:35:59.45
it says, "Blessed
be the God and Father
00:35:59.49\00:36:03.32
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:36:03.36\00:36:05.66
who has blessed us with
every spiritual blessing
00:36:05.69\00:36:09.66
in the heavenly
places in Christ... "
00:36:09.73\00:36:11.93
we'll go ahead and
deal with this verse first,
00:36:11.97\00:36:14.50
but notice that it says,
"Blessed be the God and Father.
00:36:14.57\00:36:18.17
" You know, this word "blessed"
00:36:18.21\00:36:20.01
you find it in
the Old Testament,
00:36:20.04\00:36:22.28
you find that in
the New Testament
00:36:22.31\00:36:24.48
and it's a... it's a
way of saying, "You know,
00:36:24.51\00:36:26.72
praise be to God... "
00:36:26.75\00:36:28.28
why?
00:36:28.32\00:36:29.65
And then, as you
continue reading,
00:36:29.68\00:36:31.02
you'll hear why the
person that wrote the verse
00:36:31.05\00:36:34.02
is giving blessing
to God or praise to God.
00:36:34.06\00:36:37.43
Now, let's go ahead and read it,
00:36:37.46\00:36:39.56
it says, "He has blessed us
with every spiritual blessing. "
00:36:39.59\00:36:44.30
Who is this "us"?
00:36:44.33\00:36:45.77
Panel: Hmmm...
00:36:45.80\00:36:47.20
Dinzey: Is it the whole world?
00:36:47.24\00:36:48.57
No, this is talking
about the Christians...
00:36:48.60\00:36:51.34
those who have
accepted the Lord Jesus Christ
00:36:51.37\00:36:53.78
because we're talking
about spiritual blessing.
00:36:53.81\00:36:56.14
The whole world is blessed
by God blessing us with sunshine
00:36:56.18\00:37:00.75
and rain and the
fruit-producing earth...
00:37:00.78\00:37:03.75
the whole world is blessed...
00:37:03.79\00:37:05.12
but those that give
their hearts to the Lord...
00:37:05.15\00:37:07.56
those that are
seeking to be like Jesus...
00:37:07.59\00:37:10.96
they receive spiritual blessings
that the rest of the population
00:37:10.99\00:37:14.56
does not receive.
00:37:14.60\00:37:15.93
The Lord continues
to draw people to Him...
00:37:15.96\00:37:18.30
those that are not
believers are trying...
00:37:18.33\00:37:21.00
they... they're
being drawn to Christ
00:37:21.04\00:37:23.00
but until they accept
00:37:23.04\00:37:24.51
they are not receiving
the rich spiritual blessings
00:37:24.54\00:37:28.58
that God's children can
receive and should receive
00:37:28.61\00:37:32.61
every single day.
00:37:32.65\00:37:34.42
So, He has blessed us
with every spiritual blessing.
00:37:34.45\00:37:38.32
The Lord opens
doors for God's children
00:37:38.35\00:37:42.19
to receive spiritual blessings
00:37:42.22\00:37:45.16
in heavenly places... now notice
that these are in Christ Jesus.
00:37:45.19\00:37:49.93
It is because of Christ Jesus
00:37:49.96\00:37:52.80
that you and I
can receive blessings.
00:37:52.83\00:37:56.30
You know, every
day we wake up...
00:37:56.37\00:37:59.34
thanks to the
Lord for a day of life.
00:37:59.37\00:38:02.31
Panel: Amen.
00:38:02.34\00:38:03.68
Dinzey: I remember
telling this one time
00:38:03.71\00:38:05.65
to somebody that had
left the Lord for a while,
00:38:05.68\00:38:08.48
and seeing this person
for the first time that day,
00:38:08.52\00:38:12.19
I said, "The Lord has
blessed us with another day. "
00:38:12.22\00:38:15.89
You know, you
go to bed at night,
00:38:15.92\00:38:17.79
you don't know if
you're going to wake up,
00:38:17.83\00:38:20.06
the Lord has
blessed us with another day
00:38:20.10\00:38:21.66
blessed be His
name... glory be to Him.
00:38:21.70\00:38:25.60
Now, "in heavenly places... "
00:38:25.63\00:38:27.77
is a little phrase that
is used about five times
00:38:27.80\00:38:30.54
in this epistle...
the book of Ephesians.
00:38:30.61\00:38:34.04
And "in heavenly places... "
00:38:34.08\00:38:35.98
and you notice that the word
is italicized... "places... "
00:38:36.01\00:38:39.65
which means that
the translators said,
00:38:39.71\00:38:42.75
"This could
potentially be a good word here
00:38:42.78\00:38:45.45
to help you
understand this verse. "
00:38:45.49\00:38:47.09
But it could be
places... it could be things.
00:38:47.12\00:38:49.32
Heavenly
things... heavenly places...
00:38:49.36\00:38:51.26
all through Christ Jesus,
00:38:51.29\00:38:54.03
thanks be to God.
00:38:54.06\00:38:56.46
Now, let's go ahead and read
Ephesians chapter 1 verse 4,
00:38:56.50\00:39:02.00
"Just as He chose us in Him
00:39:02.04\00:39:06.17
before the
foundation of the world,
00:39:06.21\00:39:09.41
that we should be holy
00:39:09.44\00:39:10.78
and without blame
before Him in love. "
00:39:10.81\00:39:13.78
Now, this, "chose us in Him
00:39:13.82\00:39:18.45
before the
foundation of the world... "
00:39:18.49\00:39:19.85
is something
we're going to look at
00:39:19.89\00:39:21.22
and looking in the
Adventist Bible Commentary,
00:39:21.26\00:39:24.16
it's interesting that in
Genesis chapter 1 verse 3,
00:39:24.19\00:39:27.76
they quote the Midrash Karvvah
00:39:27.80\00:39:30.10
which says that God
chose Israel before creation...
00:39:30.13\00:39:35.34
the people of Israel
to be His chosen people.
00:39:35.37\00:39:38.34
But in this
particular verse that it says
00:39:38.37\00:39:41.28
in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 4,
00:39:41.34\00:39:42.74
Paul is taking that
idea of Genesis chapter 1
00:39:42.81\00:39:47.25
that God chose Israel
00:39:47.28\00:39:48.62
but then now God is choosing
00:39:48.65\00:39:50.22
those that are
considered Gentiles.
00:39:50.25\00:39:53.69
We are chosen by God before
the foundation of the world.
00:39:53.76\00:39:58.16
And this is not in a...
in a sense of individuals,
00:39:58.19\00:40:02.13
it's in a general sense
that is being presented here.
00:40:02.16\00:40:06.07
Now, when was this done?
00:40:06.10\00:40:07.80
Before the
foundation of the world.
00:40:07.84\00:40:11.64
Panel: Yes... hmmm... hmmm...
00:40:11.67\00:40:13.01
Dinzey: Can you
imagine... there's a song...
00:40:13.04\00:40:14.38
I think, Daniel
likes to quote it,
00:40:14.41\00:40:16.71
it says, "While
He was on the cross,
00:40:16.75\00:40:19.35
I was on His mind. "
00:40:19.38\00:40:20.72
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:40:20.75\00:40:22.08
Dinzey: Now, that's a
beautiful thought to consider
00:40:22.12\00:40:23.79
that God had His eyes on us...
00:40:23.82\00:40:26.76
He had His eyes on us now
00:40:26.79\00:40:28.16
but even before the
foundation of the world.
00:40:28.19\00:40:31.06
Before you were even a
thought in your parents' minds,
00:40:31.09\00:40:34.73
God chose you
00:40:34.76\00:40:36.26
and that's a
wonderful thing to understand
00:40:36.30\00:40:39.20
and that is a
"wow" factor for me.
00:40:39.23\00:40:41.60
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:40:41.64\00:40:42.97
Dinzey: So, why were we chosen?
00:40:43.00\00:40:46.01
Notice that it says
that we should be holy
00:40:46.07\00:40:50.35
and without blame
before Him in love.
00:40:50.38\00:40:54.85
Now, how do we get this idea
00:40:54.88\00:40:56.89
that we could be holy
and blameless before God?
00:40:56.92\00:41:01.06
This is talking to us...
00:41:01.09\00:41:02.49
it's a little hint of
the plan of salvation.
00:41:02.52\00:41:06.03
Pause...
00:41:06.06\00:41:07.40
That the only way that you and
I could be holy and blameless
00:41:07.43\00:41:12.13
before God... is because
of the blood of Jesus Christ.
00:41:12.17\00:41:16.67
Jesus Christ died on the cross
00:41:16.71\00:41:19.07
so that you and I can be holy
00:41:19.11\00:41:21.44
and blameless before
God... before the whole universe
00:41:21.48\00:41:25.98
and, you know, I... I sometimes
stop and think about this
00:41:26.01\00:41:30.52
because I remember a
time that when I was younger
00:41:30.55\00:41:34.66
filling out this employment form
00:41:34.69\00:41:37.03
and then I got
to a section there,
00:41:37.06\00:41:39.03
"Have you ever been in prison?"
00:41:39.09\00:41:41.00
"Have you ever
committed a crime?"
00:41:41.03\00:41:42.36
Panel: Laughter.
00:41:42.40\00:41:43.73
And well, praise the
Lord I had not been in prison
00:41:43.77\00:41:45.90
or committed a crime
00:41:45.93\00:41:47.27
and I said,
"Well, why is it there?"
00:41:47.30\00:41:48.64
And apparently, some
things follow you in this world.
00:41:48.67\00:41:51.67
Somebody is going to
remember that you did something.
00:41:51.71\00:41:55.34
You may be
living your life fine...
00:41:55.38\00:41:57.05
you haven't seen
somebody for a long time,
00:41:57.08\00:41:58.75
you meet somebody that remembers
that you did something way back
00:41:58.78\00:42:03.05
that you have forgotten,
00:42:03.08\00:42:04.42
"Hey, aren't you that
guy that did such and such?"
00:42:04.45\00:42:07.12
So, these labels follow you.
00:42:07.16\00:42:09.39
But, because of
Jesus, you and I...
00:42:09.42\00:42:13.56
those that accept Jesus
Christ as personal Savior,
00:42:13.60\00:42:17.03
that past is
gone... buried, forgotten,
00:42:17.07\00:42:21.10
and it's not more.
00:42:21.14\00:42:22.47
Nothing is going to
be brought back to you...
00:42:22.50\00:42:25.67
"Aren't you the
that used to steal... "
00:42:25.74\00:42:27.31
you know, "Aren't you the
guy that used to do that?"
00:42:27.34\00:42:29.01
"Aren't you that
person that used to lie?"
00:42:29.04\00:42:31.01
No... all of that is gone...
00:42:31.08\00:42:32.65
blameless before God
and before the universe
00:42:32.68\00:42:35.58
by the grace of God,
00:42:35.62\00:42:38.65
"Blessed be His holy
name... " I say to that.
00:42:38.69\00:42:41.59
I like to read to
you something here
00:42:41.62\00:42:43.69
from Fundamentals
of Education page 403.
00:42:43.73\00:42:47.16
Fundamentals of Education,
403 by Ellen G. White,
00:42:47.20\00:42:50.33
it says, "Before the foundations
of the earth were laid,
00:42:50.37\00:42:54.74
the covenant was made
that all who were obedient,
00:42:54.77\00:42:58.64
all who through the
abundant grace provided,
00:42:58.67\00:43:02.21
become holy in character,
00:43:02.24\00:43:04.51
and without blame before God,
00:43:04.55\00:43:06.88
by appropriating that grace...
00:43:06.92\00:43:09.15
that... by
appropriating that grace,
00:43:09.18\00:43:12.49
should be children of God.
00:43:12.52\00:43:13.86
This covenant
made from eternity,
00:43:13.89\00:43:16.32
was given to Abraham hundreds
of years before Christ came.
00:43:16.36\00:43:20.36
With what
interest and what intensity
00:43:20.40\00:43:24.17
did Christ in
humanity study the human race
00:43:24.20\00:43:28.14
to see if they
would avail themselves
00:43:28.17\00:43:30.31
of the provision provided. "
00:43:30.34\00:43:32.17
Provision has been
provided through Jesus Christ
00:43:32.21\00:43:35.44
so that you could be blameless.
00:43:35.48\00:43:37.45
Take the opportunity
00:43:37.48\00:43:39.41
and become a child of
God if you have not done so
00:43:39.45\00:43:42.38
and remember, we're
dealing with the question,
00:43:42.42\00:43:45.29
"Compare God's planning for
salvation in Ephesians chapter 1
00:43:45.32\00:43:47.86
verses 3 and 4 with the
eternal results of that plan
00:43:47.89\00:43:52.06
described in
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 7."
00:43:52.09\00:43:53.90
"We're ready for
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 7,
00:43:53.93\00:43:55.73
limited time...
00:43:55.76\00:43:57.10
it says, "that
in the ages to come
00:43:57.13\00:43:59.23
He might show the
exceeding riches of His grace
00:43:59.27\00:44:02.50
in His kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus. "
00:44:02.54\00:44:08.58
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:44:08.61\00:44:09.94
Dinzey: These are words that are
rich with spiritual blessings
00:44:09.98\00:44:14.22
for us to dig into and I
encourage you to do that.
00:44:14.25\00:44:16.72
Make that your study,
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 7,
00:44:16.79\00:44:19.22
wonderful verse,
00:44:19.25\00:44:20.96
and again, I'm
reading to you now from:
00:44:20.99\00:44:25.36
The Faith I Live By...
00:44:25.39\00:44:26.80
a wonderful thought really taken
from the book: Steps to Christ.
00:44:26.83\00:44:29.73
It says, "In the
matchless gift of His Son,
00:44:29.76\00:44:33.13
God has
encircled the whole world
00:44:33.17\00:44:36.00
with an
atmosphere of grace as real
00:44:36.04\00:44:38.77
as the air which
circulates around the globe.
00:44:38.81\00:44:42.84
All who choose to breathe
this life-giving atmosphere
00:44:42.88\00:44:46.65
will live and grow up to
00:44:46.68\00:44:48.02
the stature of men and
women in Christ Jesus. "
00:44:48.05\00:44:52.22
Praise the
Lord... praise the Lord.
00:44:52.25\00:44:53.89
Dr. John McVay... he
has a wonderful quote here,
00:44:53.96\00:44:58.03
he did a wonderful
job in this lesson,
00:44:58.06\00:45:00.40
and I'd like to read
from the lesson to you,
00:45:00.46\00:45:02.13
notice what it says,
00:45:02.16\00:45:03.50
"God's plan, rooted in divine
councils in time immemorial
00:45:03.53\00:45:06.94
Ephesians 1:4,
00:45:06.97\00:45:08.30
stretches
forever into the future.
00:45:08.34\00:45:10.17
It includes all 'the
coming ages' Ephesians 2:7.
00:45:10.21\00:45:14.08
His plan for the eternal future
is founded on the same principle
00:45:14.11\00:45:17.95
as His actions in
the past and present...
00:45:17.98\00:45:21.52
the principle of grace. '
00:45:21.55\00:45:23.28
'In the coming ages,'
00:45:23.32\00:45:25.02
God looks
forward to demonstrating
00:45:25.05\00:45:27.49
'the immeasurable
riches of His grace
00:45:27.52\00:45:29.89
in kindness toward us in
Christ Jesus. ' Ephesians 2:7,
00:45:29.92\00:45:33.86
Paul thinks of God's
grace as a treasure or fortune
00:45:33.90\00:45:37.80
of unfathomable value
00:45:37.83\00:45:39.67
from which believers
may draw to meet any need.
00:45:39.70\00:45:44.17
This grand
generosity of God toward us
00:45:44.21\00:45:46.61
becomes an eloquent,
ageless, and cosmic exhibit
00:45:46.68\00:45:50.38
of His grace. "
00:45:50.41\00:45:51.75
Praise be to God.
00:45:51.78\00:45:53.11
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... amen.
00:45:53.15\00:45:54.48
Ryan: praise the Lord,
thank you guys so much,
00:45:54.52\00:45:55.85
being able to... as always when
you are in Thursday's position,
00:45:55.88\00:45:59.32
you get to hear
all of the greatness
00:45:59.35\00:46:01.49
that helps me be able to produce
my lesson a little bit better
00:46:01.52\00:46:05.83
because I don't have
to cover all of the things
00:46:05.89\00:46:07.80
that they've covered, I
get to produce new stuff,
00:46:07.83\00:46:09.70
so, praise the Lord for that.
00:46:09.73\00:46:11.07
This message is
powerful... Ephesians chapter 2,
00:46:11.10\00:46:13.23
I agree with you, Jill,
it's one of my favorite passages
00:46:13.27\00:46:16.20
and I am Ryan Day
00:46:16.24\00:46:17.64
and I have Thursday's Lesson
entitled: Now Saved by God
00:46:17.67\00:46:21.64
and right here on
Thursday's Lesson,
00:46:21.71\00:46:23.95
we're simply reminded
00:46:23.98\00:46:25.31
based on everything
that we've studied so far
00:46:25.35\00:46:26.82
in verses 1 through 7,
00:46:26.85\00:46:29.42
we see that the
emphasis obviously has been
00:46:29.45\00:46:32.42
that... you
know, we're sinners...
00:46:32.45\00:46:33.82
you know, we're
locked in our desires,
00:46:33.86\00:46:36.16
we're locked in our trespasses
00:46:36.22\00:46:37.93
and trapped by
the sin of this world,
00:46:37.96\00:46:40.00
but God... right?
00:46:40.06\00:46:41.56
But God comes along...
00:46:41.60\00:46:42.93
Jesus comes along
and He transforms us,
00:46:42.96\00:46:45.27
He saves us by His grace,
00:46:45.30\00:46:47.24
and then, of
course, Paul confirms it.
00:46:47.30\00:46:50.14
He wants you to
understand absolutely clearly
00:46:50.17\00:46:52.81
without any hesitation...
without any confusion,
00:46:52.84\00:46:55.41
where that salvation comes from.
00:46:55.44\00:46:57.58
In other words, yes, as
Pastor brought out very clearly,
00:46:57.61\00:47:00.28
we have to
surrender our will to Him
00:47:00.32\00:47:02.88
and so, that is ultimately what
we do... if anything at all,
00:47:02.92\00:47:06.79
we surrender our will to Him
00:47:06.86\00:47:08.92
but the salvation... the saving
00:47:08.96\00:47:10.99
comes 100 percent from God
00:47:11.03\00:47:13.36
and so, now we come to
those two famous verses
00:47:13.40\00:47:16.16
that many of us
are familiar with
00:47:16.20\00:47:17.97
at the end of this particular
section, verses 8 and 10,
00:47:18.00\00:47:21.40
Ephesians
chapter 2 verses 8 and 10
00:47:21.44\00:47:23.67
but I'm going to back up...
00:47:23.71\00:47:25.04
I'm going to just...
00:47:25.07\00:47:26.41
just read it within
context so that it matters
00:47:26.44\00:47:27.78
because oftentimes, we...
we isolate these two texts
00:47:27.81\00:47:29.81
but just bring
it back a little bit
00:47:29.84\00:47:31.61
and read it from verse 4 onward
00:47:31.65\00:47:33.31
and we'll pick up in
verse 8 as we go along.
00:47:33.35\00:47:35.82
Go back in verse 4
of Ephesians chapter 2,
00:47:35.85\00:47:38.25
it says, "But God who in...
00:47:38.29\00:47:39.82
who is rich in mercy,
00:47:39.85\00:47:41.89
because of His great
love with which He loved us,
00:47:41.92\00:47:45.53
even when we were
dead in trespasses,
00:47:45.56\00:47:47.86
made us alive
together with Christ... "
00:47:47.90\00:47:50.10
and then there is the
parenthetical statement here,
00:47:50.17\00:47:52.37
"by grace, you have been saved,
00:47:52.40\00:47:54.60
and raises us up together,
00:47:54.64\00:47:56.77
and made us sit together in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
00:47:56.81\00:48:01.88
that in the ages to come
00:48:01.94\00:48:03.98
He might show the
exceeding riches of His grace
00:48:04.01\00:48:07.25
in His kindness
towards us in Christ Jesus. "
00:48:07.28\00:48:09.78
I mean, my goodness,
it's borderline poetry...
00:48:09.82\00:48:12.29
it's beautiful.
00:48:12.32\00:48:13.66
Panel: Yeah.
00:48:13.69\00:48:15.02
Ryan: But, of course, we
don't want to just lower it
00:48:15.06\00:48:16.39
to just poetry.
00:48:16.42\00:48:17.76
This is... this is obviously
the inspired words of God
00:48:17.79\00:48:19.59
and right here, we're
gravitating towards verses 8 and
00:48:19.66\00:48:24.20
10, which says, "For by grace
you have been saved through
00:48:24.23\00:48:28.77
faith, and not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God,
00:48:28.80\00:48:31.24
not of works, lest
anyone should boast.
00:48:31.27\00:48:34.74
For we are His workmanship,
00:48:34.78\00:48:37.28
created in Christ
Jesus for good works,
00:48:37.31\00:48:40.25
which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them. "
00:48:40.28\00:48:45.05
And... and... you
guys know me, I'm a...
00:48:45.09\00:48:47.29
I'm a musically-minded person.
00:48:47.32\00:48:48.86
I... I did not plan,
00:48:48.89\00:48:50.53
in fact, I don't have
it in my notes at all,
00:48:50.56\00:48:52.39
but as I'm
reading through this text,
00:48:52.43\00:48:53.80
I can't help but
think of that powerful song
00:48:53.83\00:48:56.33
written by Bill Gaither,
00:48:56.36\00:48:57.70
"Sinner Saved by Grace. "
00:48:57.73\00:48:59.07
The second verse of that song...
00:48:59.10\00:49:00.44
every time I read Ephesians
chapter 2 verses 8 and 10,
00:49:00.47\00:49:03.00
all I can hear is those words,
00:49:03.04\00:49:06.17
How could I boast in anything
00:49:06.21\00:49:09.28
I've ever seen or done?
00:49:09.31\00:49:12.91
How could I
dare to claim as mine
00:49:12.95\00:49:18.22
The victories God has won?
00:49:18.25\00:49:22.02
Where would I be
had God not brought me
00:49:22.06\00:49:28.53
Gently to this place?
00:49:28.56\00:49:32.73
I'm here to say I'm nothing but
00:49:32.77\00:49:37.44
a sinner saved by grace.
00:49:37.47\00:49:43.08
I just... those
powerful words just ring out
00:49:43.11\00:49:46.25
in... in harmony
with this message here
00:49:46.28\00:49:48.58
because God is reminding us,
00:49:48.62\00:49:49.95
He's saying, "Look, yes, you
have to surrender your will to
00:49:49.98\00:49:52.75
me but understand where this
saving power is coming from.
00:49:52.79\00:49:55.66
And my Friends, we
are... we are in a world today
00:49:55.69\00:49:57.73
especially within the church.
00:49:57.76\00:49:59.49
There's so many people
that are led to believe a lie
00:49:59.53\00:50:03.40
and believing that
they have something to add
00:50:03.43\00:50:05.67
or they have something to do
00:50:05.70\00:50:07.37
that somehow
contributes to their salvation
00:50:07.40\00:50:10.07
and... and it took me a while...
I used to be one of these
00:50:10.11\00:50:13.48
people. In fact, I was taught
early on in my early experience
00:50:13.54\00:50:15.98
in Seventh-day Adventism,
00:50:16.01\00:50:17.35
someone taught me
that, "You know what?
00:50:17.38\00:50:18.71
It's 50 percent you
and it's 50 percent God.
00:50:18.75\00:50:20.48
Panel: Hmmm...
00:50:20.52\00:50:21.85
Ryan: And when you
get that into your mind,
00:50:21.88\00:50:23.22
you think, "Oh, of course,
00:50:23.25\00:50:24.59
God's going to own
up to his 50 percent,
00:50:24.62\00:50:25.95
he's going to come
through with His 50 percent. "
00:50:25.99\00:50:27.82
Well, man! when you
start to have that mentality,
00:50:27.86\00:50:29.89
your salvation is
50 percent your work,
00:50:29.92\00:50:32.89
you can never ever
get past the one percent
00:50:32.93\00:50:35.83
because you can't work
hard enough or accomplish enough
00:50:35.86\00:50:38.33
to gain... or to
win or to accomplish
00:50:38.37\00:50:41.17
your own salvation.
00:50:41.20\00:50:42.60
And I love what
the lesson says here,
00:50:42.64\00:50:44.61
at the bottom here of
the segment here, it says,
00:50:44.64\00:50:47.11
"In conclusion... "
00:50:47.14\00:50:48.48
speaking of Ephesians
2 verses 1 through 10,
00:50:48.51\00:50:50.45
it says, "Paul goes
back over this ground,
00:50:50.48\00:50:52.95
wishing to ensure
that his point sticks. "
00:50:53.01\00:50:55.45
So, he's wanting
to stick it home.
00:50:55.48\00:50:57.15
He says, "the salvation of
believers is a divine work,
00:50:57.19\00:51:00.32
not a human one.
00:51:00.36\00:51:01.69
It does not originate
in us but is God's gift.
00:51:01.72\00:51:04.76
No human being can
boast of having sparked it. "
00:51:04.79\00:51:08.20
It says, "Standing
in the grace of God,
00:51:08.26\00:51:10.97
we, believers, are
exhibits of His grace,
00:51:11.03\00:51:13.70
and only His grace. "
00:51:13.74\00:51:15.27
I love that!
00:51:15.30\00:51:16.64
"We are His masterpieces,
00:51:16.67\00:51:18.01
created by God
'in Christ Jesus. '"
00:51:18.04\00:51:19.87
And, of course, as I'm
studying through this Lesson,
00:51:19.94\00:51:21.94
it reminds me of a funny
story that's kind of like a joke
00:51:21.98\00:51:25.05
but this Elder
goes to sleep one night,
00:51:25.11\00:51:27.78
he has a dream.
00:51:27.82\00:51:29.15
So, it's all based on a dream.
00:51:29.18\00:51:30.52
He's dreaming and in his
dream he shows up at the gates
00:51:30.55\00:51:32.62
and he sees Saint Peter
00:51:32.65\00:51:33.99
and he says,
"Hey, you know, I'm here
00:51:34.02\00:51:35.36
I'm... I'm... I'm... I'm
going to go into heaven. "
00:51:35.39\00:51:36.93
He says, "No
problem, just... just...
00:51:36.96\00:51:38.46
you've got to
have a 100 points. "
00:51:38.49\00:51:39.93
He says, "What do
you mean, a 100 points?"
00:51:39.96\00:51:41.43
He says, "Well, you've
got to have a 100 points
00:51:41.46\00:51:42.80
for me to let you into heaven. "
00:51:42.83\00:51:44.17
He says, "Well, how
do I get a 100 points?"
00:51:44.20\00:51:45.53
He says, "Well, tell
us some good things...
00:51:45.57\00:51:46.90
you know, tell
us about your life,
00:51:46.94\00:51:48.27
tell us... tell us,
you know, about yourself. "
00:51:48.30\00:51:49.64
He says, "Well, I went to
the same church all my life,
00:51:49.67\00:51:52.14
I was very devoted...
never missed a church service. "
00:51:52.17\00:51:54.74
He said, "All
right, that's good,
00:51:54.78\00:51:56.11
that's worth a
couple of points. "
00:51:56.14\00:51:57.48
He said, "A couple of points?
00:51:57.51\00:51:58.85
Wait... wait a second,
00:51:58.88\00:52:00.22
that's... that's got to be worth
a little bit more than that. "
00:52:00.25\00:52:01.72
He says, "Well,
what else you've got?"
00:52:01.75\00:52:03.08
"Well... " he says,
00:52:03.12\00:52:04.45
"Oh, I was married to the
same woman for 57 years. "
00:52:04.49\00:52:07.49
He goes, "Ah, that's wonderful,
that's worth about five points.
00:52:07.56\00:52:10.29
" "Five points?
00:52:10.33\00:52:11.69
"My goodness... " he goes,
00:52:11.73\00:52:13.36
"that's got to be
worth a whole lot more. "
00:52:13.40\00:52:14.73
He goes, "Well
what else you've got?"
00:52:14.76\00:52:16.10
He goes, "Oh,
I've... I've got it. "
00:52:16.13\00:52:17.47
He says, "Every week I
was... I was very consistent
00:52:17.50\00:52:19.27
in serving in our
local soup kitchen.
00:52:19.30\00:52:21.60
I've done all these good deeds,
00:52:21.64\00:52:22.97
I helped the
poor and I help people
00:52:23.00\00:52:24.47
and have done all
these wonderful deeds,
00:52:24.51\00:52:25.87
surely, that
accounts for something. "
00:52:25.91\00:52:27.24
He goes, "Well, yeah, that
will give you... I don't know,
00:52:27.28\00:52:29.04
maybe a couple of more points. "
00:52:29.08\00:52:30.41
And finally, the guy just...
00:52:30.45\00:52:31.78
in... just in total
desperation, as he screams out,
00:52:31.81\00:52:35.65
"Oh no... " he goes,
00:52:35.68\00:52:37.12
"it's only going to
be by the grace of God
00:52:37.15\00:52:38.95
that I get into heaven. "
00:52:38.99\00:52:40.32
And Peter says, "Ah, finally...
00:52:40.36\00:52:41.69
that's worth 100 points. "
00:52:41.72\00:52:43.06
Panel: Hmmm... Smiling.
00:52:43.09\00:52:44.43
Ryan: Silly little
story but still, the idea is
00:52:44.46\00:52:46.63
that many people
have this concept
00:52:46.66\00:52:48.03
that what they do
00:52:48.06\00:52:49.40
is somehow going to
contribute to their salvation.
00:52:49.43\00:52:51.73
It doesn't take 100 points...
00:52:51.77\00:52:53.20
it takes 100
percent of God's grace
00:52:53.23\00:52:56.00
in order for us
to have salvation.
00:52:56.04\00:52:58.71
And this is ultimately
what Paul is talking about
00:52:58.74\00:53:01.04
in Galatians
chapter 2 verses 20 and 21
00:53:01.08\00:53:03.24
the point that
he's driving home here.
00:53:03.28\00:53:05.38
He says, "Do not set
aside the grace of God. "
00:53:05.41\00:53:08.95
Don't set that aside...
00:53:08.98\00:53:10.32
don't just set it
aside as something small.
00:53:10.35\00:53:11.99
Some people do that,
00:53:12.02\00:53:13.36
they say, "Well, you know, yes,
00:53:13.39\00:53:14.72
God is love and God
saves us by His grace
00:53:14.76\00:53:16.09
but, you know, you've
got to have the law. "
00:53:16.12\00:53:17.99
And yes, the law
has its important aspect
00:53:18.06\00:53:20.40
and its important place
within the plan of salvation
00:53:20.43\00:53:22.96
and works do
play an important role
00:53:23.00\00:53:25.43
in the overall
experience of salvation.
00:53:25.47\00:53:27.84
But Paul says here,
00:53:27.90\00:53:29.24
"Don't set the
grace of God aside... "
00:53:29.27\00:53:30.94
Galatians 2 verses 20 and 21,
00:53:30.97\00:53:33.07
he says, "for if righteousness
comes through the law,
00:53:33.14\00:53:36.31
then Christ died in vain. "
00:53:36.34\00:53:38.01
And there are many
people and we know this...
00:53:38.05\00:53:40.12
we... we... we've
run into this experience
00:53:40.15\00:53:42.15
it's... it's a curse...
00:53:42.18\00:53:43.52
it's... it's a
lie that people think
00:53:43.55\00:53:44.99
that somehow if you keep
all the commandments perfectly,
00:53:45.02\00:53:48.22
that somehow... that's
going to get you some...
00:53:48.26\00:53:50.09
you know, gold stars
by your name in heaven
00:53:50.13\00:53:51.93
or Jesus is up there
with His record book,
00:53:51.96\00:53:53.70
He's going, "Ooooh, they kept
the law already good today...
00:53:53.76\00:53:56.16
I think I'll just go
ahead and let them in. "
00:53:56.20\00:53:57.63
No, that's not how it works.
00:53:57.67\00:53:59.50
We keep the law
00:53:59.53\00:54:01.07
because we have been
saved by grace through faith.
00:54:01.10\00:54:03.84
That's what Romans
chapter 1 verse 5 says...
00:54:03.87\00:54:05.87
is that we... we have
been given grace for obedience
00:54:05.91\00:54:09.28
and so, that's the
result of the grace of God
00:54:09.31\00:54:11.21
which He has given us
00:54:11.25\00:54:12.58
and, of course, you know, Paul
drives this home even stronger,
00:54:12.61\00:54:15.25
I don't have time to
read all the passages here,
00:54:15.28\00:54:16.85
If you really want
to understand this "do"
00:54:16.89\00:54:19.19
versus the "grace of God"
00:54:19.22\00:54:21.02
you know, how we do
and what we do and not do
00:54:21.06\00:54:23.43
that contributes to salvation
00:54:23.46\00:54:24.79
or not... doesn't
contribute to salvation,
00:54:24.83\00:54:26.90
Paul drives it home
in Philippians chapter 3,
00:54:26.93\00:54:29.03
you can read verses 1 through
8 to get the clear context here
00:54:29.06\00:54:32.23
but, you know, Paul lists his...
00:54:32.30\00:54:33.97
his spiritual resume,
00:54:34.04\00:54:35.37
he talks about how... you know,
00:54:35.40\00:54:37.01
he was
circumcised the eight-day,
00:54:37.04\00:54:38.57
this is Philippians chapter 3
00:54:38.61\00:54:41.11
verses 5 and onward,
00:54:41.14\00:54:42.48
He says, you know,
"I'm of the stock of Israel,
00:54:42.51\00:54:43.85
the tribe of Benjamin,
00:54:43.88\00:54:45.21
a Hebrew of the Hebrews;
00:54:45.25\00:54:46.58
concerning the law, a Pharisee;
00:54:46.61\00:54:47.95
concerning zeal,
persecuting the church;
00:54:47.98\00:54:49.32
concerning righteousness which
is in the law, blameless. "
00:54:49.35\00:54:50.79
He says, "Look, I kept
the law better than anyone. "
00:54:50.82\00:54:53.02
There's none of you...
and that's why I love Paul,
00:54:53.05\00:54:55.22
that's why I can relate to Paul
00:54:55.26\00:54:56.59
because Paul...
this Brother has been...
00:54:56.62\00:54:58.09
he's been in
both opposites, right,
00:54:58.13\00:55:00.13
he's been in... it
seems like in both extremes
00:55:00.16\00:55:02.13
or at least he's... he's been in
at least one... to one extreme
00:55:02.16\00:55:04.70
and that was: he at one
time thought, you know what?
00:55:04.73\00:55:06.84
It's about what you do.
00:55:06.87\00:55:08.20
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:55:08.24\00:55:09.57
Ryan: But he quick learned
in this "grace" experience
00:55:09.60\00:55:11.84
that he had with Jesus Christ
00:55:11.87\00:55:13.21
that it's not about what you do
00:55:13.24\00:55:14.58
but it's who you know
00:55:14.61\00:55:15.94
and who you know
changes what you do
00:55:15.98\00:55:17.31
and so, that's
why here in verse 7
00:55:17.35\00:55:18.68
of Philippians 3
and onward, he says,
00:55:18.71\00:55:20.05
"But what
things were gain to me,
00:55:20.08\00:55:21.65
these I have
counted loss for Christ. "
00:55:21.68\00:55:23.72
He's my spiritual résumé,
all the things I've done,
00:55:23.75\00:55:26.15
isn't it great?
00:55:26.19\00:55:27.52
But you know what? I've
count them loss for Christ.
00:55:27.56\00:55:28.96
"Yet indeed I also
count all things loss
00:55:28.99\00:55:31.03
for the excellence of the
00:55:31.06\00:55:32.39
knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord,
00:55:32.43\00:55:33.76
for whom I have suffered
the loss of all things... "
00:55:33.80\00:55:36.06
he says... "but
you take all of that...
00:55:36.10\00:55:37.53
put it all in one big giant
box... everything I've ever
00:55:37.57\00:55:40.70
done, good... " he
goes, "here it is...
00:55:40.74\00:55:42.64
"I count them as... "
00:55:42.67\00:55:44.01
and, of course,
King James Version...
00:55:44.04\00:55:45.77
or New King James Version says,
00:55:45.81\00:55:47.24
"rubbish... "
00:55:47.28\00:55:48.61
not that "works" don't matter,
00:55:48.64\00:55:49.98
because it's a
result of what we do
00:55:50.01\00:55:51.61
but at the end of the
day, your salvation comes...
00:55:51.65\00:55:54.22
your saving comes
by God and God alone...
00:55:54.25\00:55:57.79
not anything that you have done,
00:55:57.85\00:55:59.62
100 percent of the grace of God
00:55:59.65\00:56:01.82
and the work of
Jesus Christ in your life.
00:56:01.86\00:56:04.59
Rafferty: Amen and this is
really the emphasis that Paul
00:56:04.63\00:56:08.63
has in Ephesians chapter 2,
00:56:08.66\00:56:10.00
we've got time for a
few closing comments,
00:56:10.03\00:56:12.10
we'll start
with Pastor Lomacang.
00:56:12.13\00:56:13.60
Lomacang: Very short quotation
from a gentleman by the name of
00:56:13.64\00:56:16.34
John... Joe Rossini...
00:56:16.37\00:56:17.91
he wrote a book called:
Desire Is A Powerful Emotion,
00:56:17.97\00:56:20.58
and he says,
00:56:20.61\00:56:21.94
"One of the most powerful
human emotions is DESIRE.
00:56:21.98\00:56:23.68
Since every waking
moment of our lives
00:56:23.71\00:56:25.51
we are spent with
either trying to gain pleasure
00:56:25.55\00:56:28.08
or trying to avoid pain. "
00:56:28.15\00:56:29.95
Then he ends by
saying, "If you get hungry...
00:56:29.98\00:56:32.49
if you are hungry, you get food,
00:56:32.52\00:56:34.29
if you are feeling lonely,
00:56:34.32\00:56:35.69
you have a desire
for another person. "
00:56:35.72\00:56:37.06
It says, "Just about every
moment is spent or invested
00:56:37.09\00:56:41.36
trying to fulfill some desire. "
00:56:41.40\00:56:43.26
I pray that those
moments will be spent
00:56:43.30\00:56:45.83
trying to fulfill
the desires of the Lord.
00:56:45.87\00:56:48.34
Jill: Amen...
00:56:48.37\00:56:49.70
I think the two important words
from my Section is: But God.
00:56:49.74\00:56:52.74
Are you lost in sin?
Are you stuck in addiction?
00:56:52.77\00:56:55.54
Are you on the legalistic side?
00:56:55.58\00:56:57.05
But God... look to Jesus.
00:56:57.08\00:56:58.75
Dinzey: Amen... amen.
00:56:58.78\00:57:00.32
I want to leave
you with a thought
00:57:00.38\00:57:02.12
that before the
foundation of the world,
00:57:02.15\00:57:04.85
God chose you to be
blameless before God
00:57:04.92\00:57:07.46
because of Jesus
Christ. Panel: Amen.
00:57:07.49\00:57:09.76
Ryan: Amen, a great
capstone text I think
00:57:09.79\00:57:11.96
that really sums this
up, Galatians 2 verse 20,
00:57:11.99\00:57:13.93
which Paul says, "I have
been crucified with Christ;
00:57:13.96\00:57:17.30
it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me;
00:57:17.37\00:57:20.67
and the life which I
now live in the flesh
00:57:20.70\00:57:22.90
I live by the faith...
by faith in the Son of God,
00:57:22.94\00:57:26.24
who loved me and
gave Himself for me. "
00:57:26.27\00:57:28.21
Rafferty: Amen...
00:57:28.24\00:57:29.58
you know these verses
in Ephesians chapter 2
00:57:29.61\00:57:31.91
are teaching us
00:57:31.95\00:57:33.28
that this great controversy
swirling all around us
00:57:33.31\00:57:35.35
and in us day by day
00:57:35.38\00:57:37.32
reminds us of our need for
Jesus Christ and His grace.
00:57:37.39\00:57:41.12
So, never despair...
00:57:41.16\00:57:43.02
never give up.
00:57:43.06\00:57:44.39
We are loved...
00:57:44.43\00:57:45.76
we are precious...
00:57:45.79\00:57:47.13
we are redeemed...
00:57:47.16\00:57:48.50
we are ransomed...
00:57:48.53\00:57:49.86
we are bought back from
sin by the love of Christ.
00:57:49.90\00:57:51.23
Next week's Lesson, Number 5:
00:57:51.27\00:57:52.60
Horizontal Atonement:
The Cross and the Church.
00:57:52.63\00:57:54.97