Made Alive: The Power of God's Grace

Today, we reflected on the foundational truth of God’s grace and what it means to be made alive in Christ. Just as a simple breakfast of toast and peanut butter can remind us of the basics, our faith is strengthened when we return to the core of the gospel: we were once spiritually dead, powerless to change ourselves, but God, in His great love and mercy, made us alive together with Christ. This transformation is not something we could ever achieve by our own effort or goodness. Like the Ephesians, we were all under the sway of sin and the ruler of this world, unable to resist or break free. Yet, God’s grace intervened—not because we were worthy, but because of His love and mercy.

The resurrection of Jesus is central to this new life. When Christ was raised, we were raised with Him, given a new identity and a new purpose. This is not a mere resuscitation but a complete spiritual rebirth. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us, enabling us to live out the good works God has prepared for us. Our salvation is entirely a gift—received by faith, not by works—so that no one can boast. Even our ability to respond to God is itself a result of His grace awakening us from spiritual death.

God’s purpose in making us alive is not just for our benefit, but so that His incomparable grace might be displayed through our lives. We are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He has prepared in advance. Every act of service, every moment of faithfulness, even in the midst of pain or challenge, becomes a testimony to God’s grace. Our lives, and the lives of those who have gone before us, are living evidence of God’s mercy and love, shining for others to see and drawing them to the hope found in Christ.

As we continue to walk in this grace, let us remember that our strength comes from the Lord. We are called to be strong in Him, letting His grace shine through us in every circumstance. Whether in joy or sorrow, our lives are meant to showcase the riches of His grace, pointing others to the everlasting God who never grows weary and whose love never fails.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Spiritual death is our starting point, not just moral weakness. Paul describes our pre-Christ condition as being utterly powerless—like spiritual zombies, unable to resist sin or seek God on our own. This honest assessment humbles us and reminds us that salvation is not self-improvement but resurrection from death to life. [47:51]
• 2. God’s grace is entirely unearned and initiated by Him. We do not seek God first; rather, while we were still dead in our sins, God’s love and mercy reached out to us. This means our salvation is not a reward for good behavior, but a gift that flows from God’s character, not our worthiness. [57:06]
• 3. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our new life. When Christ rose, we were raised with Him, and the same power that brought Him out of the grave now works in us. This truth gives us confidence that our transformation is real and ongoing, rooted in God’s mighty power, not our own strength. [60:58]
• 4. Our lives are meant to display God’s grace, especially in hardship. The good works we do, the faith we show in suffering, and the love we extend to others are all ways God showcases His grace through us. Even in our pain, God’s grace shines brighter, drawing others to Him and giving hope beyond our circumstances. [69:00]
• 5. Humility is the mark of those made alive by grace. Since we contributed nothing to our salvation, boasting is excluded. Instead, we live with gratitude and humility, recognizing that every good thing in us is God’s handiwork, prepared in advance for us to walk in and meant to bring Him glory. [66:26]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [35:42] - Opening Worship: Come Live in Me
• [38:03] - Praising the Everlasting God
• [39:16] - Prayer: God Our Refuge and Hope
• [41:12] - The Peanut Butter Analogy: Back to Basics
• [42:34] - Ephesians 1:17 – Knowing God Better
• [44:33] - God’s Grace: More Than a Cliché
• [46:34] - Once Dead, Now Alive: Ephesians 2
• [49:17] - Spiritual Zombies: Powerless Without Christ
• [54:36] - Made Alive With Christ
• [57:06] - Grace, Not Works: The Gift of Salvation
• [59:38] - Raised With Christ: The Power of Resurrection
• [61:38] - The Purpose: Showcasing God’s Grace
• [67:05] - God’s Handiwork: Created for Good Works
• [75:45] - Closing Prayer: Embracing Grace
• [79:00] - Giving: Basics of Generosity
• [81:41] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV) — > 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 body 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.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 2:1-3, how does Paul describe our spiritual condition before knowing Christ? What words or images does he use? ([47:51])
2. In verses 4-5, what does Paul say is the reason God made us alive with Christ? What motivated God to act? ([57:06])
3. What is the difference between being “resuscitated” and being “made alive” as described in the sermon? ([59:38])
4. According to verse 10, what are we created for in Christ Jesus? How does the sermon illustrate this with examples from the church community? ([01:07:05])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon compares our pre-Christ state to being “spiritual zombies.” What does this analogy help us understand about our inability to save ourselves? ([49:17])
2. The pastor said, “Even our ability to respond to God is itself a result of His grace awakening us from spiritual death.” How does this challenge the idea that we can earn or initiate our own salvation? ([01:05:44])
3. The resurrection of Jesus is described as the foundation of our new life. How does knowing that the same power that raised Christ is at work in us change the way we view our struggles or weaknesses? ([01:00:58])
4. The sermon says our lives are meant to “showcase” God’s grace, especially in hardship. Why might God choose to display His grace most clearly in our pain or challenges? ([01:09:00])

Application Questions

1. The sermon used the image of “toast and peanut butter” to remind us to return to the basics of faith. What are some “basics” of your faith that you tend to forget or overlook? How can you intentionally return to them this week? ([41:12])
2. The pastor said, “We were all under the sway of sin and the ruler of this world, unable to resist or break free.” Are there areas in your life where you still feel powerless? How can you invite God’s grace into those areas? ([48:29])
3. Since salvation is a gift and not a reward for good behavior, how does this truth affect the way you view yourself and others, especially when you or they fail? ([57:06])
4. The sermon emphasized that our good works are prepared in advance by God. What is one “good work” you sense God has given you to do in this season? How can you take a step toward it this week? ([01:09:39])
5. The pastor shared stories of people in the church whose lives displayed God’s grace. Who in your life has been an example of God’s handiwork? How can you thank or encourage them this week? ([01:13:42])
6. The message said, “Humility is the mark of those made alive by grace.” In what situations do you find it hardest to be humble? What would it look like to respond with humility in those moments? ([01:06:26])
7. The sermon called us to “be strong in the Lord and let his grace shine through your life.” What is one practical way you can let God’s grace shine through you at home, work, or in your community this week? ([45:53])