THE PLACE WHERE WE GOT GRACE (AMAZING GRACE) (3 OF 4)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-9
This content is part of a series.
The Place Where We Got Grace (Amazing Grace) (3 of 4)
Series: Songs of Faith
Jeff Strite
Ephesians 2:1-9
OPEN: A very distinguished preacher and 2 of the leaders from his congregation had attended an out of town meeting that didn't finish until late that night. As they headed home, they were hungry and decided to have something to eat before going home but the only place open was a seedy bar and grill. They went inside, sat at a table and placed their order. After being served, one of the men asked the minister to say grace. The preacher looked at him and said: ''I'd rather not. I don't want Him to know where I'm at.''
That preacher didn't want to say ''GRACE'' because of where he WAS. By contrast, Ephesians says we GET GRACE in SPITE of where we WAS.
According to our text today God tells us that, before we became Christians, we were dead in our transgressions and sins, we lived in the wrong place, followed the wrong leader, and as a result, we were ''by nature objects of wrath.'' That was NOT a place where you say ''Grace'', but it was the place where we GOT grace.
After pointing out how dark our past had been, Paul wrote: ''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.'' Ephesians 2:4-5
Paul was telling the Ephesians: you WERE in a bad place, but while you were in that bad place God saved you by His grace. He offered you his forgiveness even though you didn't deserve it. And that's the beauty of God's Amazing Grace - you didn't deserve it... but you got it anyway.
The first verse of the song Amazing Grace describes that Grace. Sing it with me: ''Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. I was blind but now I see.''
I was wretched. I was lost and I was blind - and it was then that God gave His amazing grace.
Someone once noted ...
Series: Songs of Faith
Jeff Strite
Ephesians 2:1-9
OPEN: A very distinguished preacher and 2 of the leaders from his congregation had attended an out of town meeting that didn't finish until late that night. As they headed home, they were hungry and decided to have something to eat before going home but the only place open was a seedy bar and grill. They went inside, sat at a table and placed their order. After being served, one of the men asked the minister to say grace. The preacher looked at him and said: ''I'd rather not. I don't want Him to know where I'm at.''
That preacher didn't want to say ''GRACE'' because of where he WAS. By contrast, Ephesians says we GET GRACE in SPITE of where we WAS.
According to our text today God tells us that, before we became Christians, we were dead in our transgressions and sins, we lived in the wrong place, followed the wrong leader, and as a result, we were ''by nature objects of wrath.'' That was NOT a place where you say ''Grace'', but it was the place where we GOT grace.
After pointing out how dark our past had been, Paul wrote: ''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.'' Ephesians 2:4-5
Paul was telling the Ephesians: you WERE in a bad place, but while you were in that bad place God saved you by His grace. He offered you his forgiveness even though you didn't deserve it. And that's the beauty of God's Amazing Grace - you didn't deserve it... but you got it anyway.
The first verse of the song Amazing Grace describes that Grace. Sing it with me: ''Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. I was blind but now I see.''
I was wretched. I was lost and I was blind - and it was then that God gave His amazing grace.
Someone once noted ...
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