Transformed by Christ: The Power of His Sacrifice
Summary
In Ephesians 2:13, Paul presents a profound contrast between our past and present states, emphasizing the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. Once alienated and distant from God, we are now brought near through the blood of Christ. This passage highlights the greatness of our salvation, urging us to recognize the immense power and love of God in our lives. The Apostle Paul seeks to remind us of the stark difference between being without Christ and being in Christ, underscoring that this transformation is not a result of our own efforts or morality but solely through Christ's sacrifice.
The sermon delves into the futility of relying on personal goodness, moral deeds, or religious practices to draw near to God. It emphasizes that no amount of personal righteousness or religious observance can bridge the gap between humanity and God. Instead, it is only through the blood of Christ that we are reconciled to God. This is the heart of the Christian message: the necessity of Christ's sacrificial death for our redemption.
The sermon also addresses common misconceptions, such as the belief that one can approach God through mysticism or by simply acknowledging God's love. It stresses that without the atoning sacrifice of Christ, these approaches fall short. The blood of Christ is essential for expiation and the ratification of the New Covenant, which assures us of forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
Ultimately, the message is a call to rely entirely on Christ's merits and His sacrificial death. It is through His blood that we have access to God, and it is this assurance that should lead us to approach God with boldness, yet with reverence and godly fear.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Greatness of Salvation: Our salvation in Christ is a profound transformation from being far off to being brought near to God. This change is not due to our own efforts but is a testament to the power and love of God. Recognizing this should lead to joy, assurance, and thanksgiving. [02:33]
2. The Futility of Self-Reliance: Relying on personal goodness, morality, or religious practices to approach God is a denial of the gospel. True nearness to God is not achieved through our deeds but through the blood of Christ. [08:07]
3. The Necessity of Christ's Sacrifice: The blood of Christ is central to our reconciliation with God. It is not merely His teachings or example that bring us near, but His sacrificial death, which atones for our sins and ratifies the New Covenant. [22:37]
4. Misconceptions About Approaching God: Approaches such as mysticism or simply acknowledging God's love without Christ's sacrifice are insufficient. The only way to God is through Christ and His atoning blood. [16:53]
5. Boldness Through Christ's Blood: We are encouraged to approach God with boldness, knowing that our sins are covered by Christ's blood. This assurance allows us to maintain fellowship with God, even when we fall into sin. [43:58]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:13
- [00:30] - The Contrast of Past and Present
- [01:10] - The Greatness of Salvation
- [02:00] - The Struggle of Self-Perception
- [03:06] - The Absolute Difference in Christ
- [04:33] - How We Are Made Nigh
- [05:56] - The Foundation of Christian Faith
- [06:50] - The Futility of Self-Reliance
- [09:27] - Misconceptions About Good Deeds
- [12:50] - The Insufficiency of Mysticism
- [16:53] - The Necessity of Christ's Blood
- [22:37] - The Theology of Blood
- [28:48] - The Role of Expiation
- [34:47] - The New Covenant Ratified by Blood
- [39:54] - Boldness Through Christ's Blood
- [46:49] - Assurance in Christ's Merits
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:13
- Hebrews 9:14
- John 14:6
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Ephesians 2:13 say about our past and present states in relation to God? How does this verse highlight the role of Christ's blood in our transformation? [00:10]
2. According to the sermon, what are some common misconceptions about how we can draw near to God? [16:53]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between being "far off" and being "made nigh" to God? [01:10]
4. What does the sermon say about the role of personal goodness and religious practices in our relationship with God? [07:08]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the necessity of Christ's sacrificial death for our reconciliation with God? Why is this central to the Christian faith? [22:37]
2. In what ways does the sermon challenge the belief that acknowledging God's love is sufficient for salvation? How does this relate to the necessity of Christ's blood? [26:41]
3. How does the sermon interpret the concept of "boldness" in approaching God through Christ's blood? What does this mean for believers today? [43:58]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the insufficiency of mysticism and other approaches to God without Christ's sacrifice? [16:53]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there ways in which you have relied on personal goodness or religious practices to feel closer to God? How can you shift your focus to rely more on Christ's sacrifice? [07:08]
2. The sermon emphasizes the transformative power of being "in Christ." How can you remind yourself daily of this transformation and live in the assurance of your salvation? [01:10]
3. Consider the misconceptions about approaching God mentioned in the sermon. Have you ever held any of these beliefs? How can you align your understanding with the message of the gospel? [16:53]
4. The sermon calls for boldness in approaching God through Christ's blood. What practical steps can you take to approach God with both boldness and reverence in your daily prayer life? [43:58]
5. How can you share the message of the necessity of Christ's sacrifice with someone who may have misconceptions about how to approach God? What specific conversation or action could you initiate this week? [22:37]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How does understanding the role of Christ's blood in bringing you near change your perspective on that experience? [00:10]
7. The sermon discusses the importance of the New Covenant ratified by Christ's blood. How can this understanding impact the way you participate in communion and other acts of worship? [37:50]
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of Salvation
In Ephesians 2:13, Paul emphasizes the profound transformation that occurs when one is brought near to God through the blood of Christ. This transformation is not a result of personal effort or moral deeds but is solely due to the power and love of God. Recognizing the greatness of our salvation should lead to a life filled with joy, assurance, and thanksgiving. The contrast between our past state of alienation and our present state of nearness to God highlights the immense grace we have received. This understanding should inspire a deep sense of gratitude and a desire to live in a way that reflects the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. [02:33]
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV): "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."
Reflection: Think about a specific area in your life where you have experienced transformation through Christ. How can you express gratitude for this change today?
Day 2: The Futility of Self-Reliance
The sermon highlights the futility of relying on personal goodness, morality, or religious practices to draw near to God. Such efforts are a denial of the gospel, which teaches that true nearness to God is achieved only through the blood of Christ. No amount of personal righteousness or religious observance can bridge the gap between humanity and God. This understanding calls for a complete reliance on Christ's sacrifice rather than on our own efforts. It challenges us to examine areas in our lives where we might be tempted to rely on our own strength and to instead place our trust fully in Christ. [08:07]
Isaiah 64:6 (ESV): "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."
Reflection: Identify a specific area where you tend to rely on your own strength rather than on Christ. What steps can you take today to shift your reliance to Him?
Day 3: The Centrality of Christ's Sacrifice
The necessity of Christ's sacrificial death is central to the Christian message. It is not merely His teachings or example that bring us near to God, but His blood, which atones for our sins and ratifies the New Covenant. This understanding underscores the importance of Christ's sacrifice in our reconciliation with God. It calls us to appreciate the depth of His love and the cost of our redemption. By focusing on the centrality of Christ's sacrifice, we are reminded of the assurance and hope we have in Him. [22:37]
Hebrews 9:14 (ESV): "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
Reflection: Reflect on the significance of Christ's sacrifice in your life. How does this understanding impact the way you live and serve others today?
Day 4: Misconceptions About Approaching God
The sermon addresses common misconceptions about approaching God, such as relying on mysticism or simply acknowledging God's love without Christ's sacrifice. These approaches fall short because the only way to God is through Christ and His atoning blood. This understanding challenges us to examine our beliefs and practices, ensuring they align with the truth of the gospel. It calls us to reject any approach that minimizes the necessity of Christ's sacrifice and to embrace the fullness of the gospel message. [16:53]
John 14:6 (ESV): "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Reflection: Consider any beliefs or practices you hold that might not fully align with the gospel. How can you realign your approach to God through Christ today?
Day 5: Boldness Through Christ's Blood
The assurance of being covered by Christ's blood allows us to approach God with boldness. This boldness is not based on our own merits but on the confidence that our sins are forgiven through Christ's sacrifice. It encourages us to maintain fellowship with God, even when we fall into sin, knowing that we are reconciled to Him. This understanding should lead us to approach God with both boldness and reverence, trusting in His grace and mercy. [43:58]
Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
Reflection: In what ways can you approach God with boldness and reverence today, trusting in the assurance of Christ's sacrifice?
Quotes
The Apostle here gives us the positive that contrasts with the negative of that previous verse and we remind ourselves again that his object is once more to show us the greatness of our Salvation in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That's his object that's what he is writing about he wants to display to these Ephesians for their edification and for their comfort the exceeding greatness of the power of God toward them. [00:01:10]
The trouble with Christian people always is that we fail to realize the greatness of this salvation that is why these new testament Epistles were written they are written to Christians but they were necessary because these people like ourselves being Still In the Flesh and being subject to The Temptations and the trials that are inevitable in a world of sin were constantly looking at themselves apart from Christ and failing to realize what exactly was true of them in Christ Jesus. [00:01:47]
The Apostle deals with it at the end of the verse but now in Christ Jesus he who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Here it is once more here is the statement which will always be found everywhere in the New Testament in in this connection we've already seen it the Apostle has already told us in the first chapter in the seventh verse in whom in Christ in other words we have Redemption through his blood the Forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. [00:04:49]
Our Gospel is a gospel of blood blood is the foundation without it there is nothing therefore we must go into this and emphasize the things which the Apostle is so concerned to emphasize in writing thus to the Ephesians we therefore start with our negative how do we draw near unto God what right am I to seek God's face and to come near unto God how do I do it well first and foremost it is not because I am what I am it is not because of Any goodness that is in me. [00:06:30]
There is no greater denial of the Christian faith the Christian message than to think that because you are a good person you have a right to go to God In Prayer that is an an utter absolute denial of it all if that were true Christ need never have come into the world at all still less need he have died upon the cross on calvary's hill and yet I think you'll all agree that it's essential to emphasize this. [00:08:00]
It is not because of uh Good Deeds that we do to others there are many who take up that position they say well of course I admit that I'm not perfect but after all I'm trying to make up for that I'm trying to atone for that by doing good I'm engaged in Phil philanthropic activities I try to help others I go out of my way to do that now I think you'll agree once more that here again is a large group of people. [00:09:35]
The Apostle Paul was a highly religious man before his conversion, Martin Luther was a highly religious man before his conversion, John Wesley was a highly religious man before his conversion you can be fasting and sweating and praying and that may be the greatest obstacle to coming nigh unto God that's not the way and lastly under this heading of negatives I would indicate that the way to draw nigh unto God is not the way of mysticism. [00:12:27]
The essence of that teaching is that one rarely can approach God and find God and draw nigh unto God directly without anything else at all now this takes certain popular forms there are people for instance who teach teach it like this they say if you are in trouble about your life if things are not going well with you if you don't quite know what to do with yourself or in your circumstances now this is the thing is quite simple all you've got to do is to start listening to God just where you are and as you are. [00:15:01]
The new message is this that whereas men had failed completely God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself or take the words of the Lord Jesus Christ isn't it astounding that having open Bibles in front of us that we can still go on trying to discover God and drawing nigh to him in the ways I've been indicating when the Son of God himself said this I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the father but by me. [00:18:48]
The blood of Christ means the death of Christ in other words we are made n in Christ Jesus not by his teaching he did teach he taught men how to live take The Sermon on the Mount but if he'd left it at that I should be as far away from God this morning as a man could ever be by the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and is telling me how to live he does not bring me near to God yeah let me say it again there he drives me further away. [00:24:19]
The blood of Christ makes experation for our sins now the whole idea here is this you remember that momentous statement made by John the Baptist at the very beginning of our Lord's Ministry behold he said look at him Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the whole world there it is for you in a single phrase the Lord Jesus Christ what is he he's the lamb the Pascal lamb the Lamb of sacrifice. [00:28:58]
The blood of Jesus speaketh better things than that of Abel what does it speak it speaks of Pardon it speaks of experation it speaks of peace with God it It's shouting out it's crying out unto you I have died you can live the punishment has been born you are free have you listen to the blood of Jesus it's speaking and speaking better things than the blood of Abel listen to the blood of Christ as he tells you that he's tasted death for you and born your punishment. [00:41:17]
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