Glorifying God Through Salvation: Our Divine Purpose

 

Summary

In Ephesians 2:7, Paul reveals the profound purpose behind God's actions in salvation: to display the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness through Christ Jesus. This passage challenges us to shift our perspective from a self-centered view of salvation to one that glorifies God. Often, we focus on our personal needs and experiences, but the ultimate intent of salvation is to manifest God's glory. This divine purpose transcends our individual concerns and invites us to see ourselves as part of a grand, eternal plan.

The Apostle Paul emphasizes that God's intervention in our lives is not merely for our benefit but to demonstrate His glory to all creation. This perspective encourages us to view our Christian journey not as a series of personal achievements or failures but as a testament to God's grace and power. By understanding our place in God's plan, we can find peace and assurance, knowing that our salvation is secure in His hands.

Moreover, the church plays a crucial role in this divine exhibition. Through the church, God showcases His manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers in heavenly places. This means that our lives, as part of the church, are a living testimony to God's redemptive work. We are being prepared for a future display of God's glory, where the church will stand as a testament to His grace and mercy.

This understanding should transform how we live our lives. Recognizing that we are part of God's grand design should lead us to live with humility, gratitude, and a desire for purity. It should also fill us with assurance, knowing that our salvation is not dependent on our efforts but on God's unchanging character. Finally, it is a privilege to be part of this divine plan, a privilege that should inspire awe and worship in our hearts.

Key Takeaways:

- The Glory of God in Salvation: Salvation is primarily about the glory of God, not just our personal benefit. This perspective shifts our focus from ourselves to God's grand purpose, reminding us that our lives are part of a larger divine narrative. [10:00]

- The Church as a Divine Exhibition: The church is God's chosen instrument to display His wisdom and grace to the heavenly realms. Our lives, as part of the church, are a testament to God's redemptive work, showcasing His glory to all creation. [27:28]

- Assurance in God's Character: Our assurance of salvation rests in God's character, not our efforts. Understanding that God is vindicating His own nature through us provides a profound sense of security and peace. [41:07]

- Living in Light of God's Purpose: Recognizing our role in God's plan should lead us to live with humility, gratitude, and a desire for purity. It challenges us to align our lives with God's purposes and to seek His glory above all else. [39:28]

- The Privilege of Participation: Being part of God's plan to vindicate His glory is a profound privilege. This realization should inspire awe and worship, as we consider the honor of being used by God to display His grace and mercy. [42:42]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:7
- [01:17] - God's Intervention and Purpose
- [02:41] - The Importance of Objective Understanding
- [05:33] - The Impact of Perspective
- [08:25] - The Glory of God in Salvation
- [10:00] - God's Grand Demonstration
- [12:59] - Historical Perspective on Sin
- [15:19] - The Devil's Objective
- [17:55] - Vindication of God's Character
- [20:47] - Unique Revelation Through Salvation
- [25:18] - The Church's Role in God's Plan
- [28:13] - The Future Exhibition of the Church
- [32:24] - The Redeemed in Glory
- [37:14] - Living in Light of God's Purpose
- [42:42] - The Privilege of Participation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:7

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Ephesians 2:7 reveal about God's purpose in salvation? How does this purpose challenge our typical perspective on salvation? [00:11]

2. According to the sermon, what is the primary reason God has intervened in our lives through salvation? [09:13]

3. How does the sermon describe the role of the church in God's plan to display His glory? [27:28]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between God's character and our assurance of salvation? [41:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding salvation as primarily for God's glory rather than our personal benefit change the way we view our Christian journey? [10:22]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church serves as a "divine exhibition" to the heavenly realms? How might this perspective influence our view of church community? [27:28]

3. The sermon emphasizes that our assurance of salvation rests in God's character. How does this understanding provide peace and security in our faith journey? [41:07]

4. How does the sermon challenge us to live in light of God's grand purpose, and what practical steps can we take to align our lives with this purpose? [39:28]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current perspective of salvation. Do you tend to view it more as a personal benefit or as a part of God's grand narrative? How can you shift your focus to align more with God's purpose? [10:22]

2. Consider your role within the church. How can you contribute to the church being a testament to God's redemptive work? What specific actions can you take to support this divine exhibition? [27:28]

3. In moments of doubt or insecurity about your salvation, how can you remind yourself of the assurance that rests in God's unchanging character? What practical steps can you take to reinforce this assurance in your daily life? [41:07]

4. The sermon encourages living with humility, gratitude, and a desire for purity. Identify one area in your life where you can practice these virtues more intentionally. What changes will you make this week to pursue this goal? [39:28]

5. How does recognizing the privilege of being part of God's plan inspire you to worship and awe? What specific practices can you incorporate into your life to cultivate a heart of worship? [42:42]

6. Think about a time when you focused on your personal achievements or failures in your Christian journey. How can you reframe these experiences to see them as part of God's grace and power at work in your life? [08:25]

7. Identify a specific way you can demonstrate God's grace and kindness in your interactions with others this week. How can this action serve as a testament to God's work in your life? [19:37]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Glory as the Heart of Salvation
Salvation is not merely about personal benefit; it is primarily about the glory of God. This perspective challenges individuals to shift their focus from themselves to God's grand purpose, reminding them that their lives are part of a larger divine narrative. By understanding that salvation is a testament to God's grace and power, believers can find peace and assurance, knowing that their salvation is secure in His hands. This understanding invites Christians to see themselves as part of a grand, eternal plan that transcends individual concerns. [10:00]

Ephesians 1:11-12 (ESV): "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from personal concerns to God's grand purpose in your daily life today?


Day 2: The Church as a Living Testimony
The church is God's chosen instrument to display His wisdom and grace to the heavenly realms. As part of the church, believers' lives are a testament to God's redemptive work, showcasing His glory to all creation. This understanding emphasizes the collective role of the church in God's plan, where each member contributes to a divine exhibition of His manifold wisdom. By recognizing their place in this grand design, Christians are encouraged to live in a way that reflects God's grace and mercy to the world. [27:28]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively contribute to your church's role in displaying God's wisdom and grace today?


Day 3: Assurance Rooted in God's Character
The assurance of salvation rests in God's character, not in human efforts. Understanding that God is vindicating His own nature through believers provides a profound sense of security and peace. This perspective encourages Christians to trust in God's unchanging character, knowing that their salvation is secure because it is based on His nature rather than their own actions. By embracing this assurance, believers can live with confidence and peace, free from the burden of trying to earn their salvation. [41:07]

Hebrews 6:17-19 (ESV): "So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us."

Reflection: What specific aspect of God's character can you meditate on today to strengthen your assurance of salvation?


Day 4: Living with Humility and Gratitude
Recognizing one's role in God's plan should lead to living with humility, gratitude, and a desire for purity. This understanding challenges believers to align their lives with God's purposes and to seek His glory above all else. By living in light of God's purpose, Christians are encouraged to cultivate a heart of humility and gratitude, acknowledging the privilege of being part of His divine plan. This perspective transforms how individuals approach their daily lives, inspiring them to live in a way that honors God. [39:28]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can demonstrate humility and gratitude in your interactions with others today?


Day 5: The Privilege of Being Part of God's Plan
Being part of God's plan to vindicate His glory is a profound privilege. This realization should inspire awe and worship, as believers consider the honor of being used by God to display His grace and mercy. By understanding the privilege of participation in God's divine plan, Christians are encouraged to live with a sense of awe and reverence, recognizing the significance of their role in His eternal purpose. This perspective invites believers to worship God with a heart full of gratitude and wonder. [42:42]

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (ESV): "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of awe and worship in your daily routine, acknowledging the privilege of being part of God's plan?

Quotes


The Apostle Paul emphasizes that God's intervention in our lives is not merely for our benefit but to demonstrate His glory to all creation. This perspective encourages us to view our Christian journey not as a series of personal achievements or failures but as a testament to God's grace and power. [00:01:17]

The chief intent and object of salvation is the glory of God. That's why He's done it. He's done it so that in the ages to come, He, God Himself, might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [00:09:18]

God has done all this, says Paul, in order that He can present a spectacle to all future ages, not only in this world but also in that which is to come. God is going to give a great demonstration; He is going to manifest His own glory. [00:09:52]

The first thing we've got to learn is this: that the first objective and the first intent in salvation is God's glory. Now that's the teaching of the whole scripture from beginning to end. In other words, we must not start as we officially do with even our own sins but with sin. [00:11:01]

Salvation, the whole purpose and object of salvation in the first instance, is to vindicate God, to manifest the truth concerning Himself. The devil is described in the scripture as a liar and the father of liars. [00:17:55]

God has initiated this great movement of redemption and of salvation primarily in order to declare and to manifest and to vindicate again His own glory, His own greatness, the truth concerning Himself. [00:19:14]

The church is God's chosen instrument to display His wisdom and grace to the heavenly realms. Our lives, as part of the church, are a testament to God's redemptive work, showcasing His glory to all creation. [00:25:18]

God is using the church and is going to use the church in the future ages in order to give a demonstration and an exhibition to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places. [00:28:13]

The astounding and amazing thing is that it's through people like ourselves and as the result of what He's doing to us and has done to us and will do to us that God is going to vindicate His own eternal wisdom and His majesty and His glory. [00:29:33]

Recognizing our role in God's plan should lead us to live with humility, gratitude, and a desire for purity. It challenges us to align our lives with God's purposes and to seek His glory above all else. [00:39:28]

Our assurance of salvation rests in God's character, not our efforts. Understanding that God is vindicating His own nature through us provides a profound sense of security and peace. [00:41:07]

Being part of God's plan to vindicate His glory is a profound privilege. This realization should inspire awe and worship, as we consider the honor of being used by God to display His grace and mercy. [00:42:42]

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