Unsearchable Riches of Grace Through Christ
Summary
In the second chapter of Ephesians, Paul speaks of the "exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." This passage encapsulates the essence of the gospel and the Christmas message. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the immeasurable power of God, which is demonstrated through the resurrection and exaltation of Christ. This power is not only historical but also spiritual, as it transforms believers, raising them to sit in heavenly places with Christ. The ultimate purpose of this divine plan is to display God's glory and grace throughout all ages.
The phrase "through Christ Jesus" is central to understanding the gospel. It underscores that all blessings and grace from God are mediated through Christ. This truth is often overlooked, as many seek God's blessings without acknowledging Christ. However, the essence of Christianity is that God deals with humanity exclusively through Christ. This is affirmed by Christ's own words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me."
The sermon delves into the mystery of God's grace, particularly from the perspective of the Father and the Son. The Father’s act of sending His Son into the world is a profound demonstration of grace. It cost God dearly, as He did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all. This act of giving is not just a transaction but a deep, sacrificial love that surpasses human understanding.
From the Son's perspective, the incarnation involved a voluntary decision to lay aside the privileges of divine glory. Christ, though equal with God, chose to make Himself of no reputation, taking on human form and enduring the limitations and sufferings of earthly life. This self-emptying act is a testament to the unsearchable riches of God's grace.
The angels themselves are astonished by this divine plan. They marvel at the incarnation, the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and the salvation of humanity. This cosmic display of grace is not only for humanity but also a revelation to the heavenly beings, showcasing the manifold wisdom of God.
Key Takeaways:
- The phrase "through Christ Jesus" is central to the gospel, emphasizing that all divine blessings are mediated through Christ. This truth is foundational to Christianity, as it affirms that God interacts with humanity exclusively through His Son. [09:25]
- The Father's act of sending His Son is a profound demonstration of grace, involving a deep, sacrificial love that surpasses human understanding. This act cost God dearly, as He did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all. [22:18]
- The incarnation involved Christ voluntarily laying aside the privileges of divine glory. Though equal with God, He chose to make Himself of no reputation, taking on human form and enduring earthly sufferings. This self-emptying act is a testament to the unsearchable riches of God's grace. [28:52]
- The angels are astonished by the divine plan of salvation, marveling at the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ. This cosmic display of grace reveals the manifold wisdom of God, not only to humanity but also to the heavenly beings. [43:10]
- The gospel is a literal, historical fact, not a philosophical idea or poetic conception. The life, death, and resurrection of Christ are concrete events that demonstrate the exceeding riches of God's grace and His kindness toward us. [37:24]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:7
- [00:33] - The Riches of God's Grace
- [01:14] - Through Christ Jesus
- [02:15] - The Power of God in Believers
- [03:36] - God's Purpose in Salvation
- [05:12] - Displaying God's Glory
- [06:32] - The Centrality of Christ
- [09:25] - The Essence of Christianity
- [12:29] - The Mystery of God's Grace
- [19:43] - The Father's Sacrifice
- [26:13] - The Son's Incarnation
- [32:32] - The Angels' Astonishment
- [37:24] - The Reality of the Gospel
- [45:46] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:4-7
- John 14:6
- Philippians 2:5-11
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean by the "exceeding riches of His grace" in Ephesians 2:7, and how is this grace demonstrated "through Christ Jesus"? [00:09]
2. How does the sermon describe the transformation of believers in relation to Christ's resurrection and exaltation? [03:54]
3. According to the sermon, why is the phrase "through Christ Jesus" emphasized repeatedly by Paul? [06:32]
4. What role do the angels play in understanding the divine plan of salvation, as mentioned in the sermon? [43:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of God dealing with humanity exclusively through Christ challenge or affirm your understanding of Christianity? [09:25]
2. In what ways does the Father's act of sending His Son reflect a "deep, sacrificial love," and how does this impact our view of grace? [22:18]
3. How does the voluntary nature of Christ's incarnation and His decision to lay aside divine privileges deepen our appreciation of His sacrifice? [28:52]
4. Why might the angels be astonished by the plan of salvation, and what does this reveal about the manifold wisdom of God? [43:10]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the phrase "through Christ Jesus." How does this understanding influence your daily walk with God, and are there areas where you might be seeking blessings apart from Christ? [09:25]
2. Consider the sacrificial love of the Father in sending His Son. How can you demonstrate sacrificial love in your relationships this week? [22:18]
3. Christ chose to lay aside His divine privileges for our sake. Is there something you hold onto that you need to lay aside to serve others better? [28:52]
4. The angels marvel at God's plan of salvation. How can you cultivate a sense of wonder and gratitude for your salvation in your daily life? [43:10]
5. The sermon emphasizes the historical reality of the gospel. How can you share the concrete events of Christ's life, death, and resurrection with someone who views Christianity as merely philosophical? [37:24]
6. How does understanding the cost of God's grace change the way you view your own sacrifices and acts of service? [22:18]
7. Identify one way you can display God's glory and grace in your community this week. What specific action will you take to make this happen? [05:12]
Devotional
Day 1: Christ as the Mediator of Divine Blessings
The phrase "through Christ Jesus" is central to the gospel, emphasizing that all divine blessings are mediated through Christ. This truth is foundational to Christianity, as it affirms that God interacts with humanity exclusively through His Son. Many people seek God's blessings without acknowledging Christ, but the essence of Christianity is that God deals with humanity exclusively through Christ. This is affirmed by Christ's own words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." Understanding this centrality of Christ is crucial for a true grasp of the gospel. [09:25]
Ephesians 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him."
Reflection: In what ways can you consciously acknowledge Christ as the mediator of God's blessings in your daily prayers and actions today?
Day 2: The Father's Sacrificial Love
The Father's act of sending His Son is a profound demonstration of grace, involving a deep, sacrificial love that surpasses human understanding. This act cost God dearly, as He did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all. The depth of this love is not just a transaction but a profound, sacrificial love that is beyond human comprehension. It is a love that calls for a response of gratitude and awe from us. [22:18]
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Reflection: How can you express gratitude for the Father's sacrificial love in a tangible way today?
Day 3: The Self-Emptying of Christ
The incarnation involved Christ voluntarily laying aside the privileges of divine glory. Though equal with God, He chose to make Himself of no reputation, taking on human form and enduring earthly sufferings. This self-emptying act is a testament to the unsearchable riches of God's grace. It is a profound mystery that the divine would choose to become human, to suffer, and to die for the sake of humanity. This act of humility and love is central to understanding the depth of God's grace. [28:52]
Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV): "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can practice self-emptying and humility in imitation of Christ today?
Day 4: The Angels' Marvel at Salvation
The angels are astonished by the divine plan of salvation, marveling at the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ. This cosmic display of grace reveals the manifold wisdom of God, not only to humanity but also to the heavenly beings. The angels, who are witnesses to God's glory, are in awe of the grace extended to humanity. This perspective invites us to see the gospel not just as a personal story but as a cosmic revelation of God's wisdom and grace. [43:10]
1 Peter 1:12 (ESV): "It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of awe and wonder at the gospel, similar to the angels' marvel, in your spiritual life today?
Day 5: The Historical Reality of the Gospel
The gospel is a literal, historical fact, not a philosophical idea or poetic conception. The life, death, and resurrection of Christ are concrete events that demonstrate the exceeding riches of God's grace and His kindness toward us. This historical reality is the foundation of our faith and the assurance of God's promises. It is important to remember that our faith is rooted in real events that have eternal significance. [37:24]
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV): "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures."
Reflection: How can you remind yourself of the historical reality of the gospel in your daily life, and how does this impact your faith and actions today?
Quotes
God in this whole plan of salvation is vindicating himself he is manifesting his glory now last Sunday morning we saw that God does this in and through us in his kindness toward us he's displaying his glory through the church he takes it up again you remember in the tenth verse of the next chapter the third chapter that the principalities and powers in the heavenly places might know through the church the manifold wisdom of God. [00:04:55]
The whole essence of Christianity is to say this that God deals with men and blesses men only in and through Christ Jesus everything comes through him now it would be a very simple method to prove that by endless quotations but take our Lord's own where I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me surely there ought to be enough in and of itself. [00:09:18]
The way in which we do things is oftentimes much more significant than the thing itself which we do and that is the whole truth about the way in which God blesses mankind through the Lord Jesus Christ now it would be a wonderful thing and an amazing thing and would be indicative of exceeding riches in God's grace that he should bless us at all. [00:13:15]
What God has done for us through Christ Jesus has cost God has cost God look at it I say from the standpoint of the father these are the terms that of you when the fullness of the times was come God sent forth his own son made of a woman made under the law I'm interested in the sending fault. [00:19:19]
He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things look at that great word in the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the notice the terms he didn't spare him his God passable or impassable what does that word spare me God the Father knew what was necessary before the way of salvation could be made. [00:21:52]
There he was in the eternal glory in the bosom of the Father coequal Co eternal sharing the glory of God in all its fullness you know what your salvation meant first of all to the son it meant this it meant a decision not to hold on to all the privileges and the signs of that eternal glory he counted it not a robbery to be equal with God says this authorized version. [00:26:41]
He deliberately decided that he would for the time being lay that aside not lay the Godhead aside he couldn't do that he didn't lay the Godhead aside but he did lay the signs of the Godhead us aside and then you see after that first initial decision the second followed and of necessity he made himself of no reputation. [00:28:38]
He made himself still remaining what he was of no reputation there is no kenosis there is no evacuating himself of his Godhead it's impossible it's something much more wonderful than that it is this that he decided to make himself of no reputation though he is still the eternal son of God he came down on earth and he was born as a babe and he lived as a men he was still the same but he made himself of no reputation. [00:29:53]
The one through whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made that is made in the place whither lay his head head in the home of his own through Christ Jesus and then thinkable the buffeting and all the plotting against him the splitting in his face the arguing the attempts to trick him these are all facts my friends and we must concentrate on the facts we must come right back to them. [00:36:51]
We are not saved by a philosophy not by some beautiful idea not by some marvelous fantasy or some poetic conception no no these are literal hard solid facts he came down to earth and he went through all this for us men and for our salvation it is always a literal fact and then in the garden secretly sweating great drops of blood the unsearchable riches of His grace through Christ Jesus. [00:37:39]
The angels that sang in the morning of creation sang again on the morning of his birth never had heaven seen such a thing as this never had heaven such a theme as this as this astounding thing that big that was born whom they knew as the Lord thus the only begotten Son of the Father the one through whom all was created there he is lying as a helpless babe it's not surprising that they sang and hail Messiah's birth. [00:41:32]
The angels are amazed and they worship and they praise God as they see this manifestation this display this shine of the exceeding riches of God's grace not only the rebels miserable sinners such as human die should be quickened with a new spiritual life and raised again and made alive unto God and to be glorified and to spend our eternity in his presence that's amazing and they are marveling at that but it's when they consider the way that God has done it. [00:44:17]
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