Ephesians: Part 7 - Sola Gratia

Ephesians 2:4-9
Pastor Scott Skones

I want you to think back to a time when you were shown grace. When a loved one extended you forgiveness when they had every right to be angry. When a boss chose to overlook, rather than punish, your foolish actions or negligence. When a teacher allowed you extra time. When you were granted a second chance, even though it was completely undeserved.

Try to remember a time – remind yourself of that feeling of being given the gift of grace.

An author by the name of Timothy Paul Jones tells the story of his adopted daughter’s first trip to Disneyworld.

The daughter joined their family when she was 8 years old, and had been with another family prior. That previous family had planned a trip to Disney World, however, because of some behavioral problems, the little girl was not allowed to go with the rest of the family.

Now, as the time for a trip with her newly adopted, forever family neared, this girl with a difficult past, began to act out. In order to prevent herself from being disappointed, she started acting defiantly – likely trying to sabotage the trip. As if it wouldn’t hurt so much this time around if she made the choice to misbehave and not be allowed to go on the trip. She was protecting herself.

Jones says that he recognized the behavior and refused to let her do this to herself. Her behavior continued to escalate all the way to Florida, including the night before they were supposed to go to the Park. But Jones was determined to take his daughter to Disneyworld. And so the day came, and listen to how he summarizes the experience:

“It was a typical Disney day. Overpriced tickets, overpriced meals, and lots of lines, mingled with just enough manufactured magic to consider maybe going again someday.

In our hotel room that evening, a very different child emerged. She was exhausted, pensive, and a little weepy at times, but her month-long facade of rebellion had faded. When bedtime rolled around…I asked, “So how was your first day at Disney World?”

She closed her eyes and snuggled down into her stuffed unicorn. After a few moments,… she said, “I finally got to go to Disney World. But it wasn’t because I was good; it’s because I’m yours.”

It wasn’t because I was good; it’s because I’m yours.

That is grace.

If you were with us last week, you know that we focused our attention on the first 3 verses of Ephesians chapter 2. And in those verses, it was made clear that we are, by nature, sinners. Paul says that we were dead in our trespasses and sins. Even to the point of deserving God’s wrath.

The great preacher James Montgomery Boice, summarized our text last week in this way: 

Like a spiritual corpse, a sinner is unable to make a single move toward God, think a single thought about God, or even correctly respond to God—unless God is first present to bring the spiritually dead person to life.

But God has an answer for our spiritual death. For our sin. He showed us his mercy by sending his son to die for us so that we might live. To take God’s wrath, so that we might be saved.

We call this grace. God’s undeserved favor to us in Christ. And so today we are going to continue this by looking at Ephesians 2:4-9. I invite you to stand as you are comfortable as I read God’s word.

Ephesians 2:4-9

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

God, we thank you for your great love for us. We thank you that you are rich in mercy. And we thank you that you have saved us by grace alone. Give us faith to believe this good news today. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

You’ll notice that the title of the sermon is Sola Gratia. This is one of the core doctrines, one of the central beliefs, that  became prominent during the protestant reformation. Sola is Latin for “alone” or “only” and Gratia means “grace.”

It is often expressed in this way: That we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

So today We are going to begin our time in this passageby looking at what I think is a helpful summary of these 6 verses – and then expand on that summary a little.

So, for our purposes in this text, let’s summarize this passage this way: We are saved by grace alone, which produces both confidence and humility.

Before we break that down too much, let’s talk first about what is meant by the words of our text that say “you have been saved.” It is repeated twice in this passage – in verse 5 and again in verse 8 – “by grace you have been saved.”

And so what does that mean? It’s a word that is used often in the New Testament. It can mean being set free, being rescued, being delivered – even from disease or other danger.

But in this passage, its meaning is tied to what came before it. We have been saved from our spiritual death. We have been saved from the wrath of God against sin that we rightfully deserve.

As I mentioned, this salvation by grace alone produces both confidence and humility. So now let’s look at how we see each of those in our text.

First, Grace Alone Produces Confidence.

There is a contrast that takes place in the text between what is true about us in our natural state apart from Christ, and what is true about us when we have faith in Christ.

In our natural state, we are dead in our sins, unable to move in the direction of God, and deserving of God’s wrath. And think about how Paul contrasts that reality, with what he says about us when we are in Christ. He uses three phrases to illustrate what happens when those who are dead in their sins come to faith in Jesus.

1 - Made Alive

Look at verse 5 - God “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions…”

Jesus used similar imagery when he told Nicodemus in John 3 that he must be born again. Why? Because Nicodemus was dead in his sin. And so his only hope for eternity is to be given new life in Christ.

Sometimes I’m a little hesitant to use the phrase “born-again Christian” because in many circles that became a title that was associated with fundamentalism and legalism. Rather than a description of those who had received grace, it came to mean one who looked down his nose at his neighbor and lived by the Law.

But the idea behind it is beautiful. It’s a reference back to God’s original creation when he breathed into Adam the breath of life. A lifeless body brought to life by Jesus.

And that is exactly what Paul says here. That by grace through faith, sinners, dead and condemned in their sin, are given new life in Jesus.

Remember in his first letter to the Corinthians when Paul, talking about the hope of future resurrection, declared that “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” And the confidence of this is so great that he can even ask: ““Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

This is the confidence that comes because of God’s grace to us. Because, by faith, we have been made alive with Christ.

Now, we don’t experience this in its fullness yet. On this side of eternity, we don’t know the fullness of life that is ours in Christ. But we are, nonetheless, alive.

Paul uses another phrase to deepen our confidence and assurance in Christ:

2 - Raised Up

V. 6 - “And God raised us up with Christ…”

In Christ, we are raised up with Christ.

Here’s what this means: not only are we given new life in Jesus, but we are actually raised victorious over sin and death and made citizens of heaven.

In other words, being raised up with Christ means that, while we remain here in this world for now, we never see this as our ultimate home.

This new home re-orients our thinking. It re-calibrates our existence. By God’s grace, when you have been made alive in Christ and raised up with Christ, you belong to the kingdom of God far more than you belong to this world. Your defining citizenship is not in this world.

Think of how freeing this would have been for the people of Ephesus, surrounded by idol worship, in the shadow of the Temple of Artemis, and encountering, everywhere they went, statues of Caesar demanding their worship. Into that, Paul says, “You have been raised up above this present world, with Christ.” You have been given a new and eternal homeland to which you pledge your allegiance.

Think about the potential that this has for producing confidence in the believer. If your true homeland is heaven – then you are able to put everything that happens here in its proper place. This world isn’t ultimate. In fact, you approach your interactions in this world with full confidence that this world is passing away.

It gives freedom to work for the good of the city or state or nation in which God has placed us, without pledging ultimate allegiance, because this isn’t our true home. We are sojourners here. We want our community to experience success because we love our neighbors. But our future isn’t tied to it. Our sense of hope isn’t affected by what happens in the kingdom of this world.

You have been raised up with Christ.

There’s another phrase in verse 6 that is worth our consideration as well.

3 - Seated with Christ

V. 6 - “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…”

This is a verse that might cause some confusion because it sounds as if Paul is saying that you have been given a seat in the throne room of heaven alongside Jesus.

And, in fact, that is exactly what verse 6 says. That when you re in Christ, you are a child of God – welcomed into that inner-sanctum of eternity. Given full and eternal access to God himself. In full unity, and perfect relationship with Him.

By Grace through faith, you have been reconciled to God. This is a return to the garden when Adam walked and talked with God in unbroken unity.

These are words that are not necessarily intended to be understood, but to be believed.

Notice the tense. God raised us up. What tense is that? It’s “past tense.”

He seated us – Past Tense.

Paul speaks as if this has already been done. How can that be?

Like much of the Christian faith, we find ourselves today in this tension between “Now and Not yet.” We are saved Now, but one day we will be fully and finally saved. We are redeemed now, but one day we will be fully and finally redeemed. And the same is true for this. We are seated with Christ in heaven now – but one day that will be true of us in fullness. We are in the midst of this “now and not yet” season.

There is so much good news in this passage. From God’s perspective, your sin has been atoned for, you have been given new life, raised with Jesus, and seated with him in heaven. The decision has been passed down – the verdict rendered. In the courtroom of heaven, everything has been decided. In the eyes and mind and heart of the one who matters most, this is true about you today. Even as we await its full and final fulfillment.

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

These words – these promises of God – produce confidence in us for a couple of reasons:

1 - They are objective realities declared by God.

I’ll remind you of the “past tense.” It’s not a future maybe, but a current reality.

And this means that it doesn't depend on how I feel. And it doesn’t depend on how perfectly I’m living out my faith. It is by grace alone.

And the second reason that these promises produce confidence is this:

2 - They are focused on our union with Jesus.

Notice the language again. God made us alive WITH CHRIST.

God raised us up WITH CHRIST.

God seated us with him in the heavenly realm IN CHRIST.

WITH CHRIST; WITH CHRIST; IN CHRIST.

Remember back to chapter 1 when we had the same emphasis. In Christ – over and over again.

Why can we have confidence? Because God has united us with Christ by his grace through faith.

Or in the words of the young girl after her visit to Disneyworld: “it wasn’t because I was good; it’s because I’m yours.”

We can have confidence, not in our obedience, but because we have been united with Christ.

But God’s grace produces something else as well:

Second, Grace Alone Produces Humility.

We’re going to focus our attention now on verses 8 & 9.

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

Where do we see humility in this passage?

“By grace you have been saved through faith.”

Think of that statement. Over and over again in the Bible Grace and Faith are used to exclude human action. This is a predominant theme in Romans and Galatians. We are saved by grace through faith.

Now this is where some people start to err in their understanding. I’ve heard it said that “faith is the key that unlocks salvation.”

And what they mean is this. God offers salvation to you but it’s locked up in a lock box – and the only way to get inside is to have the key. And so God gives the salvation in the lock box, but you have to do your part and bring the key.

And, if we are using just human logic, that might be right. But salvation isn’t a product of human logic. And that understanding is a human attempt to write ourselves into the plot. It’s an attempt to steal a little bit of God’s glory.

Paul makes it clear in what follows: “and this is not from yourselves…”

Just in case anyone was thinking that they MIGHT still be able to earn or merit salvation – he reiterates that this doesn’t come from you. The ESV words it this way: “this is not of your own doing…” In other words, stop thinking that you are an active party in this miracle. It is all God’s doing

And then he gives us the picture that he wants us to use:  and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…

Salvation is not contained in a lockbox that must be unlocked by faith – it is a gift. It is gift from first to last. A gift that comes from God that we simply receive by faith.

And of course there is a sense in which that faith itself is a gift because faith isn’t an act of our will or a decision that we make, but it is something that we receive through the preaching of the gospel. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.

Now, someone out there is thinking – yeah, Scott, but you have to unwrap the gift. God gives the gift, but you have to unwrap it. And my response is simply this: Why are you so intent on stealing glory from God? Why are you so focused on taking some ounce of credit, rather than giving it all to Jesus?

Because, of course, notice the next phrase. It is the gift of God – NOT BY WORKS - so that no one may boast.

No boasting because I did nothing. Because the only thing that I brought to my relationship with God was a corpse. Dead in my sin. And God made me alive in Christ. And God raised me up with him. And God seated me next to Jesus in the heavenly places. Jesus took the wrath of God against sin in my place. God has poured out this mercy on me in Christ.

For it is by grace that I have been saved through faith.

Not my own doing.

It is the gift of God.

Not by works.

Confidence - and yet humility.

And what’s amazing is that even the humility of confessing that I could NEVER save myself actually results in confidence.

Think about it this way. If my salvation depends at all on what I do or don’t do – I will certainly find a way to mess it up. And so this repetitive message that it is Gift. That it is by grace. That it is Not by works. That it is not my own doing. This is the best news that I could hear. Because if it doesn’t depend on me – who does it depend on? Jesus! It depends on Jesus, not on me.

I want us all to say this out loud this morning. Say it with me:

My salvation depends on Jesus, not on me.

Or, in the words of the girl who finally got to visit Disneyworld: It wasn’t because I was good; it’s because I’m yours.

Perhaps one of the most clear depictions of God’s grace to us comes from the French novelist Victor Hugo in his classic work “Les Misérables.”

In the story, Jean Valjean did 19 years of hard labor in prison for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister and her children.

When he is freed from his prison sentence, he is taken in briefly by the local bishop. In the middle of the night, Valjean steals from the Bishop in an act of betrayal.

Watch this scene from the movie:

We look at the actions of the bishop and think that they are borderline foolish. Responding to an evil act with such lavish and reckless grace.

There is no better picture of what God has done for you in Christ.

While your life and your actions were a betrayal against your creator – he responded in mercy. He poured out his grace. He not only saved you from what you deserved, but he gave you what you didn’t deserve.

Jean Valjean could take no credit for his freedom. His life was on the line. He would have been back in prison, likely for the rest of his life. He had nothing to say. He deserved what was coming to him. But that Bishop not only forgave him, but gave him everything.

This is what God has done for you. This is grace. This is what we receive in Jesus. Not only forgiveness, but we are credited with the righteousness of Christ. It’s not just that we are forgiven of our sin, but that God looks on us as if we had always perfectly obeyed.

Do you believe?

Hear these words again:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Thanks be to God.