06 Jun BlessED Strangers | Part 3 “The True Nature of Salvation” – All Locations

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Key Verse: Ephesians 2:1-10
 
Ephesians 1: our salvation from HEAVEN’S perspective.
We were chosen before the foundation of the world. We did not earn it, God planned it.
Ephesians 2: our salvation from EARTH’S perspective.
There is much confusion about what makes a Christian today. Paul shows us where we came from and how we got here. Self image, how we see ourselves is a big deal. We need a proper image of ourselves. God wants us to see ourselves the right way. We need to see ourselves according to what God has done not people. As Christians, we do not boast in ourselves, we boast in God. It is not about who we are but who He is.
Q. What do you see when you think of yourself (good, bad, indifferent)?
3 CLASSIC VIEWS of HUMANKIND:
1. Humanity is GOOD:
This view believes humans are good and we should expect good from people. People are good at heart.
People with this view: Childless people, Pop tv preachers, and Oprah . They believe things like: if we just believe in ourselves, live our authentic true self, my truth etc.
Problem: Can produce entitlement mentality.
Those who have an entitlement mentality think they deserve better than what they have, should be treated better, have more money, or a better house etc.
Q. In what ways have you ever felt entitled and why?
2. Humanity is SICK:
People with this view: Politicians, Secular educators, doctors and healthcare providers. They believe people need help. They believe that the right therapist or medicine is the answer. They believe the system is flawed and if the system is changed the problem is solved. Those who believe society needs to change to help the sick is basing the society on the sick people fixing the society.
 Problem : Can produce an ANXIOUS mentality.
 
3. Humanity is BAD:
People with this view are Preachers, Racists. The closer we get to anyone the worse they look. They realize people are bad.
 Problem: Can produce an DEFEATED mentality.
People who believe this may say “It is just who I am’, ‘They will never change’, ‘There is not hope for them’ etc.
 
Q. Which view do you see people as primarily and why (before you became a Christian, or before you truly understood who Jesus was)?
 
Ephesians 2:1 (ESV)
DEAD. We were lifeless. Dead people don’t stand. Dead people will fall for anything. They go with the flow. We are dead prior to Jesus.
Scripture’s Diagnosis:
  1. We FOLLOWED the WORLD.
     As Christians, we don’t fit in with the world around us.
Q. In what ways might you have tried to fit in with the world before became alive in Christ?
  1. We were INFLUENCED by the DEVIL.
Those not in Christ are listening to the Devil. He has a hoard of demons that take ownership of territories, cities, municipalities, and countries influencing those who do not belong to Jesus. This is why we should not be unequally yoked with non-believers.
Q. What are some examples where you or someone close to you has been influenced by the devil or have been unequally yoked?
  1. We were DRIVEN by the FLESH.
We don’t judge non-Christians because we are just like them. We judge all the time. Our passions are still there sometimes and we will wrestle with our flesh until Jesus comes.
Where sin abounds, grace abounds (Romans 5:20). Apart from Christ we cannot change anything, but Christ can. He crucified our old flesh and we no longer live but Christ lives in us. We are not to get better, but to surrender.
Q. What is something you struggle with where you have witnessed the grace of God abounding?
  1. We were RUNNING from GOD.
Whenever we do what we feel like when we fell like, we will feel the wrath of God. One cannot sleep around and expect their house to be at peace. No one is ambivalent toward God, we run because we know we are running in the opposite direction.
In Sum: We were dead FISH FLOATING down STREAM.
We were dead before Jesus came and saved us.
Psalm 53:2–3 (ESV) ; Psalm 58:3 (ESV)
There is none who does good, not even one. There are no good people. There is One and He volunteered for all the bad to save us from eternal damnation.
Unless we understand our TRUE CONDITION we will never SEEK the TRUE SOLUTION.
Becoming a Christian is not trying to improve our lives. It is not making up for the bad things we have done. It is not trying to out-do bad with good. Even our righteous acts are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We cannot be perfect on our own.
Q. In what ways might you have tried to out-do your bad with good?
UNDERSTANDING the TRUE Nature of SALVATION:
 
1. SALVATION is about GOD making DEAD people ALIVE.
Ephesians 2:4–7 (ESV)
It is not about good people becoming better nor about bad people becoming good. Non-believers don’t care because they are dead unless God makes them alive. Our Christian testimony is that were were dead and now we are alive. Christ made us new and alive.
 A. MERCY = God not giving us what we deserved.
Psalm 103:10 (ESV).
 God not giving us Hell. The fact that the world is not already dangling from eternal damnation is God’s mercy.
B. GRACE = God giving us what don’t deserve.
Romans 5:2 (NLT)
The privilege of being born-again is the only cosmic privilege. We are to love people, visit them, clothe them because our Father did that for us.
 C. LOVE – God’s unconditioned response toward sinners.
1 John 4:19 (ESV)
It is not based on what we do.
Q. How do you practice God’s mercy, grace, and love in your home, workplace, neighborhood?
Matthew 7:22–23 (ESV)
2. SALVATION is about GOD making EARTHLY people into a HEAVENLY NATION.
Ephesians 2:6 (ESV)
 Salvation is not getting the goodies from God on this earth. Some of us want our life the way we want it now and just so. That is not going to happen. This is not our home.
Earth is our battlefield our home is in heaven.
“Men without Christ are death walking. The beauties of holiness do not attract man is his moral insensibility, nor do the miseries of Hell deter him.” – John Edie
Philippians 3:18–21 (ESV)
3. SALVATION is about GOD making UNDESERVING people GRATEFUL people.
The primary characteristic of a Christian is that we are grateful, thanking God that He saves us.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
We did not do this, we did not make the choice, the Holy Spirit stirred it in us. God gives us the grace to come to Christ.
Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV)
We are not longer who we were and if that is not true we need to come to Christ.
4. SALVATION is about GOD making HOPELESS people a USEFUL people.
 
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
Before Christ we were hopeless and useless. We need more than what this world has, we need a heavenly calling on our lives.
 We are SAVED FROM GOD’S WRATH by GOD’S GRACE for GOD’S PLAN.
Leader: Here is an opportunity for anyone in your group who has not come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to receive Him.
A simple prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. … Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me.
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