June 13, 2024 • 21 mins
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What if your entire understanding of salvation could be transformed by grasping the true power of God's grace? Join us in our latest episode, “Dead in sin," where we promise to take you on a journey from spiritual death to life in Christ. We'll explore Ephesians 2:1-10, breaking down the monumental shift that occurs when we are made alive through God's sovereign choice, and how living as the temple of God, as taught by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:12-19, calls us to resist worldly influences. Expect to leave with a renewed perspective on how it's not our own efforts, but God's intervention and the work of the Holy Spirit, that empower us to overcome sin.
Ever wondered why God chooses to save humanity? In the chapter "God's Purpose for Saving Us," we tackle this profound question by delving into passages from Ephesians, 2 Timothy, and more. Discover the depth of God's grace and love, which is freely given through faith and not earned by works. We'll discuss the incredible significance of being seated with Christ in heavenly places, signifying our authority and power in Him. As we unravel our divine purpose to glorify God and partake in His nature, you'll understand how trials and tribulations are designed to mold us into His likeness, shifting our focus from fleeting worldly pleasures to eternal joy in Christ. Tune in for a transformative discussion that will deepen your understanding of God's magnificent plan for your life.
Please visit www.chosenbydesign.net for more information on Pastor Harry’s new book, "Chosen By Design - God’s Purpose for Your Life."
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, welcome back to the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and in today's episode
we're going to discuss ourposition prior to salvation,
before God indwelled us with HisSpirit and empowered us to
overcome sin.
As we look at Ephesians 2,verses 1-10.
In chapter 1, we learn aboutGod's purposeful choice to place
us into the body of Christ withthe intention that we would
(00:23):
glorify him and find fulfillmentin him.
As believers in Jesus Christ,we have a significant role in
this world, and we should alwayshold on to that truth.
Without doubt, our HeavenlyFather's love, adoption and
gifting of us enabled us toexperience the joy of the Lord.
This is not due to anything wehave accomplished, but rather it
(00:44):
is a result of God's work.
Paul expressed gratitude forthe believers in Ephesus because
of their authentic faith, whichwas evidenced by their
continuous support for oneanother through prayer and good
works.
We are also called to put ourfaith into action, to cultivate
the same assurance of being inChrist.
Otherwise, as we will soon seein this chapter, we could remain
(01:08):
spiritually lifeless andenslaved to our sins.
This is not the life that aChristian should lead.
Instead, it is meant to revealwhat we have been rescued from
and what we have been broughtinto.
We are now considered thetemple of God and should treat
ourselves accordingly.
Now considered the temple ofGod and should treat ourselves
(01:28):
accordingly.
1 Corinthians 6, verses 12 to 19.
All things are lawful for me,but not all things are helpful.
All things are lawful for me,but I will not be dominated by
anything.
Food is meant for the stomachand the stomach for food, and
God will destroy both one andthe other.
The body is not meant forsexual immorality, but for the
Lord, and the Lord for the body.
And God raised the Lord andwill also raise us up by his
power.
Do you not know that yourbodies are members of Christ?
(01:51):
Shall I then take the membersof Christ and make them members
of a prostitute?
Never.
Or do you not know that he whois joined to a prostitute
becomes one body with her, for,as it is written, the two will
become one flesh.
But he who is joined to theLord becomes one body with her,
for, as it is written, the twowill become one flesh.
But he who is joined to theLord becomes one spirit with him
.
Flee from sexual immorality.
(02:11):
Every other sin a personcommits is outside the body, but
sexually immoral person sinsagainst his own body, or do you
not know that your body is atemple of the Holy Spirit within
you?
(02:33):
We are called to conductourselves differently from the
people of the world as we havebeen made into the holy temple
of God.
Paul emphasizes the need forself-reflection and urges us to
assess our position in Christ.
We understood that we have beenselected for a specific purpose
in God's grand plan ofredemption, which is to bring
glory to himself.
(02:53):
In chapter 2, paul continues tostress this idea by making it
clear that we were spirituallydead due to our sins, and it is
only through God's grace that wehave been saved.
Throughout history, humans havesought spiritual fulfillment
through various means, oftenthrough religious practices
based on works.
This approach involves doingwhat we believe God expects of
(03:16):
us, with the expectation ofreceiving a place in the
heavenly realm in return.
The concept of free will andthe idea that we choose to
respond to God is an extensionof this mindset, placing the
power in our hands.
This human-centered beliefsystem denies God's sovereignty
and control over all things.
We were not created to fulfilla need that God had, but rather
(03:39):
we were created for his glory.
Paul emphasizes our previousstate before being chosen to
serve this purpose, making itexplicitly clear that it was God
who chose us and we could nothave chosen to follow Him on our
own.
Ephesians 2, verses 1-3.
And you were dead in thetrespasses and sins in which you
(04:01):
once walked, following thecourse of this world, following
the prince of the power of theair, the spirit that is now at
work in the sons of disobedienceamong whom we all once lived in
the passions of our flesh,carrying out the desires of the
body and the mind, and were, bynature, children of wrath like
the rest of mankind.
(04:21):
Paul emphasizes the profoundtruth that we were once dead in
our sins, unable to bringourselves to life.
It is only through the divineact of God that we have been
made alive in Christ, as statedin chapter 1.
Satan, the prince of the powerof the air, works tirelessly to
deceive and lead people astray,especially believers, causing
doubt and lack of assurance intheir position with God.
(04:44):
However, it is God's desire forus to have full assurance of
our place with Him, as this iswhere the power of the Holy
Spirit works to overcome theworld and the evil one.
Recognizing this is crucial, asit strips Satan of his power
over us as he uses everything athis disposal to prevent us from
(05:10):
realizing this truth Luke 10,19,.
In verse 3, it's crystal clearthat we all used to live
according to the desires of theflesh, willingly following the
deceptive waves of the world.
The deceptive waves of theworld.
When someone claims I choseJesus, they're actually mistaken
(05:31):
, believing for choosing becauseit was God who instilled the
belief in them, while their truechoice was to live for their
own desires.
There was no part of God thatthey actively sought or desired.
Let me make this abundantlyclear you didn't choose God.
He chose you, saved you,rescued you, empowered you and
(05:51):
protected you.
Without his intervention, youwould have returned to serving
your fleshly desires.
Knowledge alone doesn't savepeople.
It's the Spirit of God thatdoes, and it's a gift from God,
not a mere illusion or somethingthat could be acquired through
personal means.
Acts 8, 18-24.
(06:13):
Now, when Simon saw that theSpirit was given through the
laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying
Give me this power also, so thatanyone on whom I lay my hands
may receive the Holy Spirit.
But Peter said to him May yoursilver perish with you, because
you thought you could obtain thegift of God with money.
You have neither part nor lotin this matter, for your heart
(06:36):
is not right before God.
Repent, therefore, of thiswickedness of yours and pray to
the Lord that, if possible, theintent of your heart may be
forgiven you and Simon answered.
Peter said and Simon said youwould be forgiven.
(07:06):
It's only possible if Godgrants forgiveness based on his
electing power.
There has to be a work of Godfor it to be genuine and not of
flesh and blood, as we will seein verse 9.
It's important to regularlyassess our commitment to our
faith.
If we find that our faith islacking, we should follow the
example Peter gave Simon andhumbly seek forgiveness through
(07:27):
prayer.
2 Corinthians 13 5.
Examine yourselves to seewhether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves or do you notrealize this about yourselves
that Jesus Christ is in you,unless, indeed, you fail to meet
the test?
If the thought of failing thetest worries you, then rest
(07:55):
assured you are in the faith.
Those who are dead will noteven.
One of the main strugglespeople have with election is
worrying about whether or notthey have been saved.
That is the same issue thosewho believe in free will also
have.
How do they know if theirdecision to follow Jesus was
genuine From the electionstandpoint, how do we know if we
are chosen?
In either case, the evidence isthat you confess Jesus as your
(08:18):
Lord and Savior, repent fromyour sins and humble yourself to
submit to a life glorifying Him.
The test of faith willdetermine if you have genuine
saving faith or a works-basedfaith that will leave you empty
and wanting.
Those who fail the test willeventually return to their old
way of living, and those whodon't take the test were never
saved to begin with.
(08:38):
Only a true believer will careto test their faith and endure
the trials and tribulations thatcome their way to refine it.
2 Peter 2, 15-22.
Forsaking the right way, theyhave gone astray.
They have followed the way ofBalaam, the son of Baor, who
loved gain for wrongdoing butwas rebuked for his own
(08:59):
transgression.
A speechless donkey spoke withhuman voice and restrained the
prophet's madness.
These are waterless springs andmists driven by a storm.
For them, the gloom of utterdarkness has been reserved For
(09:19):
speaking loud boasts of folly.
They entice by sensual passionsof the flesh those who are
barely escaping from those wholive in error.
They promise them freedom, butthey themselves are slaves of
corruption, for whateverovercomes a person to that he is
enslaved For.
If, after they have escaped thedefilements of the world
through the knowledge of ourLord and Savior, jesus Christ,
they are again entangled in themand overcome, the last state
(09:46):
has become worse for them thanthe first, for it would have
been better for them never tohave known the way of
righteousness.
I want to be clear.
That is not about someonelosing their salvation, as they
(10:16):
never had it in the first place.
Instead, they only had theappearance of a religious person
.
Their heart was never convertedand they either do things in
works, try to earn their way toGod, or be deceptive for selfish
gain.
In either case, they were in aposition to hear the word but
were never truly transformed byit, and they ended up going back
(10:39):
to the vomit or mire from whichthey came.
The last state is worse thanthe first because they will be
judged on the truth that theyheard and would have been better
off never hearing in the firstplace.
When we are transformed insalvation, we become a new man.
But notice, these individualsare called swine.
They were cleaned up but nevertransformed.
(11:00):
So they do what is natural andthey return to their mire.
Our world is currently filledwith evangelists who preach a
deluded version of the gospel,devoid of power.
Instead, they offer a messageof prosperity that fails to
bring about any realtransformation in the listener.
This approach merely appeals topeople because it aligns with
their desires.
The authentic gospel, on theother hand, confronts the values
(11:24):
of this world and brings abouta profound change in individuals
through the influence of theHoly Spirit.
This transformation leadspeople to renounce the ways of
the world and live for God.
This is the reason why devotedbelievers around the globe are
willing to sacrifice their livesfor the sake of the gospel,
while still praising God.
Such a profound change is atestament to the genuine impact
(11:45):
of the gospel.
But why would God even bother tosave us when all we are
deserving of is death?
Ephesians 2, 4-7.
But God, being rich in mercybecause of the great love with
which he loved us even when wewere dead in our trespasses,
made us alive together withChrist.
(12:06):
By grace, you have been savedand raised us up with him and
seated us with him in theheavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming ages hemight show the immeasurable
riches of his grace and kindnesstoward us.
In Christ Jesus.
Did you catch that?
God's grace has saved you.
That comes from his great lovefor you.
(12:27):
Even though you were dead, hemade us alive in Christ, not of
anything we did, but by grace,which is getting something you
don't deserve On top of that.
As if it wouldn't be enough tobe freed from sin and saved from
death, he then raised us withJesus and seated us with him in
the heavenly places.
Again, he didn't say he wouldseat us.
(12:49):
He said we are seated as we arecurrently present.
Right now, today.
We are seated with him.
Now you will ask how can I beif I am still in this world?
Because it's not a place, it'sa position.
You are seated with him, inpower and authority to rule with
(13:09):
him.
2 Timothy 2.11.
The saying is trustworthy, forif we have died with him, we
will also live with him.
If we endure, we will alsoreign with him.
If we deny him, he also willdeny us.
If we are faithless, he remainsfaithful, for he cannot deny
himself.
Ephesians 2.8-9,.
(13:31):
For by grace you have been savedthrough faith, and this is not
your own doing.
It is the gift of God, not aresult of works, so that no one
may boast.
Again, paul is clarifying thatyour salvation was a gift of God
and not of works of any kind.
(13:51):
It was by faith, and even thatfaith was given to you by God so
that you could believe.
To emphasize that, paul says sothat no one can boast.
The idea here is that yourecognize that you can't boast
about anything except Christ andHim crucified.
Galatians 6.14.
(14:12):
But far be it from me to boastexcept in the cross of our Lord,
jesus Christ, by which theworld has been crucified to me
and I to the world.
And 1 Corinthians 2.2, for Idecided to know nothing among
you except Jesus Christ and Himcrucified.
Now, if salvation has beengiven to you, you can be assured
(14:33):
you can't lose it either.
Philippians 1.6.
So for what purpose did God saveus?
We know the why because heloved us.
But for what purpose?
Ephesians 2.10,.
For we are his workmanship,created in Christ Jesus for good
(14:56):
works which God preparedbeforehand that we should walk
in them.
Workmanship in Latin is poeum,where we get the word poem.
That could be translated as weare his poem.
How beautiful is that?
We aren't just something Godthrew together because he was
bored and needed something to do.
(15:17):
We are part of his grand designin creation to glorify himself,
and not just outwardly.
He is sharing his glory, orshould I say expressing it in us
and through us, so that wecould participate in it.
God wants us to be satisfied inhim and take great pleasure in
him.
He did not create us because hewas lacking anything or needed
(15:37):
someone to love or love him.
He is and always will beself-satisfied in himself and
lack nothing.
Acts 17, 24 to 25.
The God who made the world andeverything in it, being Lord of
heaven and earth, does not livein temples made by man, nor is
he served by human hands asthough he needed anything, since
(16:00):
he himself gives to all mankindlife and breath and everything.
However, because of his natureto give share and love, he
creates human beings to sharethe fullness of joy with us.
That is his nature, notsomething he lacks and wants to
fill, but something thatoverflows from his character.
(16:22):
We are a result of his greatlove, manifested through his
mercy, grace and power towardsus.
How amazing is that?
That should blow your mind whenyou think about it.
The God of the universe createdyou so that he could share
himself with you and that youshould be satisfied in him.
That's probably not somethingyou have heard or has never sunk
(16:46):
in.
Hopefully.
Today is the day that it will.
God created you to glorifyhimself, which is to express
himself in us and through us,and, as a result, we have an
opportunity to experience thesame fullness of joy that Jesus
has in the Father.
2 Peter 1, 3-4.
His divine power has granted tous all things that pertain to
(17:08):
life and godliness, through theknowledge of him, who called us
to his own glory and excellence,by which he has granted to us
his precious and very greatpromises so that, through them,
you may become partakers of thedivine nature, having escaped
from the corruption that is inthe world because of sinful
desire.
Did you catch that in verse 4?
(17:29):
So that we may become partakersof the divine nature.
Did you catch that in verse 4?
So that we may become partakersof the divine nature?
That's His nature, that's God'spurpose for doing all that he
does.
Everything we go through, allthe suffering, trials and
tribulations in this world aredesigned so that you can take
part in His divine nature.
We often want the pleasures ofthis world as proof that God
loves us, but in reality, as wejust learned, that is your sin
(17:58):
nature trying to get what itwants.
Jesus didn't come into thisworld to obtain or experience
the pleasures of it.
He came to get what rightlybelongs to him, that which the
Father gave him.
He came and redeemed back tohimself so that we who are his
will be where he is and that ourjoy may be full in him.
That should be the greatestnews you have ever heard.
If you are a believer in ChristJesus, our Lord, your
sufferings are not designed topunish you, but purify you and
(18:22):
sanctify you, so that you willbecome more like Jesus and
submit to the Father, who wantsto share his divine nature with
you.
If everything were to goperfect in your life, you would
never get on your knees and prayand ask Him for help.
That is the position he wantsus in to ensure that we ask for
Him to rescue us, so that we mayknow Him and how much he loves
(18:44):
us.
Psalm 50, 15,.
Pray to me.
I will deliver you and theresult will be that you will
glorify me.
Psalm 73, 25 to 26.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earththat I desire beside you, my
(19:04):
flesh and my heart may fail, butGod is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Let's pray, father.
God, thank you so much for yourword.
Thank you for the truth, theinsight and the inspiration that
you show us and teach us thatit's all about your glory.
(19:25):
You show us and teach us thatit's all about your glory, that
you are expressing your love,your forgiveness and your power
in us and through us.
Father, there is nothing we canoffer you of ourselves.
We are sinful, broken,worthless people in the flesh.
(19:46):
There is nothing we can offeryou, and everything that we have
that is good and can be offeredto you is from you in the first
place.
It's because of the sacrificethat Jesus made on the cross
that we have access to you onthe throne by the empowering of
the Holy Spirit.
Father, I pray that you openour eyes today.
(20:07):
You will touch the hearts ofour listeners, that they will
know that their purpose is tolive for your glory, to praise
you all their days, and that youpromise that they will find
fullness of joy in you.
Father, we love you and wethank you in Jesus' name, amen.
(20:28):
I want to thank you for joiningus today and I hope this
message helped you take a stepcloser in your relationship with
Jesus and that you have abetter understanding of just how
much God loves you and wantsyou to know him.
In our next episode, we're goingto look at the method God used
to construct the church topresent our holy and blameless
before him.
Not only did he raise us fromthe dead with Christ, but he is
(20:49):
sanctifying us and preparing usto rule and reign with him for
eternity.
The church is God's method ofdoing that and, as we will see,
he has given us everything weneed to be equipped for this
life.
And before we go, I want toencourage you to visit us at the
takeawayfaith.
On our website, you can sign upto receive email notifications
or send us a text message fromthe link provided in the
(21:10):
description of this episode.
We hope that you would use thispodcast as a resource to help
others and that you would sendus a message, a word of
encouragement or any questionsor comments, as we would love to
hear from you.
God bless, and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
Goodbye.
Hello, welcome back to the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and in today's episode
we're going to discuss ourposition prior to salvation,
before God indwelled us with HisSpirit and empowered us to
overcome sin.
As we look at Ephesians 2,verses 1-10.
In chapter 1, we learn aboutGod's purposeful choice to place
us into the body of Christ withthe intention that we would
(00:23):
glorify him and find fulfillmentin him.
As believers in Jesus Christ,we have a significant role in
this world, and we should alwayshold on to that truth.
Without doubt, our HeavenlyFather's love, adoption and
gifting of us enabled us toexperience the joy of the Lord.
This is not due to anything wehave accomplished, but rather it
(00:44):
is a result of God's work.
Paul expressed gratitude forthe believers in Ephesus because
of their authentic faith, whichwas evidenced by their
continuous support for oneanother through prayer and good
works.
We are also called to put ourfaith into action, to cultivate
the same assurance of being inChrist.
Otherwise, as we will soon seein this chapter, we could remain
(01:08):
spiritually lifeless andenslaved to our sins.
This is not the life that aChristian should lead.
Instead, it is meant to revealwhat we have been rescued from
and what we have been broughtinto.
We are now considered thetemple of God and should treat
ourselves accordingly.
Now considered the temple ofGod and should treat ourselves
(01:28):
accordingly.
1 Corinthians 6, verses 12 to 19.
All things are lawful for me,but not all things are helpful.
All things are lawful for me,but I will not be dominated by
anything.
Food is meant for the stomachand the stomach for food, and
God will destroy both one andthe other.
The body is not meant forsexual immorality, but for the
Lord, and the Lord for the body.
And God raised the Lord andwill also raise us up by his
power.
Do you not know that yourbodies are members of Christ?
(01:51):
Shall I then take the membersof Christ and make them members
of a prostitute?
Never.
Or do you not know that he whois joined to a prostitute
becomes one body with her, for,as it is written, the two will
become one flesh.
But he who is joined to theLord becomes one body with her,
for, as it is written, the twowill become one flesh.
But he who is joined to theLord becomes one spirit with him
.
Flee from sexual immorality.
(02:11):
Every other sin a personcommits is outside the body, but
sexually immoral person sinsagainst his own body, or do you
not know that your body is atemple of the Holy Spirit within
you?
(02:33):
We are called to conductourselves differently from the
people of the world as we havebeen made into the holy temple
of God.
Paul emphasizes the need forself-reflection and urges us to
assess our position in Christ.
We understood that we have beenselected for a specific purpose
in God's grand plan ofredemption, which is to bring
glory to himself.
(02:53):
In chapter 2, paul continues tostress this idea by making it
clear that we were spirituallydead due to our sins, and it is
only through God's grace that wehave been saved.
Throughout history, humans havesought spiritual fulfillment
through various means, oftenthrough religious practices
based on works.
This approach involves doingwhat we believe God expects of
(03:16):
us, with the expectation ofreceiving a place in the
heavenly realm in return.
The concept of free will andthe idea that we choose to
respond to God is an extensionof this mindset, placing the
power in our hands.
This human-centered beliefsystem denies God's sovereignty
and control over all things.
We were not created to fulfilla need that God had, but rather
(03:39):
we were created for his glory.
Paul emphasizes our previousstate before being chosen to
serve this purpose, making itexplicitly clear that it was God
who chose us and we could nothave chosen to follow Him on our
own.
Ephesians 2, verses 1-3.
And you were dead in thetrespasses and sins in which you
(04:01):
once walked, following thecourse of this world, following
the prince of the power of theair, the spirit that is now at
work in the sons of disobedienceamong whom we all once lived in
the passions of our flesh,carrying out the desires of the
body and the mind, and were, bynature, children of wrath like
the rest of mankind.
(04:21):
Paul emphasizes the profoundtruth that we were once dead in
our sins, unable to bringourselves to life.
It is only through the divineact of God that we have been
made alive in Christ, as statedin chapter 1.
Satan, the prince of the powerof the air, works tirelessly to
deceive and lead people astray,especially believers, causing
doubt and lack of assurance intheir position with God.
(04:44):
However, it is God's desire forus to have full assurance of
our place with Him, as this iswhere the power of the Holy
Spirit works to overcome theworld and the evil one.
Recognizing this is crucial, asit strips Satan of his power
over us as he uses everything athis disposal to prevent us from
(05:10):
realizing this truth Luke 10,19,.
In verse 3, it's crystal clearthat we all used to live
according to the desires of theflesh, willingly following the
deceptive waves of the world.
The deceptive waves of theworld.
When someone claims I choseJesus, they're actually mistaken
(05:31):
, believing for choosing becauseit was God who instilled the
belief in them, while their truechoice was to live for their
own desires.
There was no part of God thatthey actively sought or desired.
Let me make this abundantlyclear you didn't choose God.
He chose you, saved you,rescued you, empowered you and
(05:51):
protected you.
Without his intervention, youwould have returned to serving
your fleshly desires.
Knowledge alone doesn't savepeople.
It's the Spirit of God thatdoes, and it's a gift from God,
not a mere illusion or somethingthat could be acquired through
personal means.
Acts 8, 18-24.
(06:13):
Now, when Simon saw that theSpirit was given through the
laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying
Give me this power also, so thatanyone on whom I lay my hands
may receive the Holy Spirit.
But Peter said to him May yoursilver perish with you, because
you thought you could obtain thegift of God with money.
You have neither part nor lotin this matter, for your heart
(06:36):
is not right before God.
Repent, therefore, of thiswickedness of yours and pray to
the Lord that, if possible, theintent of your heart may be
forgiven you and Simon answered.
Peter said and Simon said youwould be forgiven.
(07:06):
It's only possible if Godgrants forgiveness based on his
electing power.
There has to be a work of Godfor it to be genuine and not of
flesh and blood, as we will seein verse 9.
It's important to regularlyassess our commitment to our
faith.
If we find that our faith islacking, we should follow the
example Peter gave Simon andhumbly seek forgiveness through
(07:27):
prayer.
2 Corinthians 13 5.
Examine yourselves to seewhether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves or do you notrealize this about yourselves
that Jesus Christ is in you,unless, indeed, you fail to meet
the test?
If the thought of failing thetest worries you, then rest
(07:55):
assured you are in the faith.
Those who are dead will noteven.
One of the main strugglespeople have with election is
worrying about whether or notthey have been saved.
That is the same issue thosewho believe in free will also
have.
How do they know if theirdecision to follow Jesus was
genuine From the electionstandpoint, how do we know if we
are chosen?
In either case, the evidence isthat you confess Jesus as your
(08:18):
Lord and Savior, repent fromyour sins and humble yourself to
submit to a life glorifying Him.
The test of faith willdetermine if you have genuine
saving faith or a works-basedfaith that will leave you empty
and wanting.
Those who fail the test willeventually return to their old
way of living, and those whodon't take the test were never
saved to begin with.
(08:38):
Only a true believer will careto test their faith and endure
the trials and tribulations thatcome their way to refine it.
2 Peter 2, 15-22.
Forsaking the right way, theyhave gone astray.
They have followed the way ofBalaam, the son of Baor, who
loved gain for wrongdoing butwas rebuked for his own
(08:59):
transgression.
A speechless donkey spoke withhuman voice and restrained the
prophet's madness.
These are waterless springs andmists driven by a storm.
For them, the gloom of utterdarkness has been reserved For
(09:19):
speaking loud boasts of folly.
They entice by sensual passionsof the flesh those who are
barely escaping from those wholive in error.
They promise them freedom, butthey themselves are slaves of
corruption, for whateverovercomes a person to that he is
enslaved For.
If, after they have escaped thedefilements of the world
through the knowledge of ourLord and Savior, jesus Christ,
they are again entangled in themand overcome, the last state
(09:46):
has become worse for them thanthe first, for it would have
been better for them never tohave known the way of
righteousness.
I want to be clear.
That is not about someonelosing their salvation, as they
(10:16):
never had it in the first place.
Instead, they only had theappearance of a religious person
.
Their heart was never convertedand they either do things in
works, try to earn their way toGod, or be deceptive for selfish
gain.
In either case, they were in aposition to hear the word but
were never truly transformed byit, and they ended up going back
(10:39):
to the vomit or mire from whichthey came.
The last state is worse thanthe first because they will be
judged on the truth that theyheard and would have been better
off never hearing in the firstplace.
When we are transformed insalvation, we become a new man.
But notice, these individualsare called swine.
They were cleaned up but nevertransformed.
(11:00):
So they do what is natural andthey return to their mire.
Our world is currently filledwith evangelists who preach a
deluded version of the gospel,devoid of power.
Instead, they offer a messageof prosperity that fails to
bring about any realtransformation in the listener.
This approach merely appeals topeople because it aligns with
their desires.
The authentic gospel, on theother hand, confronts the values
(11:24):
of this world and brings abouta profound change in individuals
through the influence of theHoly Spirit.
This transformation leadspeople to renounce the ways of
the world and live for God.
This is the reason why devotedbelievers around the globe are
willing to sacrifice their livesfor the sake of the gospel,
while still praising God.
Such a profound change is atestament to the genuine impact
(11:45):
of the gospel.
But why would God even bother tosave us when all we are
deserving of is death?
Ephesians 2, 4-7.
But God, being rich in mercybecause of the great love with
which he loved us even when wewere dead in our trespasses,
made us alive together withChrist.
(12:06):
By grace, you have been savedand raised us up with him and
seated us with him in theheavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming ages hemight show the immeasurable
riches of his grace and kindnesstoward us.
In Christ Jesus.
Did you catch that?
God's grace has saved you.
That comes from his great lovefor you.
(12:27):
Even though you were dead, hemade us alive in Christ, not of
anything we did, but by grace,which is getting something you
don't deserve On top of that.
As if it wouldn't be enough tobe freed from sin and saved from
death, he then raised us withJesus and seated us with him in
the heavenly places.
Again, he didn't say he wouldseat us.
(12:49):
He said we are seated as we arecurrently present.
Right now, today.
We are seated with him.
Now you will ask how can I beif I am still in this world?
Because it's not a place, it'sa position.
You are seated with him, inpower and authority to rule with
(13:09):
him.
2 Timothy 2.11.
The saying is trustworthy, forif we have died with him, we
will also live with him.
If we endure, we will alsoreign with him.
If we deny him, he also willdeny us.
If we are faithless, he remainsfaithful, for he cannot deny
himself.
Ephesians 2.8-9,.
(13:31):
For by grace you have been savedthrough faith, and this is not
your own doing.
It is the gift of God, not aresult of works, so that no one
may boast.
Again, paul is clarifying thatyour salvation was a gift of God
and not of works of any kind.
(13:51):
It was by faith, and even thatfaith was given to you by God so
that you could believe.
To emphasize that, paul says sothat no one can boast.
The idea here is that yourecognize that you can't boast
about anything except Christ andHim crucified.
Galatians 6.14.
(14:12):
But far be it from me to boastexcept in the cross of our Lord,
jesus Christ, by which theworld has been crucified to me
and I to the world.
And 1 Corinthians 2.2, for Idecided to know nothing among
you except Jesus Christ and Himcrucified.
Now, if salvation has beengiven to you, you can be assured
(14:33):
you can't lose it either.
Philippians 1.6.
So for what purpose did God saveus?
We know the why because heloved us.
But for what purpose?
Ephesians 2.10,.
For we are his workmanship,created in Christ Jesus for good
(14:56):
works which God preparedbeforehand that we should walk
in them.
Workmanship in Latin is poeum,where we get the word poem.
That could be translated as weare his poem.
How beautiful is that?
We aren't just something Godthrew together because he was
bored and needed something to do.
(15:17):
We are part of his grand designin creation to glorify himself,
and not just outwardly.
He is sharing his glory, orshould I say expressing it in us
and through us, so that wecould participate in it.
God wants us to be satisfied inhim and take great pleasure in
him.
He did not create us because hewas lacking anything or needed
(15:37):
someone to love or love him.
He is and always will beself-satisfied in himself and
lack nothing.
Acts 17, 24 to 25.
The God who made the world andeverything in it, being Lord of
heaven and earth, does not livein temples made by man, nor is
he served by human hands asthough he needed anything, since
(16:00):
he himself gives to all mankindlife and breath and everything.
However, because of his natureto give share and love, he
creates human beings to sharethe fullness of joy with us.
That is his nature, notsomething he lacks and wants to
fill, but something thatoverflows from his character.
(16:22):
We are a result of his greatlove, manifested through his
mercy, grace and power towardsus.
How amazing is that?
That should blow your mind whenyou think about it.
The God of the universe createdyou so that he could share
himself with you and that youshould be satisfied in him.
That's probably not somethingyou have heard or has never sunk
(16:46):
in.
Hopefully.
Today is the day that it will.
God created you to glorifyhimself, which is to express
himself in us and through us,and, as a result, we have an
opportunity to experience thesame fullness of joy that Jesus
has in the Father.
2 Peter 1, 3-4.
His divine power has granted tous all things that pertain to
(17:08):
life and godliness, through theknowledge of him, who called us
to his own glory and excellence,by which he has granted to us
his precious and very greatpromises so that, through them,
you may become partakers of thedivine nature, having escaped
from the corruption that is inthe world because of sinful
desire.
Did you catch that in verse 4?
(17:29):
So that we may become partakersof the divine nature.
Did you catch that in verse 4?
So that we may become partakersof the divine nature?
That's His nature, that's God'spurpose for doing all that he
does.
Everything we go through, allthe suffering, trials and
tribulations in this world aredesigned so that you can take
part in His divine nature.
We often want the pleasures ofthis world as proof that God
loves us, but in reality, as wejust learned, that is your sin
(17:58):
nature trying to get what itwants.
Jesus didn't come into thisworld to obtain or experience
the pleasures of it.
He came to get what rightlybelongs to him, that which the
Father gave him.
He came and redeemed back tohimself so that we who are his
will be where he is and that ourjoy may be full in him.
That should be the greatestnews you have ever heard.
If you are a believer in ChristJesus, our Lord, your
sufferings are not designed topunish you, but purify you and
(18:22):
sanctify you, so that you willbecome more like Jesus and
submit to the Father, who wantsto share his divine nature with
you.
If everything were to goperfect in your life, you would
never get on your knees and prayand ask Him for help.
That is the position he wantsus in to ensure that we ask for
Him to rescue us, so that we mayknow Him and how much he loves
(18:44):
us.
Psalm 50, 15,.
Pray to me.
I will deliver you and theresult will be that you will
glorify me.
Psalm 73, 25 to 26.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earththat I desire beside you, my
(19:04):
flesh and my heart may fail, butGod is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Let's pray, father.
God, thank you so much for yourword.
Thank you for the truth, theinsight and the inspiration that
you show us and teach us thatit's all about your glory.
(19:25):
You show us and teach us thatit's all about your glory, that
you are expressing your love,your forgiveness and your power
in us and through us.
Father, there is nothing we canoffer you of ourselves.
We are sinful, broken,worthless people in the flesh.
(19:46):
There is nothing we can offeryou, and everything that we have
that is good and can be offeredto you is from you in the first
place.
It's because of the sacrificethat Jesus made on the cross
that we have access to you onthe throne by the empowering of
the Holy Spirit.
Father, I pray that you openour eyes today.
(20:07):
You will touch the hearts ofour listeners, that they will
know that their purpose is tolive for your glory, to praise
you all their days, and that youpromise that they will find
fullness of joy in you.
Father, we love you and wethank you in Jesus' name, amen.
(20:28):
I want to thank you for joiningus today and I hope this
message helped you take a stepcloser in your relationship with
Jesus and that you have abetter understanding of just how
much God loves you and wantsyou to know him.
In our next episode, we're goingto look at the method God used
to construct the church topresent our holy and blameless
before him.
Not only did he raise us fromthe dead with Christ, but he is
(20:49):
sanctifying us and preparing usto rule and reign with him for
eternity.
The church is God's method ofdoing that and, as we will see,
he has given us everything weneed to be equipped for this
life.
And before we go, I want toencourage you to visit us at the
takeawayfaith.
On our website, you can sign upto receive email notifications
or send us a text message fromthe link provided in the
(21:10):
description of this episode.
We hope that you would use thispodcast as a resource to help
others and that you would sendus a message, a word of
encouragement or any questionsor comments, as we would love to
hear from you.
God bless, and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
Goodbye.
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