Week of 8/23/26
Dear Church Family,
In wrapping up the message this last Sunday I forgot to have us finish with the reading of Ephesians 2:1-10 as a congregation. So, I want to ask you to read it right now and think through as many connections with our statement of faith on Salvation as possible!
Ephesians 2
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God has given us a wonderful salvation that is so much greater than any sin or any 'goodness' we could ever claim. The salvation he has given us draws us into good works that he enables and already has planned for us to do!
The good I do today is not independent from him or something I do 'for him', it is Christ working in me according to his perfect knowledge and work in every part of my life. His love, power, and closeness is that real and he deserves the glory, none of us can boast!
What part of salvation amazes you the most when you think about it? Give thanks to the Lord for all the work of his salvation for you, from the cross to the present, what are (some of) the good works he has done in you??
Berean Enjoyment
As we have been doing, please read through the statement of faith on Salvation below and read through the scriptures given while asking how they pertain to the statement.
We believe we are saved solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone. This salvation was purchased through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ who, by shedding his blood for sin, offers salvation as a free gift to every person without distinction. God is sovereign over salvation and yet each person is fully accountable for his or her response to the gospel. The person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior is eternally secure, and can enjoy the assurance of salvation as guaranteed by Christ’s victorious resurrection. We believe that at death those who have trusted in Jesus enter eternal glory and those that have not enter eternal torment. (Matt. 25:46; John 1:12, 3:16, 10:27-28; Acts 16:31, 20:20-21; Rom. 3:21-28, 8:31-39, 10:9,12-15, 17; 1 Cor. 15:3-4, 17-22; Eph. 1:7, 2:4-9; Phil. 1:6; Heb 2:14; 1 John 2:2)
When you look at Ephesians 2:1-10 you see that most of the statement could be made from this passage alone, especially if you read through verse 13.
What aspect of the salvation God has given you stands out to you most in this moment? What is most beautiful? What is most difficult to comprehend?
What words do the passage give to help you with your questions or delighting in the good news of salvation?
Read also 1 Peter 1:3-8, 13-23. (Or the whole chapter if you have time)
How does the salvation we've been given call us to respond?
How does Peter view our trials in light of salvation?
According to verses 3-5 who is keeping us secure in our salvation? Do we have to earn our inheritance?
Look at each phrase from verse 13 on. What does it mean in your life to...
1) Prepare your mind for action and be sober minded?
2) Set your hope fully on the grace that will be revealed to you when you see Jesus?
3) As an obedient child to not conform to your former or worldly passions?
4) To be holy as he is holy? (How did Jesus' holiness shape how he interacted in the world? How did it affect how he treated people?)
How does God's impartiality (not playing favorites) cause us to conduct ourselves with fear during our exile?
It is beautiful to know that the Abiding Word, given to us through being born again, is Who is helping us to love one another earnestly from a pure heart (vs 22,23).
May the Father grow our hearts in the joy and outworking of this great salvation!
Meditate on that thought and give thanks to God!
Other Resources
Articles
What the Resurrection Means for Us in regard to our salvation, as well as why believing IN the resurrection is different from believing it happened.
How are We Being Saved Right Now? What does salvation look like in my life today?
Books
Herman Bavink - Certainty of Faith - classic writing on assurance of salvation
John Stott - The Cross of Christ - looks at the greatness of what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross
Videos
Wes Huff on non-Christians and separation from God - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st0DWPisALg
Gavin Ortlund - Assurance of Salvation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KV3xmPo5iE John Piper - Does God Predestine People to Hell? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Ry0yEhhOw
And this video which addresses God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK_YIDMQuJc
There are lots of questions that come from such discussions, please feel free to reach out for further discussion or resources to myself or any of the elders!
In Christ,
Pastor Phillip
In wrapping up the message this last Sunday I forgot to have us finish with the reading of Ephesians 2:1-10 as a congregation. So, I want to ask you to read it right now and think through as many connections with our statement of faith on Salvation as possible!
Ephesians 2
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God has given us a wonderful salvation that is so much greater than any sin or any 'goodness' we could ever claim. The salvation he has given us draws us into good works that he enables and already has planned for us to do!
The good I do today is not independent from him or something I do 'for him', it is Christ working in me according to his perfect knowledge and work in every part of my life. His love, power, and closeness is that real and he deserves the glory, none of us can boast!
What part of salvation amazes you the most when you think about it? Give thanks to the Lord for all the work of his salvation for you, from the cross to the present, what are (some of) the good works he has done in you??
Berean Enjoyment
As we have been doing, please read through the statement of faith on Salvation below and read through the scriptures given while asking how they pertain to the statement.
We believe we are saved solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone. This salvation was purchased through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ who, by shedding his blood for sin, offers salvation as a free gift to every person without distinction. God is sovereign over salvation and yet each person is fully accountable for his or her response to the gospel. The person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior is eternally secure, and can enjoy the assurance of salvation as guaranteed by Christ’s victorious resurrection. We believe that at death those who have trusted in Jesus enter eternal glory and those that have not enter eternal torment. (Matt. 25:46; John 1:12, 3:16, 10:27-28; Acts 16:31, 20:20-21; Rom. 3:21-28, 8:31-39, 10:9,12-15, 17; 1 Cor. 15:3-4, 17-22; Eph. 1:7, 2:4-9; Phil. 1:6; Heb 2:14; 1 John 2:2)
When you look at Ephesians 2:1-10 you see that most of the statement could be made from this passage alone, especially if you read through verse 13.
What aspect of the salvation God has given you stands out to you most in this moment? What is most beautiful? What is most difficult to comprehend?
What words do the passage give to help you with your questions or delighting in the good news of salvation?
Read also 1 Peter 1:3-8, 13-23. (Or the whole chapter if you have time)
How does the salvation we've been given call us to respond?
How does Peter view our trials in light of salvation?
According to verses 3-5 who is keeping us secure in our salvation? Do we have to earn our inheritance?
Look at each phrase from verse 13 on. What does it mean in your life to...
1) Prepare your mind for action and be sober minded?
2) Set your hope fully on the grace that will be revealed to you when you see Jesus?
3) As an obedient child to not conform to your former or worldly passions?
4) To be holy as he is holy? (How did Jesus' holiness shape how he interacted in the world? How did it affect how he treated people?)
How does God's impartiality (not playing favorites) cause us to conduct ourselves with fear during our exile?
It is beautiful to know that the Abiding Word, given to us through being born again, is Who is helping us to love one another earnestly from a pure heart (vs 22,23).
May the Father grow our hearts in the joy and outworking of this great salvation!
Meditate on that thought and give thanks to God!
Other Resources
Articles
What the Resurrection Means for Us in regard to our salvation, as well as why believing IN the resurrection is different from believing it happened.
How are We Being Saved Right Now? What does salvation look like in my life today?
Books
Herman Bavink - Certainty of Faith - classic writing on assurance of salvation
John Stott - The Cross of Christ - looks at the greatness of what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross
Videos
Wes Huff on non-Christians and separation from God - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st0DWPisALg
Gavin Ortlund - Assurance of Salvation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KV3xmPo5iE John Piper - Does God Predestine People to Hell? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Ry0yEhhOw
And this video which addresses God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK_YIDMQuJc
There are lots of questions that come from such discussions, please feel free to reach out for further discussion or resources to myself or any of the elders!
In Christ,
Pastor Phillip
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