Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP230029S
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00:01 Hello Friends, and welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School.
00:03 We are studying the book of Ephesians 00:05 and it's a powerful... beautiful study. 00:07 We're so glad that you've joined us. 00:09 My name is James Rafferty 00:10 and we are in Ephesians... the fourth week... 00:14 How God Rescues us. 00:16 If you'd like to get a copy of the Sabbath School Lesson, 00:18 you can get that at 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:22 that's: 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:26 Today, we're studying again: How God rescues us 00:29 so, don't go away, we'll be right back. 00:32 Music... 01:03 Rafferty: Hello Friends, we're so glad that you are joining us, 01:05 we are studying the Sabbath School Lesson 01:07 for the third Quarter of 2023 01:09 and we are in the book of Ephesians 01:12 and it is a beautiful, beautiful study. 01:15 The book of Ephesians is one of the epistles that Paul wrote 01:18 to the church in Ephesus 01:20 and he expounds and focuses on the love of God 01:22 and then what that love produces in the life. 01:25 Now, before we get into our Sabbath School Lesson, 01:27 I want to introduce to you our Panel, 01:29 sitting to my direct left is Pastor John Lomacang. 01:32 Lomacang: Good to be here, James. 01:33 James and John... something's going to happen here tonight. 01:36 Panel: Laughter. Rafferty: We're thunder... 01:37 Lomacang: Mine is entitled... Once Deluded by Our Own Desires. 01:41 Powerful... powerful topic. 01:42 Rafferty: Amen... 01:43 and to your left is Jill Morikone. 01:45 Jill: Thank you so much Pastor James. 01:47 I have Tuesday: 01:48 Now Resurrected, Ascended, and Exalted with Christ. 01:50 Rafferty: All right, amen... 01:52 and to your left is Pastor John Dinzey. 01:53 Dinzey: It's a blessing to be here as well. 01:55 Well, I have Wednesday and the title is: 01:58 Now Blessed Forever by Grace. 02:00 Rafferty: Amen... and finally... last but not least, 02:04 at the very end there, Pastor Ryan Day. 02:06 Ryan: Amen, praise the Lord, I have Thursday's Lesson 02:08 entitled: Now Saved by God. 02:10 So, we're looking at how God rescues us... 02:13 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 10 02:16 are going to be our main focus in our Lesson Study this week 02:19 and then Ephesians 5 verse 14, 02:21 Romans 5:17, 02:22 Ephesians 5:6 02:24 and 2nd Timothy chapter 1 and verse 7. 02:28 Before we do that, let's have a word of prayer, 02:30 Jill, if you wouldn't mind, would you have prayer for us? 02:33 Jill: Sure, "Heavenly Father, we just come before You excited 02:35 to be opening up Your Word... 02:37 this wonderful study of salvation, 02:40 thank You for the gift of salvation. 02:43 thank You for the gift of Your Spirit 02:45 and we ask right now, would You come and teach us... 02:48 in Jesus' name, amen. " 02:50 Rafferty: Amen. 02:51 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 4 and 5, 02:53 let's take a look. 02:54 I'm reading from the ESV, the English Standard Version, 02:58 "But God being rich in mercy, 03:00 because of the great love with which He loved us, 03:03 even when we were dead in our trespasses, 03:06 made us alive together in Christ... " 03:10 Panel: Yes. 03:11 Rafferty: It was January of 2019 03:13 and there was a snow and ice storm in Central Oregon. 03:15 Trees and power poles snapped like toothpicks 03:19 and the snow and ice paralyzed communities 03:21 leaving hundreds of people without power 03:24 in freezing temperatures. 03:26 In one or more remote location, people were huddled together 03:32 trying to survive 03:33 and a local Elder of a local SDA Church 03:36 was trapped along with his entire community 03:38 who... some of whom needed some medical care. 03:40 There was nothing that they could really count on 03:44 from the local County. 03:46 The local County was completely swamped 03:48 with calls and rescue missions. 03:50 So, the local church... the local Adventist Church 03:54 organized all the able-bodied persons they could 03:57 and they went to work 03:58 from both sides of the snow-buried community. 04:01 They began by cutting down trees and limbs 04:04 and shoveling through with a tractor... 04:07 making a narrow pathway from one end 04:09 while the Elder and a group of... of his community 04:12 worked from the other end and they tried to come together. 04:14 It took them two days... 04:16 in some cases, 04:17 they were clambering over downed power lines 04:20 which could have been dangerous if they weren't turned off 04:21 but finally... eventually, 04:23 they got to the place where they met together 04:26 and the community was rescued. 04:29 There's nothing like a good rescue story 04:33 and that's what we see in the book of Ephesians. 04:36 Ephesians chapter 2:1 through 10 04:39 gives us an up-close and personal view, 04:41 the author of the Quarterly says, 04:44 of the grandest most-sweeping rescue mission of all time. 04:47 God's redemption of the human race 04:51 in Christ Jesus the second Adam. 04:54 The drama of the story is heightened by knowing 04:57 that we are not mere spectators of someone else's rescue 05:01 but we are witnesses of our own rescue. 05:04 I love that... what a powerful point! 05:06 The Lesson goes on in Sunday to describe this rescue mission 05:12 in detail by quoting from Ephesians chapter 2 05:14 verses 1 through 10. 05:16 Now, we're not going to cover the details of all these verses 05:19 in today's Lesson 05:20 but I'm sure the Panel is going to be looking at in more detail 05:23 some of these points. 05:24 What I'd like to do is just do a quick overview 05:27 of a few of the verses here in Ephesians chapter 2 05:29 beginning with verse 1, 05:31 "And you... He has quickened, 05:32 who were dead in trespasses and sins; 05:35 wherein time past 05:37 you walked according to the course of this world, 05:38 according to the prince of the power of the air, 05:40 and the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. " 05:43 The author of the Sabbath School Lesson 05:45 emphasizes these three elements that work against us. 05:49 The world... the devil and our own fallen natures 05:53 and all of those are seeking to keep us into bondage in sin 05:58 and away from the glorious redemption that Christ has 06:01 opened for us through His great love 06:03 but it says here in this context, 06:05 that while we were by nature children of wrath, 06:08 verse 4 says, "But God, who is rich in mercy, 06:11 for his great love wherewith He loved us, 06:14 even when we were dead in sins, 06:16 has quickened us together with Christ, 06:19 by grace, ye are saved. " 06:21 What I love about this 06:23 is that a lot of times when we quote the book of Ephesians, 06:26 we... we think about salvation in relationship to 06:30 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 through 10. 06:31 I think those are some of our favorite verses, 06:33 Ephesians 2:8 through 10, we've got to memorize 06:35 "By grace, you are saved through faith... 06:37 it's not of yourselves, it's the gift of God 06:38 lest anyone should... " 06:40 so we... we have those memorized 06:41 but Paul actually... these verses are just as powerful. 06:44 The first few verses of Ephesians chapter 2 are just as powerful 06:48 and in a sense, they lead up to that sense of crescendo 06:51 in verses 8 through 10. 06:53 Verse 6 says, "He's raised us up together, 06:55 and made us sit together in heavenly places 06:57 in Christ Jesus: 06:58 that in the ages to come... " verse 7 says, 07:01 "He might show the exceeding riches of His grace 07:03 in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. " 07:06 Now, the ages to come aren't here yet 07:10 but God is going to show in the ages to come 07:13 throughout all eternity, 07:14 He's going to show the exceeding riches of His grace, 07:16 I mean, we think God's grace is exceeding rich right now, 07:20 but in the ages to come, 07:21 we're going to see more and more 07:22 of the exceeding riches of His grace 07:24 which is going to be amazing. 07:25 You see, God... according to these verses, 07:28 God is the great initiator of salvation. 07:31 These chapters parallel Romans chapter 5, 07:33 verses 6 through 10 where it says 07:36 that we... when we were yet without strength, 07:39 in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 07:41 Panel: That's right. 07:42 Rafferty: "For scarcely for a righteous man would one die: 07:44 yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 07:46 But God commended His love to us, 07:48 in that, while we were yet sinners, 07:50 Christ died for us. 07:52 Much more then, now being justified by His blood, 07:56 we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 07:57 For if, when we were sinners, 07:59 we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, 08:01 much more, being reconciled, 08:03 we will be saved by His life. " 08:04 Panel: That's right. 08:05 Rafferty: There is something powerful in these verses, 08:07 Paul here is... the author says, 08:09 "has already described the salvation 08:11 provided to all in Christ. " 08:12 But all humanity had been predestined to eternal life 08:16 according to Ephesians chapter 1 08:18 in Christ... not one member of the human family 08:22 has been left out of God's plan of salvation. 08:25 Panel: That's right. 08:26 Rafferty: Christ died for all 08:27 and Paul briefly told the story of believers in Ephesians, 08:32 the... the believers who were in the world... 08:34 who were surrounded by the world, 08:36 and who were kept captive by Satan 08:38 and by their own fallen natures 08:40 and how God... in that moment, 08:42 in that time... in that experience, 08:44 God came to our rescue, He initiated our salvation. 08:47 In Romans chapter 5, Paul says, you know, 08:49 "You don't have to get yourself right 08:51 in order for God to do something for you. " 08:53 You don't have to be good enough to come to church. 08:55 Sometimes people say to me, 08:56 "I'm not good enough to come to church. " 08:58 And my response as a pastor is, 09:00 "You're not good enough not to come to church. " 09:03 God is the initiator... we're not the initiator... 09:05 we can't make ourselves good enough to come to God 09:08 but we come to God as we are 09:09 and God does the work 09:11 and that's what Paul is emphasizing here 09:13 and Paul knows this, 09:14 he knows this by his own experience. 09:16 In Ephesians 2:1 through 10, the Quarterly says, 09:19 Paul will tell... now tell 09:20 their conversion story in more detail, 09:23 with a personal focus. 09:24 He... He'll contrast their past, sinful experience 09:28 Ephesians 2:1 through 3, 09:29 with the blessings of God's salvation, 09:31 which he portrays 09:32 in the resurrection, the ascension, 09:34 and the exaltation of Jesus Christ 09:36 as he celebrates the basis of that salvation 09:39 in the grace and creative work of God. " 09:41 So, Paul is all about "God has accomplished this... 09:44 God has accomplished in Christ Jesus 09:47 all that you need for salvation 09:49 and He did this while you were yet sinners. 09:51 He did this while you were yet in the world 09:53 because He wanted you to see His goodness 09:56 because the Bible tells us in Romans 2:4. 09:58 It's the goodness of God that does... what? 09:59 Panel: Leads us to repentance. 10:01 Rafferty: Leads us to repentance... 10:02 takes us out of this world... 10:04 it takes us out of the hands of the devil... 10:05 it takes us out of his grip 10:06 and it transforms us heart, mind, and spirit. 10:08 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 10:10 Rafferty: So, these three sections of... 10:11 of... of Ephesians chapter 2, 10:14 there's... there's three sections of Ephesians chapter 2 10:16 the Quarterly goes on to say, 10:18 that paraphrase this experience. 10:19 Ephesians 2:5, "we were all dead in our trespasses... " 10:22 and then, Ephesians 2:5 10:25 goes on to say 10:27 "but He made us alive in Jesus Christ. " 10:28 and then it goes on to say, 10:29 "and by grace, you have been saved... " 10:31 So, you've got... we're dead... 10:32 we've been made alive 10:34 and by grace we have been saved. 10:35 So, Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 and 2, 10:38 Paul underlines the reality of this pre-conversion experience 10:42 of his audience... noting that they were spiritually dead, 10:46 that they were practicing trespasses... 10:49 they were dead in their sins 10:50 that was their regular pattern of life... 10:52 that's our regular pattern of life, 10:54 and they were dominated by Satan. 10:56 But since Paul is writing to these living people, 11:00 he's referring to them as dead spiritually. 11:03 So, when he says, "You're dead in trespasses and sins... " 11:05 he's not talking about literally being dead... they're alive... 11:07 but he's talking about their spiritual life is dead. 11:10 They were spiritually separated from God... the source of life. 11:14 Now, this conversion story is kind of vital because 11:18 it shows that God's amazing grace is for everyone... 11:21 for all of us. 11:23 You know, you'll notice that Paul himself... 11:25 a... a great multi-generational religionist 11:28 makes use of corporate language 11:30 when he's talking about the experience of the Ephesians. 11:32 He says, "us" and "we" 11:35 not "them" or "you," right? 11:37 Because he himself was in the same place that they were. 11:40 He was dominated by the devil... 11:43 he was dominated by the world and the way the world thought 11:46 and he was dominated by his own fallen nature 11:48 even though he was... according to Philippians chapter 3, 11:51 he was blameless... a Pharisee of the Pharisees... 11:54 circumcised on the eighth day... 11:55 he was all about being religious and righteous 11:58 but yet, he was following the principles of the world 12:01 and, of course, he later admits this, you know, 12:03 that he was the chief of sinners... 12:05 he was persecuting the church of God. 12:06 And we can be very religious 12:08 and yet, completely and... 12:11 and totally consumed... 12:12 controlled by the devil and by his principles 12:16 and this is what Paul is bringing out here. 12:18 So, how do we get deliverance from this kind of experience? 12:21 Well, how did Paul get deliverance? 12:22 Paul is not pretending to relate 12:24 to those who are dead in trespasses and sin, 12:25 and sins... Paul is a liberated sinner 12:28 who was once held in bondage to righteousness by works 12:31 but he is now free in Christ to proclaim 12:33 his completely lost condition... 12:37 his past... 12:38 and his deeply religious commitment to Jesus Christ 12:41 his present 12:43 and this happened to Paul 12:44 by seeing the initiating love of God toward him 12:48 when he was on that road to Damascus... 12:50 Jesus Christ came to him directly 12:52 and apprehended him 12:53 and... and... and stepped into his life 12:56 and diverted him 12:57 from the disastrous task that he was about to commit 13:01 in persecuting God's people 13:02 or continuing to persecute God's people. 13:04 So, Paul is now free... he proclaims Christ 13:07 to the... the Gentiles 13:10 and this is what the gospel of Christ does. 13:13 It's not a cold lifeless theological construct 13:16 with pleasing platitudes. 13:18 The gospel is a bold, heavily assault 13:20 against the very foundation of false religion. 13:23 The gospel fells, divides, chips, chews up and... 13:25 and... and... and destroys every counterfeit tree, 13:29 it lays bare the forest of man's planting 13:31 and directs us to the Tree of Life. 13:33 Panel: That's right. 13:35 Rafferty: That's what Paul is doing here 13:36 in the book of Ephesians 13:38 and he's including himself in that corporate experience 13:40 of what God has done for us 13:42 while we were dead in our trespasses and sins 13:44 and what God is going to do for us 13:47 in resurrecting us 13:48 and putting us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 13:51 This is going to be the emphasis... 13:52 the theme we see 13:54 as we study this week's lesson in Ephesians chapter 2. 13:57 Panel: Amen. 13:58 Lomacang: Thank you, James. 14:00 Wow! once deluded by our own desires. 14:02 This is a very powerful word "desire" 14:05 I... I think about a year ago, 14:07 so, I did a sermon called: Streetcar named Desire. 14:11 and I want to talk about something that has to do with 14:14 how does sin actually, get born? 14:18 And I want to begin in Ephesians 2 14:20 and we're going to look at verse 3 together 14:23 and I'm reading this in the NIV. 14:26 I'll read it in a couple of translations... 14:28 I'll read it in New King James since it was started there. 14:32 The Apostle Paul bringing us to the place where 14:35 we are exposed to a very familiar passage, 14:39 "For by grace are we saved... " 14:40 but it reads in verse 3, 14:42 "among whom 14:46 also, we all once conducted ourselves 14:49 in the lusts of our flesh, 14:52 fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, 14:57 and were by nature children of wrath, 15:00 just as the others. " 15:02 Panel: Hmmm... 15:04 Lomacang: Verse 4 brings in the transition, 15:05 "But God... " 15:06 if you put that phrase, "But God... " in the Bible, 15:08 you're seeing so many cases... 15:10 that is the transition between failure and success. 15:13 Panel: Yeah. 15:14 Lomacang: That is the transition between being lost 15:16 and being saved. 15:17 "No temptation has overtaking you but such as common to man: 15:20 but God... " 15:21 Panel: Amen. 15:23 Lomacang: And we find that yes 15:24 without that two-word phrase, 15:26 so many of us would still be lost today. 15:29 So, Paul starts out by talking about this human nature 15:32 that we are all possessing 15:33 but he walks through it incrementally 15:36 and when we go back to the Garden of Eden, 15:38 we find a very significant phrase in Genesis chapter 3, 15:43 in the... in the intercourse... 15:45 the... the verbal intercourse between Eve and the Serpent 15:48 when she fell and judgment was pronounced upon her, 15:53 the Lord revealed in Genesis 3 and verse 16, 15:56 "Your desire shall be for your husband, 15:59 and he shall rule over you. " 16:02 Now, let's go to Romans chapter 7... 16:03 I want you to see this. 16:05 I want to spend time on "desire" 16:06 because this is something that oftentimes, we don't understand. 16:09 Romans chapter 7... 16:10 remember he said, "Your desire shall be for your husband 16:13 and he shall rule over you. " 16:15 Panel: Hmmm... 16:16 Lomacang: Jill... I know you love Romans. 16:18 It's one of my favorite books. Jill: Agreeing... yeah. 16:20 Lomacang: It's a books that's often misunderstood 16:21 and misquoted. 16:23 People try to get rid of God's law by quoting Paul 16:25 but Paul had no issue with God's law. 16:26 Romans chapter 7... 16:28 now remember your desire shall be for your husband. 16:30 Okay, now let's start in verse 2 of Romans chapter 7, 16:33 "For the woman who has a husband 16:36 is bound by the law 16:37 to her husband as long as he lives. 16:40 But if the husband dies, 16:42 she is released from the law of her husband. 16:46 So then if, while her husband lives, 16:48 she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; 16:51 but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, 16:56 so that she is no adulteress, 16:59 though she has married another man. 17:01 Therefore, my brethren, 17:03 you also have become dead to the law 17:06 through the body of Christ, 17:08 that you may be married to another... 17:11 to Him who was raised from the dead, 17:13 that we should bear fruit to God. " 17:16 What are we talking about here? 17:18 Now, notice Paul says that the woman is bound by the law 17:22 to her husband as long as he lives. 17:25 What is the law of her husband? 17:26 The law of her husband... he sets the pace, 17:30 your desire shall be for your husband 17:31 and he will rule over you. 17:34 So, as long as he's married to her... 17:36 as long as she's married to him, 17:37 he calls the shots. 17:39 Panel: Hmmm... 17:40 Lomacang: That husband has to die 17:42 in order for her to be free. 17:43 That's why Romans chapter 6 talks about the baptism. 17:46 Look at this. 17:48 Romans chapter 6 verse 6, 17:51 "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him... " 17:57 growing up in New York, 17:59 we used to call, "Hey, how's your old man doing?" 18:01 And that's the "husband" term, remember that phrase? 18:03 It was an old-fashioned phrase... 18:05 I didn't use the word "old-fashioned" 18:07 because I'm old-fashioned, 18:09 but it's a term that's not used now a days... 18:10 "How is your old man doing?" 18:12 Well, the old man is that ruling... that ruling factor 18:16 that determines what we do when we yield to it. 18:20 Romans 6:16, "Do you not know that... 18:22 whomever you yield yourself as servants to obey, 18:25 you are that one's slave whom you obey, 18:27 whether of sin leading to death, 18:29 or obedience leading to righteousness. " 18:30 Panel: Hmmm... 18:32 Lomacang: The moment you yield the husband rules 18:33 and as long as that husband is alive, 18:35 whatever the husband desires... 18:37 whatever the husband desires, you are going to carry out. 18:41 That's why the transition from death to life 18:43 is always... the desire starts... 18:46 the Lord gets rid of our carnal desire 18:50 and replaces it with His righteous desire. 18:53 And when you go back, you find out 18:55 that the phrase "desire" or the word "desire" 18:58 describes the seat of our affections. 19:01 Let's go and see that in Isaiah 14 verses 12 to 14, 19:04 I'm trying to get this as quickly as I can, 19:06 you find that... the fall of Lucifer 19:10 didn't begin with an action, 19:12 it began with something that was in his heart. 19:14 Verse 12, "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, 19:18 son of the morning! 19:19 How you are cut down to the ground, 19:21 you who weakened the nations! 19:22 For you have said in your heart... " 19:25 that's where desire starts. 19:26 It's a "heart" thing but it didn't become an action 19:29 until he desired... 19:30 until he desired to act on that desire. 19:34 Until he willed to act on that desire, 19:37 it was just something he was thinking about. 19:39 You said it in your heart... 19:41 and here are all the things he said, 19:42 "I will be like the Most High... 19:44 I will ascend into heavens... 19:45 I will exalt my throne above the stars... 19:47 and the list goes on and on and it continued... 19:49 notice what's after "desire" I will... I will... I will... I will. 19:52 And when "desire" is connected to will, 19:56 then, it's followed by the action 19:58 which... if the desire is good... 20:00 the action is good and the outcome is good. 20:03 Look at James chapter 1 verses 14 and 15, 20:06 the Bible says, "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away 20:10 by his own desires and enticed. 20:12 Then, when desire has conceived, 20:16 it gives birth to sin; 20:17 and sin, when it is full-grown brings forth death. " 20:21 Desire is in the mind... but the will is the precursor to action. 20:27 Notice, James says, 20:28 "You can't say, 'the devil made me do it. '" 20:30 No... because it's your desire. 20:33 Now, when we... when we yield as John 8:44 talks about, 20:37 you are of your father, the devil, 20:38 you desire to do his will. 20:40 You do his will... he is the murderer from the very beginning. 20:42 That's when we take that thought that's in our mind 20:46 and couple it with an action 20:47 and then that action produces what we call 20:50 "a repetition" in our lives which becomes a habit... 20:52 which produces a character... 20:53 which produces a destiny. 20:55 And so, we... we... we... we see that what... 20:57 what the lesson is pointing out is deluded by our own desires. 21:01 How do we change the seat of that desire 21:05 for good fruit to be born 21:08 on the other side? 21:10 Let's look at a couple of other Scriptures 21:12 that talks about desire. 21:13 1st Samuel 20 verse 4, and I'll read it very... 21:15 very carefully... very quickly, 21:17 "So Jonathan said to David... " 21:19 and this is true about all of us. 21:21 "Whatever you yourself desire, 21:23 I will do it for you. " 21:25 And notice that again... "whatever you desire... " 21:27 Jonathan said, "I'll do it for you. " 21:29 Whatever God's desire... 21:32 whatever we desire... if it's good, 21:34 the Lord will do it for us. 21:36 And we find, carefully, in the Bible, 21:39 that the Lord says, "I will give you 21:41 the desires of your heart. " 21:43 But do we think that God is going to give us 21:45 the evil desires of our hearts? 21:46 The answer is: absolutely not. 21:48 But I want to share this quotation 21:49 and I had it here in my Lesson, 21:51 listen to this... Ministry of Healing, page 176, 21:54 "Everything depends on the right action of the will. 21:59 Desire for good and purity are right, as far as they go; 22:03 but if we stop here, they avail nothing. 22:07 Desire is powerful... but disconnect it from the will, 22:11 we are helpless. 22:12 "Desire" is where you would like to be... 22:15 "will" is the action that will get you there. 22:18 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 22:20 "Desire" is what you would like to do... 22:21 "will" is the action that gets you moving. 22:24 "Desire" is what you would like to be... 22:27 "will" is the action that brings out the plan of reality. 22:33 It always starts with desire. 22:34 And so, what the... 22:36 what the writer of the Lesson, Dr. John McVay is bringing out, 22:39 he is saying that we walked in this desire... 22:42 this corruptible desire 22:44 that always brought out a corruptible action 22:46 but then, the Lord came along and broke that 22:49 by us yielding to Him. 22:50 He doesn't break our will or take our will... 22:53 He doesn't say, "I'm going to take your will 22:55 and do something else with it. " 22:56 We have to commit that will to Him 22:58 and when we commit that will to Him, 23:00 then, the fruit on the other side is quite different. 23:04 It's His fruit... it's no longer our fruit 23:06 because now, as Jesus said, 23:09 "Not My will... but Thine be done. " 23:12 "Will" is the precursor to the action. 23:16 And notice this, Ephesians 5 verses 8 to 11, 23:19 pause... 23:21 here's what it says, 23:22 "But you who once... you who were once darkness, 23:26 but now are light in the Lord. 23:28 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 23:30 Lomacang: Now, notice... the different fruit. 23:31 "Walk as children of light 23:33 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, 23:37 righteousness and truth, 23:40 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 23:43 And have no fellowship 23:45 with the unfruitful works of darkness, 23:48 but rather expose them. " 23:50 So, what I want to communicate here to you 23:53 in this short period of time 23:55 is... you've got to ask yourself, "What is my desire?" 23:59 Panel: Hmmm... 24:00 Lomacang: Where am I focused? 24:01 What am I doing? 24:03 because if the desire is good, 24:04 God will bring it out for a blessing 24:06 but if the desire is evil, 24:08 it will pull you in the wrong direction. 24:11 Pray and ask God to give you the desires 24:14 that are in harmony with His will. 24:16 Panel: Amen. 24:17 Rafferty: Thank you... thank you, Pastor John. 24:19 So, we are just getting started in our lesson for this week, 24:23 how God rescues us... 24:25 don't go away... we'll be right back. 24:26 Pause... 24:30 Music... 24:33 Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again 24:36 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:39 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 24:44 A clean design makes it easy 24:47 to find the Program you are looking for. 24:49 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:53 so you can follow along. 24:54 Sharing is easy... 24:55 just click "Share" and choose your favorite Social Media. 24:59 Share a link... 25:00 Save a Life... for Eternity. 25:02 James: Hello Friends, 25:04 we are studying the book of Ephesians. 25:05 We are in the fourth Lesson... how God rescues us. 25:09 Ephesians is for the third Quarter of 2023 25:12 and I'm handing it over to Jill Morikone. 25:14 Jill: Thank you so much, Pastor James and Pastor John. 25:16 What an incredible lesson! 25:18 I think Ephesians 2 and Romans chapter 3 25:22 are two of my favorite sections of the Word of God 25:25 as we look at that plan of salvation Paul lays out 25:28 so beautifully in both of them. 25:30 I have Tuesday's Lesson: 25:32 Now Resurrected, Ascended, and Exalted with Christ. 25:37 We're looking at Ephesians 2 verses 4 through 6, 25:41 and it begins with two words that Pastor John referenced 25:46 when he did his Section "But God... " 25:48 Lomacang: That's right. 25:50 Jill: At this point of the Lesson, 25:51 we pivot from sin to the Savior. 25:53 From the external forces of culture or Satan 25:57 or the internal desire... 26:00 to Jesus the crucified Lamb of God... 26:04 the resurrected Son of God... 26:06 the ascended Jesus who is now seated 26:09 at the right-hand of the Father 26:11 as our Priest and King. 26:13 Are you steeped in sin trembling under temptation, 26:19 broken under bondage? 26:21 But God... 26:22 Panel: That's right. 26:24 Jill: Are your relationships crumbling 26:25 and children questioning and health failing? 26:28 But God... 26:30 Panel: That's right. 26:32 Jill: Are you doubting who you are in Christ? 26:34 Are you enslaved with no hope for tomorrow? 26:36 Are you despairing even of life? 26:39 But God... 26:41 Jill: There's a song I love, Larnelle Harris sings, 26:44 it's called: But God... 26:45 The second verse says, "I know your heart is breaking 26:48 the pain just comes in waves. 26:50 Everywhere you look it seems like there is no peace, 26:54 You try not to give up, but the tears will not relent. 26:57 Any minute now you might accept defeat. 27:01 And you stand there with "impossible," 27:04 the next word on your lips, 27:06 Your vision has been blinded and nothing's making sense. 27:10 But God sees some way, 27:13 when miracles are well beyond our view, 27:15 His love saves the day, 27:17 when fear would tell us, "There's just no use. " 27:20 You can look the whole world over for the meaning of it all... 27:25 For the purpose that mankind has always sought. 27:28 In the end, you will discover, 27:31 there is no other answer But God. 27:34 Panel: Amen. Jill: Oh, I love that! 27:36 There is no other answer but God. 27:39 No matter where you are today, 27:42 there is no other answer but God. 27:44 But it doesn't stop there, 27:46 so, let's continue, we're in Ephesians 2 verse 4, 27:48 "But God, who is rich in mercy, 27:51 because of His great love with which He loved us. " 27:55 It reminds me... Pastor James referenced this, 27:57 Romans 5. 27:58 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... Jill: Romans 5:8, 28:00 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, 28:02 in that while we were yet... " Greek says, 28:04 "still even now, sinners, 28:07 Christ died for us. " 28:10 Panel: Amen. 28:11 Jill: Let's read verse 5, 28:12 "Even when we were dead in trespasses, 28:14 made us alive together with Christ... 28:18 by grace you have been saved and raised us up together, 28:22 made us sit together with Christ 28:25 in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. " 28:29 This is... we see the three compound verbs here 28:33 that we're going to talk about for the rest of my Lesson. 28:35 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 28:36 Jill: Made us alive together... 28:37 raised us up together... 28:39 made us sit together. 28:41 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 28:42 Jill: Dr. John McVay... the author of the Lesson 28:44 did a great job with this lesson. 28:46 We see the three-fold participation with Christ. 28:49 His resurrection... 28:51 His ascension... 28:53 and His exaltation. 28:55 As believers, we are co-resurrected with Christ. 28:59 We are co-ascended with Christ. 29:02 We will be co-exalted with Christ, 29:05 reigning with Him in heavenly places. 29:09 Now, we can say... this is going to take place in the future, 29:11 most certainly it will... will it not? 29:13 We know at the second coming of Christ, 29:15 that those who have fallen asleep in Jesus... 29:17 what's going to happen? 29:18 They're going to be resurrected. 29:20 They will ascend with Christ to heaven 29:22 and they will reign as kings and priests... 29:26 we will reign as kings... 29:27 you will reign as kings and priests with Christ. 29:31 But what about here and now? 29:34 Can we actually be resurrected now? 29:36 Panel: Yes. 29:38 Jill: Can we actually experience ascension now? 29:40 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 29:41 Jill: Can we be co-exalted or co-seated with Christ even now? 29:46 Let's talk about that. 29:47 Let's look at co-resurrected with Christ, 29:51 this is the section that said... 29:52 "made us alive together with Christ. " 29:55 We were dead in trespasses and sins, 29:58 now, we are alive together with Christ. 30:02 Panel: Hmmm... 30:03 Jill: God's resurrection power 30:04 can pull you from sin. 30:07 Panel: Amen. 30:08 Jill: Now in Jill's simple mind, 30:09 I look at this as the justification process. 30:11 This "made alive" to me is justification. 30:14 God pulls us from sin. 30:15 Pastor John, you referenced, Romans chapter 6, 30:18 let's look at that, Romans 6 verses 4 and 5, 30:20 I love this Section... Romans 6:4 and 5, 30:23 "We were buried with Him... " 30:25 this is the symbolism of baptism, of course, 30:27 but we're burying with Him through baptism into death. 30:31 This is the old man or woman of sin. 30:34 This is the desire for sin... 30:36 those evil desires that Pastor John had talked about. 30:39 "That just as Christ was raised from the dead 30:42 by the glory of the Father, 30:43 even so, we also should walk in newness of life. 30:47 If we've been united together 30:49 in the likeness of His death, 30:50 certainly, we shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. " 30:53 Paul talks about it in Ephesians chapter 1, 30:55 verses 19 and 20, 30:57 we looked at this in a previous lesson 30:59 but it's the same concept. 31:01 "What is the exceeding of His power toward us who believe, 31:04 according to the working of His mighty power 31:08 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead 31:12 and seated Him at the right hand in heavenly places. " 31:16 You know, we need resurrection power in our lives. 31:20 We are dead in trespasses and sin... 31:23 sold under sin... enslaved in bondage 31:26 and Christ came with resurrection power 31:29 to set you and I free 31:31 to say that He can break those bonds of sin 31:34 and that in that moment, 31:36 when we accept Jesus, we can be justified. 31:38 We can be forgiven... 31:39 we can be cleansed... 31:41 we can be covered with His righteous white robe. 31:44 You know, God's Word had power in the very beginning did it not? 31:48 Genesis 1:1... 31:49 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 31:53 God created... "bara" in Hebrew 31:55 means... to make something from nothing 31:58 and it's used when God is the subject. 32:01 So, in the beginning, God spoke and it was done 32:04 and where there was nothing... things appeared. 32:06 Do you not think God can do that in the life of the Christian? 32:09 Do you not think when we are dead in trespasses and sins 32:13 and when we are... uh... we're in bondage... 32:17 God can speak 32:18 and you and I can be set free. 32:21 In fact, David says this in Psalm 51:10, 32:24 "Create in me a clean heart... " 32:26 the word "create" is the same word as Genesis 1:1. 32:29 "Bara" create in me... 32:30 "Create in me, God, a clean heart... " 32:32 where there was nothing... 32:33 where there was sin... 32:35 "create" instantly... create something from nothing. 32:37 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, 32:39 renew a steadfast spirit within me. " 32:41 So, we looked at... made us alive together... 32:44 we were dead in trespasses and sins... 32:46 we're made alive together with Christ. 32:48 What about ascended? 32:50 This is... raised us up together. 32:53 We are co-ascended with Christ. 32:56 I would submit to you that God's ascension power 33:01 can keep you from sin. 33:03 Panel: Amen. 33:05 Jill: Not only does He want to deliver us 33:06 from the penalty of sin... that's justification. 33:10 Not only does He want to trans... do that 33:12 but He wants to transform us. 33:14 This is the sanctification process. 33:17 God wants to help us grow in grace. 33:20 As Peter says in 2nd Peter 3:18, 33:22 "grow in grace 33:24 and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. " 33:26 We're not just set free from sin 33:28 and then we do our own thing. 33:29 No... our desires need to change... 33:31 our hearts need to change. 33:33 We need to become like Jesus. 33:36 God's ascension power can keep you from sin. 33:39 Let's look at the co-seated and the co-exaltation. 33:43 Now, you might think I'm going to glorification, but I'm not. 33:46 Panel: Hmmm. 33:47 When Christ was seated at the right hand of the Father, 33:49 He was then given the place of power and authority. 33:52 Matthew 28:18 through 20, we know this, 33:55 this is known as the great commission. 33:57 Jesus says, "All authority... " 33:59 that's "exousia... " 34:01 power to act... 34:02 authority... 34:03 "All authority is given Me in heaven and earth... " 34:06 and what does He say? 34:07 "Go... make disciples... teach... baptize... 34:10 be my witnesses. " 34:12 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 34:14 Jill: God's exaltation power can... what does it do? 34:19 it enables you and I to witness for Him. 34:21 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... that's right. 34:23 Jill: First we were dead in trespasses and sins 34:26 and we're made alive. 34:27 Second, we ascend with Him 34:29 or our characters are being made like the character of Jesus. 34:34 Third, when we are transformed, 34:37 you and I are sent forth. 34:39 1st Peter 2:9, 34:41 "We're a chosen generation, a royal priesthood... 34:43 God's own special people, 34:45 that we should proclaim the praises of Him 34:47 who called us out of darkness into this marvelous light. " 34:52 Isaiah 43 just says it this way, 34:54 "You are my witnesses" says the Lord, 34:56 "that I am God. " 34:59 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 35:00 Jill: So, when we look at this passage, 35:02 we see... "But God... " 35:03 we were dead in trespasses and sins 35:04 but we are made alive together. 35:06 We are justified... 35:08 we are raised up together... 35:09 we are sanctified... 35:11 we are exalted with Christ. 35:14 We are sent forth as His witnesses. 35:18 Panel: Amen. 35:19 Dinzey: Amen, praise the Lord... 35:20 praise the Lord. 35:22 Well, we now move to Wednesday's portion of the Lesson, 35:25 and the title is: Now Blessed Forever by Grace. 35:30 My name is John Dinzey 35:31 for those that are listening by radio, 35:33 and we move to the first question of the Lesson 35:36 in Wednesday's portion. 35:37 Compare God's planning for salvation 35:40 in Ephesians 1 verses 3 and 4 35:43 with the eternal results of that plan 35:46 described in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 7. 35:49 What are essential elements and goals 35:51 of God's "plan of salvation"? 35:54 Let's go ahead and read first, Ephesians chapter 1 35:58 verses 3 and 4, 35:59 it says, "Blessed be the God and Father 36:03 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 36:05 who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing 36:09 in the heavenly places in Christ... " 36:11 we'll go ahead and deal with this verse first, 36:14 but notice that it says, "Blessed be the God and Father. " 36:18 You know, this word "blessed" 36:20 you find it in the Old Testament, 36:22 you find that in the New Testament 36:24 and it's a... it's a way of saying, "You know, 36:26 praise be to God... " 36:28 why? 36:29 And then, as you continue reading, 36:31 you'll hear why the person that wrote the verse 36:34 is giving blessing to God or praise to God. 36:37 Now, let's go ahead and read it, 36:39 it says, "He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. " 36:44 Who is this "us"? 36:45 Panel: Hmmm... 36:47 Dinzey: Is it the whole world? 36:48 No, this is talking about the Christians... 36:51 those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ 36:53 because we're talking about spiritual blessing. 36:56 The whole world is blessed by God blessing us with sunshine 37:00 and rain and the fruit-producing earth... 37:03 the whole world is blessed... 37:05 but those that give their hearts to the Lord... 37:07 those that are seeking to be like Jesus... 37:10 they receive spiritual blessings that the rest of the population 37:14 does not receive. 37:15 The Lord continues to draw people to Him... 37:18 those that are not believers are trying... 37:21 they... they're being drawn to Christ 37:23 but until they accept 37:24 they are not receiving the rich spiritual blessings 37:28 that God's children can receive and should receive 37:32 every single day. 37:34 So, He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. 37:38 The Lord opens doors for God's children 37:42 to receive spiritual blessings 37:45 in heavenly places... now notice that these are in Christ Jesus. 37:49 It is because of Christ Jesus 37:52 that you and I can receive blessings. 37:56 You know, every day we wake up... 37:59 thanks to the Lord for a day of life. 38:02 Panel: Amen. 38:03 Dinzey: I remember telling this one time 38:05 to somebody that had left the Lord for a while, 38:08 and seeing this person for the first time that day, 38:12 I said, "The Lord has blessed us with another day. " 38:15 You know, you go to bed at night, 38:17 you don't know if you're going to wake up, 38:20 the Lord has blessed us with another day 38:21 blessed be His name... glory be to Him. 38:25 Now, "in heavenly places... " 38:27 is a little phrase that is used about five times 38:30 in this epistle... the book of Ephesians. 38:34 And "in heavenly places... " 38:36 and you notice that the word is italicized... "places... " 38:39 which means that the translators said, 38:42 "This could potentially be a good word here 38:45 to help you understand this verse. " 38:47 But it could be places... it could be things. 38:49 Heavenly things... heavenly places... 38:51 all through Christ Jesus, 38:54 thanks be to God. 38:56 Now, let's go ahead and read Ephesians chapter 1 verse 4, 39:02 "Just as He chose us in Him 39:06 before the foundation of the world, 39:09 that we should be holy 39:10 and without blame before Him in love. " 39:13 Now, this, "chose us in Him 39:18 before the foundation of the world... " 39:19 is something we're going to look at 39:21 and looking in the Adventist Bible Commentary, 39:24 it's interesting that in Genesis chapter 1 verse 3, 39:27 they quote the Midrash Karvvah 39:30 which says that God chose Israel before creation... 39:35 the people of Israel to be His chosen people. 39:38 But in this particular verse that it says 39:41 in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 4, 39:42 Paul is taking that idea of Genesis chapter 1 39:47 that God chose Israel 39:48 but then now God is choosing 39:50 those that are considered Gentiles. 39:53 We are chosen by God before the foundation of the world. 39:58 And this is not in a... in a sense of individuals, 40:02 it's in a general sense that is being presented here. 40:06 Now, when was this done? 40:07 Before the foundation of the world. 40:11 Panel: Yes... hmmm... hmmm... 40:13 Dinzey: Can you imagine... there's a song... 40:14 I think, Daniel likes to quote it, 40:16 it says, "While He was on the cross, 40:19 I was on His mind. " 40:20 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 40:22 Dinzey: Now, that's a beautiful thought to consider 40:23 that God had His eyes on us... 40:26 He had His eyes on us now 40:28 but even before the foundation of the world. 40:31 Before you were even a thought in your parents' minds, 40:34 God chose you 40:36 and that's a wonderful thing to understand 40:39 and that is a "wow" factor for me. 40:41 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 40:43 Dinzey: So, why were we chosen? 40:46 Notice that it says that we should be holy 40:50 and without blame before Him in love. 40:54 Now, how do we get this idea 40:56 that we could be holy and blameless before God? 41:01 This is talking to us... 41:02 it's a little hint of the plan of salvation. 41:06 Pause... 41:07 That the only way that you and I could be holy and blameless 41:12 before God... is because of the blood of Jesus Christ. 41:16 Jesus Christ died on the cross 41:19 so that you and I can be holy 41:21 and blameless before God... before the whole universe 41:26 and, you know, I... I sometimes stop and think about this 41:30 because I remember a time that when I was younger 41:34 filling out this employment form 41:37 and then I got to a section there, 41:39 "Have you ever been in prison?" 41:41 "Have you ever committed a crime?" 41:42 Panel: Laughter. 41:43 And well, praise the Lord I had not been in prison 41:45 or committed a crime 41:47 and I said, "Well, why is it there?" 41:48 And apparently, some things follow you in this world. 41:51 Somebody is going to remember that you did something. 41:55 You may be living your life fine... 41:57 you haven't seen somebody for a long time, 41:58 you meet somebody that remembers that you did something way back 42:03 that you have forgotten, 42:04 "Hey, aren't you that guy that did such and such?" 42:07 So, these labels follow you. 42:09 But, because of Jesus, you and I... 42:13 those that accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior, 42:17 that past is gone... buried, forgotten, 42:21 and it's not more. 42:22 Nothing is going to be brought back to you... 42:25 "Aren't you the that used to steal... " 42:27 you know, "Aren't you the guy that used to do that?" 42:29 "Aren't you that person that used to lie?" 42:31 No... all of that is gone... 42:32 blameless before God and before the universe 42:35 by the grace of God, 42:38 "Blessed be His holy name... " I say to that. 42:41 I like to read to you something here 42:43 from Fundamentals of Education page 403. 42:47 Fundamentals of Education, 403 by Ellen G. White, 42:50 it says, "Before the foundations of the earth were laid, 42:54 the covenant was made that all who were obedient, 42:58 all who through the abundant grace provided, 43:02 become holy in character, 43:04 and without blame before God, 43:06 by appropriating that grace... 43:09 that... by appropriating that grace, 43:12 should be children of God. 43:13 This covenant made from eternity, 43:16 was given to Abraham hundreds of years before Christ came. 43:20 With what interest and what intensity 43:24 did Christ in humanity study the human race 43:28 to see if they would avail themselves 43:30 of the provision provided. " 43:32 Provision has been provided through Jesus Christ 43:35 so that you could be blameless. 43:37 Take the opportunity 43:39 and become a child of God if you have not done so 43:42 and remember, we're dealing with the question, 43:45 "Compare God's planning for salvation in Ephesians chapter 1 43:47 verses 3 and 4 with the eternal results of that plan 43:52 described in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 7." 43:53 "We're ready for Ephesians chapter 2 verse 7, 43:55 limited time... 43:57 it says, "that in the ages to come 43:59 He might show the exceeding riches of His grace 44:02 in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. " 44:08 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 44:09 Dinzey: These are words that are rich with spiritual blessings 44:14 for us to dig into and I encourage you to do that. 44:16 Make that your study, Ephesians chapter 2 verse 7, 44:19 wonderful verse, 44:20 and again, I'm reading to you now from: 44:25 The Faith I Live By... 44:26 a wonderful thought really taken from the book: Steps to Christ. 44:29 It says, "In the matchless gift of His Son, 44:33 God has encircled the whole world 44:36 with an atmosphere of grace as real 44:38 as the air which circulates around the globe. 44:42 All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere 44:46 will live and grow up to 44:48 the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. " 44:52 Praise the Lord... praise the Lord. 44:53 Dr. John McVay... he has a wonderful quote here, 44:58 he did a wonderful job in this lesson, 45:00 and I'd like to read from the lesson to you, 45:02 notice what it says, 45:03 "God's plan, rooted in divine councils in time immemorial 45:06 Ephesians 1:4, 45:08 stretches forever into the future. 45:10 It includes all 'the coming ages' Ephesians 2:7. 45:14 His plan for the eternal future is founded on the same principle 45:17 as His actions in the past and present... 45:21 the principle of grace. ' 45:23 'In the coming ages,' 45:25 God looks forward to demonstrating 45:27 'the immeasurable riches of His grace 45:29 in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ' Ephesians 2:7, 45:33 Paul thinks of God's grace as a treasure or fortune 45:37 of unfathomable value 45:39 from which believers may draw to meet any need. 45:44 This grand generosity of God toward us 45:46 becomes an eloquent, ageless, and cosmic exhibit 45:50 of His grace. " 45:51 Praise be to God. 45:53 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... amen. 45:54 Ryan: praise the Lord, thank you guys so much, 45:55 being able to... as always when you are in Thursday's position, 45:59 you get to hear all of the greatness 46:01 that helps me be able to produce my lesson a little bit better 46:05 because I don't have to cover all of the things 46:07 that they've covered, I get to produce new stuff, 46:09 so, praise the Lord for that. 46:11 This message is powerful... Ephesians chapter 2, 46:13 I agree with you, Jill, it's one of my favorite passages 46:16 and I am Ryan Day 46:17 and I have Thursday's Lesson entitled: Now Saved by God 46:21 and right here on Thursday's Lesson, 46:23 we're simply reminded 46:25 based on everything that we've studied so far 46:26 in verses 1 through 7, 46:29 we see that the emphasis obviously has been 46:32 that... you know, we're sinners... 46:33 you know, we're locked in our desires, 46:36 we're locked in our trespasses 46:37 and trapped by the sin of this world, 46:40 but God... right? 46:41 But God comes along... 46:42 Jesus comes along and He transforms us, 46:45 He saves us by His grace, 46:47 and then, of course, Paul confirms it. 46:50 He wants you to understand absolutely clearly 46:52 without any hesitation... without any confusion, 46:55 where that salvation comes from. 46:57 In other words, yes, as Pastor brought out very clearly, 47:00 we have to surrender our will to Him 47:02 and so, that is ultimately what we do... if anything at all, 47:06 we surrender our will to Him 47:08 but the salvation... the saving 47:11 comes 100 percent from God 47:13 and so, now we come to those two famous verses 47:16 that many of us are familiar with 47:18 at the end of this particular section, verses 8 and 10, 47:21 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 10 47:23 but I'm going to back up... 47:25 I'm going to just... 47:26 just read it within context so that it matters 47:27 because oftentimes, we... we isolate these two texts 47:29 but just bring it back a little bit 47:31 and read it from verse 4 onward 47:33 and we'll pick up in verse 8 as we go along. 47:35 Go back in verse 4 of Ephesians chapter 2, 47:38 it says, "But God who in... 47:39 who is rich in mercy, 47:41 because of His great love with which He loved us, 47:45 even when we were dead in trespasses, 47:47 made us alive together with Christ... " 47:50 and then there is the parenthetical statement here, 47:52 "by grace, you have been saved, 47:54 and raises us up together, 47:56 and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 48:01 that in the ages to come 48:04 He might show the exceeding riches of His grace 48:07 in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. " 48:09 I mean, my goodness, it's borderline poetry... 48:12 it's beautiful. 48:13 Panel: Yeah. 48:15 Ryan: But, of course, we don't want to just lower it 48:16 to just poetry. 48:17 This is... this is obviously the inspired words of God 48:19 and right here, we're gravitating towards verses 8 and 10, 48:24 which says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, 48:28 and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 48:31 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 48:34 For we are His workmanship, 48:37 created in Christ Jesus for good works, 48:40 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. " 48:45 And... and... you guys know me, I'm a... 48:47 I'm a musically-minded person. 48:48 I... I did not plan, 48:50 in fact, I don't have it in my notes at all, 48:52 but as I'm reading through this text, 48:53 I can't help but think of that powerful song 48:56 written by Bill Gaither, 48:57 "Sinner Saved by Grace. " 48:59 The second verse of that song... 49:00 every time I read Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 10, 49:03 all I can hear is those words, 49:06 How could I boast in anything 49:09 I've ever seen or done? 49:12 How could I dare to claim as mine 49:18 The victories God has won? 49:22 Where would I be had God not brought me 49:28 Gently to this place? 49:32 I'm here to say I'm nothing but 49:37 a sinner saved by grace. 49:43 I just... those powerful words just ring out 49:46 in... in harmony with this message here 49:48 because God is reminding us, 49:49 He's saying, "Look, yes, you have to surrender your will to me 49:52 but understand where this saving power is coming from. 49:55 And my Friends, we are... we are in a world today 49:57 especially within the church. 49:59 There's so many people that are led to believe a lie 50:03 and believing that they have something to add 50:05 or they have something to do 50:07 that somehow contributes to their salvation 50:10 and... and it took me a while... I used to be one of these people. 50:13 In fact, I was taught early on in my early experience 50:16 in Seventh-day Adventism, 50:17 someone taught me that, "You know what? 50:18 It's 50 percent you and it's 50 percent God. 50:20 Panel: Hmmm... 50:21 Ryan: And when you get that into your mind, 50:23 you think, "Oh, of course, 50:24 God's going to own up to his 50 percent, 50:25 he's going to come through with His 50 percent. " 50:27 Well, man! when you start to have that mentality, 50:29 your salvation is 50 percent your work, 50:32 you can never ever get past the one percent 50:35 because you can't work hard enough or accomplish enough 50:38 to gain... or to win or to accomplish 50:41 your own salvation. 50:42 And I love what the lesson says here, 50:44 at the bottom here of the segment here, it says, 50:47 "In conclusion... " 50:48 speaking of Ephesians 2 verses 1 through 10, 50:50 it says, "Paul goes back over this ground, 50:53 wishing to ensure that his point sticks. " 50:55 So, he's wanting to stick it home. 50:57 He says, "the salvation of believers is a divine work, 51:00 not a human one. 51:01 It does not originate in us but is God's gift. 51:04 No human being can boast of having sparked it. " 51:08 It says, "Standing in the grace of God, 51:11 we, believers, are exhibits of His grace, 51:13 and only His grace. " 51:15 I love that! 51:16 "We are His masterpieces, 51:18 created by God 'in Christ Jesus. '" 51:19 And, of course, as I'm studying through this Lesson, 51:21 it reminds me of a funny story that's kind of like a joke 51:25 but this Elder goes to sleep one night, 51:27 he has a dream. 51:29 So, it's all based on a dream. 51:30 He's dreaming and in his dream he shows up at the gates 51:32 and he sees Saint Peter 51:34 and he says, "Hey, you know, I'm here 51:35 I'm... I'm... I'm... I'm going to go into heaven. " 51:36 He says, "No problem, just... just... 51:38 you've got to have a 100 points. " 51:39 He says, "What do you mean, a 100 points?" 51:41 He says, "Well, you've got to have a 100 points 51:42 for me to let you into heaven. " 51:44 He says, "Well, how do I get a 100 points?" 51:45 He says, "Well, tell us some good things... 51:46 you know, tell us about your life, 51:48 tell us... tell us, you know, about yourself. " 51:49 He says, "Well, I went to the same church all my life, 51:52 I was very devoted... never missed a church service. " 51:54 He said, "All right, that's good, 51:56 that's worth a couple of points. " 51:57 He said, "A couple of points? 51:58 Wait... wait a second, 52:00 that's... that's got to be worth a little bit more than that. " 52:01 He says, "Well, what else you've got?" 52:03 "Well... " he says, 52:04 "Oh, I was married to the same woman for 57 years. " 52:07 He goes, "Ah, that's wonderful, that's worth about five points. " 52:10 "Five points? 52:11 "My goodness... " he goes, 52:13 "that's got to be worth a whole lot more. " 52:14 He goes, "Well what else you've got?" 52:16 He goes, "Oh, I've... I've got it. " 52:17 He says, "Every week I was... I was very consistent 52:19 in serving in our local soup kitchen. 52:21 I've done all these good deeds, 52:23 I helped the poor and I help people 52:24 and have done all these wonderful deeds, 52:25 surely, that accounts for something. " 52:27 He goes, "Well, yeah, that will give you... I don't know, 52:29 maybe a couple of more points. " 52:30 And finally, the guy just... 52:31 in... just in total desperation, as he screams out, 52:35 "Oh no... " he goes, 52:37 "it's only going to be by the grace of God 52:38 that I get into heaven. " 52:40 And Peter says, "Ah, finally... 52:41 that's worth 100 points. " 52:43 Panel: Hmmm... Smiling. 52:44 Ryan: Silly little story but still, the idea is 52:46 that many people have this concept 52:48 that what they do 52:49 is somehow going to contribute to their salvation. 52:51 It doesn't take 100 points... 52:53 it takes 100 percent of God's grace 52:56 in order for us to have salvation. 52:58 And this is ultimately what Paul is talking about 53:01 in Galatians chapter 2 verses 20 and 21 53:03 the point that he's driving home here. 53:05 He says, "Do not set aside the grace of God. " 53:08 Don't set that aside... 53:10 don't just set it aside as something small. 53:12 Some people do that, 53:13 they say, "Well, you know, yes, 53:14 God is love and God saves us by His grace 53:16 but, you know, you've got to have the law. " 53:18 And yes, the law has its important aspect 53:20 and its important place within the plan of salvation 53:23 and works do play an important role 53:25 in the overall experience of salvation. 53:27 But Paul says here, 53:29 "Don't set the grace of God aside... " 53:30 Galatians 2 verses 20 and 21, 53:33 he says, "for if righteousness comes through the law, 53:36 then Christ died in vain. " 53:38 And there are many people and we know this... 53:40 we... we... we've run into this experience 53:42 it's... it's a curse... 53:43 it's... it's a lie that people think 53:45 that somehow if you keep all the commandments perfectly, 53:48 that somehow... that's going to get you some... 53:50 you know, gold stars by your name in heaven 53:51 or Jesus is up there with His record book, 53:53 He's going, "Ooooh, they kept the law already good today... 53:56 I think I'll just go ahead and let them in. " 53:57 No, that's not how it works. 53:59 We keep the law 54:01 because we have been saved by grace through faith. 54:03 That's what Romans chapter 1 verse 5 says... 54:05 is that we... we have been given grace for obedience 54:09 and so, that's the result of the grace of God 54:11 which He has given us 54:12 and, of course, you know, Paul drives this home even stronger, 54:15 I don't have time to read all the passages here, 54:16 If you really want to understand this "do" 54:19 versus the "grace of God" 54:21 you know, how we do and what we do and not do 54:23 that contributes to salvation 54:24 or not... doesn't contribute to salvation, 54:26 Paul drives it home in Philippians chapter 3, 54:29 you can read verses 1 through 8 to get the clear context here 54:32 but, you know, Paul lists his... 54:34 his spiritual resume, 54:35 he talks about how... you know, 54:37 he was circumcised the eight-day, 54:38 this is Philippians chapter 3 54:41 verses 5 and onward, 54:42 He says, you know, "I'm of the stock of Israel, 54:43 the tribe of Benjamin, 54:45 a Hebrew of the Hebrews; 54:46 concerning the law, a Pharisee; 54:47 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; 54:49 concerning righteousness which is in the law, blameless. " 54:50 He says, "Look, I kept the law better than anyone. " 54:53 There's none of you... and that's why I love Paul, 54:55 that's why I can relate to Paul 54:56 because Paul... this Brother has been... 54:58 he's been in both opposites, right, 55:00 he's been in... it seems like in both extremes 55:02 or at least he's... he's been in at least one... to one extreme 55:04 and that was: he at one time thought, you know what? 55:06 It's about what you do. 55:08 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 55:09 Ryan: But he quick learned in this "grace" experience 55:11 that he had with Jesus Christ 55:13 that it's not about what you do 55:14 but it's who you know 55:15 and who you know changes what you do 55:17 and so, that's why here in verse 7 55:18 of Philippians 3 and onward, he says, 55:20 "But what things were gain to me, 55:21 these I have counted loss for Christ. " 55:23 He's my spiritual résumé, all the things I've done, 55:26 isn't it great? 55:27 But you know what? I've count them loss for Christ. 55:28 "Yet indeed I also count all things loss 55:31 for the excellence of the 55:32 knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, 55:33 for whom I have suffered the loss of all things... " 55:36 he says... "but you take all of that... 55:37 put it all in one big giant box... everything I've ever done, 55:40 good... " he goes, "here it is... 55:42 "I count them as... " 55:44 and, of course, King James Version... 55:45 or New King James Version says, 55:47 "rubbish... " 55:48 not that "works" don't matter, 55:50 because it's a result of what we do 55:51 but at the end of the day, your salvation comes... 55:54 your saving comes by God and God alone... 55:57 not anything that you have done, 55:59 100 percent of the grace of God 56:01 and the work of Jesus Christ in your life. 56:04 Rafferty: Amen and this is really the emphasis that Paul has 56:08 in Ephesians chapter 2, 56:10 we've got time for a few closing comments, 56:12 we'll start with Pastor Lomacang. 56:13 Lomacang: Very short quotation from a gentleman by the name of 56:16 John... Joe Rossini... 56:17 he wrote a book called: Desire Is A Powerful Emotion, 56:20 and he says, 56:21 "One of the most powerful human emotions is DESIRE. 56:23 Since every waking moment of our lives 56:25 we are spent with either trying to gain pleasure 56:28 or trying to avoid pain. " 56:29 Then he ends by saying, "If you get hungry... 56:32 if you are hungry, you get food, 56:34 if you are feeling lonely, 56:35 you have a desire for another person. " 56:37 It says, "Just about every moment is spent or invested 56:41 trying to fulfill some desire. " 56:43 I pray that those moments will be spent 56:45 trying to fulfill the desires of the Lord. 56:48 Jill: Amen... 56:49 I think the two important words from my Section is: But God. 56:52 Are you lost in sin? Are you stuck in addiction? 56:55 Are you on the legalistic side? 56:57 But God... look to Jesus. 56:58 Dinzey: Amen... amen. 57:00 I want to leave you with a thought 57:02 that before the foundation of the world, 57:04 God chose you to be blameless before God 57:07 because of Jesus Christ. Panel: Amen. 57:09 Ryan: Amen, a great capstone text I think 57:11 that really sums this up, Galatians 2 verse 20, 57:13 which Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ; 57:17 it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; 57:20 and the life which I now live in the flesh 57:22 I live by the faith... by faith in the Son of God, 57:26 who loved me and gave Himself for me. " 57:28 Rafferty: Amen... 57:29 you know these verses in Ephesians chapter 2 57:31 are teaching us 57:33 that this great controversy swirling all around us 57:35 and in us day by day 57:37 reminds us of our need for Jesus Christ and His grace. 57:41 So, never despair... 57:43 never give up. 57:44 We are loved... 57:45 we are precious... 57:47 we are redeemed... 57:48 we are ransomed... 57:49 we are bought back from sin by the love of Christ. 57:51 Next week's Lesson, Number 5: 57:52 Horizontal Atonement: The Cross and the Church. |
Revised 2023-10-19