This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on 12th July 2026, by Lasya. For the audio , please click here. For the worship, please click here. “For it is by grace you have been
saved, through faith… it is the gift of God.” — Ephesians
2:8
The book of Ephesians is one of the most
profound letters in the New Testament. It was written by the Apostle Paul to a
church he had personally discipled for nearly two years. These believers had
received the Holy Spirit, endured persecution, and remained faithful in a
culture overflowing with idol worship and competing philosophies.
Before arriving at Ephesians 2, Paul
prayed that the believers would know three incredible realities: the hope of
their calling, the riches of God’s inheritance in His people, and the
immeasurable greatness of His power. Now, having lifted their eyes to God’s
glory, Paul turns our attention to something far less glorious—our own
condition apart from Christ.
At first glance, this passage may appear
to be about humanity’s sinfulness. But at its heart, Ephesians 2:1-10 is a
breathtaking portrait of God’s grace. It reveals not only where we were,
but what God has done to rescue us.
Let’s walk through the four stages of
this beautiful story.
Stage 1: Dead on Arrival
Paul begins with sobering words:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…”
Notice that he doesn’t say we were weak, struggling, or spiritually
sick.
He says we were dead.
From the moment sin entered the world through Adam, humanity
inherited spiritual death. While Adam continued to breathe physically, his
fellowship with God was broken. The life of God no longer flowed through him,
and that same condition passed on to every human being.
Spiritually speaking, we were dead on arrival.
Paul describes this condition in several ways:
·
We followed the patterns of the
world.
·
We lived under the influence of
the enemy.
·
We gratified the desires of our
sinful nature.
·
We stood deserving of God’s
righteous judgment.
Whether our sin looked like reckless rebellion or respectable
self-righteousness, the destination was the same. Like both sons in Jesus’
parable of the Prodigal Son, one wandered far while the other stayed home, yet
both were equally distant from the Father’s heart.
The uncomfortable truth is that before grace, every one of us was
spiritually lifeless.
Stage 2: Brought to Life
Then comes one of the greatest phrases in all of Scripture:
“But because of His great love for us…”
Those three words change everything.
God was not motivated by our goodness, our potential, or our
promises to improve. He acted because He is rich in mercy and overflowing
with love.
While we were dead, God made us alive together with Christ.
The gospel is not merely about improving broken people.
The gospel brings dead people back to life.
That is why salvation is nothing less than a resurrection miracle.
Grace is often defined as unmerited favour, but it is even
more than forgiveness. It is God’s lavish kindness toward people who could
never earn it.
The story of the Prodigal Son illustrates this beautifully. The
father didn’t simply forgive his son and allow him to return as a servant. He
ran toward him, embraced him while he was still covered in filth, restored him
as family, and celebrated his return.
That is the heart of God.
He doesn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up before welcoming us. He
knows we never could. Instead, He restores the relationship first.
The question every believer must ask is:
Have I truly received this grace?
And just as importantly:
Am I extending that same grace to others?
Stage 3:
Raised and Seated with Christ
God’s grace doesn’t stop at making us alive.
Paul says God also raised us up with Christ and seated us with
Him in the heavenly realms.
This is remarkable.
Grace restores not only our relationship with God but also our
position before Him.
Like the father placing a robe and ring on the prodigal son, God
publicly declares that we are no longer outsiders—we are sons and daughters.
Our position is not based on our performance.
It is entirely based on Christ’s finished work.
Paul reminds us:
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works, so
that no one can boast.”
There is no room for pride because there is no part of salvation
that we accomplished ourselves.
Faith simply receives the gift.
When people look at redeemed lives, the focus should never be on how
deserving we are. Instead, our lives become living evidence of the
immeasurable riches of God’s grace and kindness.
We are masterpieces that point to the greatness of the Artist.
Stage 4: Created
for Good Works
Only after explaining grace does Paul speak about good works.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
This order is essential.
We are not saved by good works.
We are saved for good works.
Religion often reverses this sequence. It teaches that if we work
hard enough, perhaps God will eventually accept us.
The gospel tells a completely different story.
God loved us while we were still dead.
He restored us.
He welcomed us.
He seated us with Christ.
Only then does He invite us into His work.
Our obedience is never an attempt to earn God’s acceptance.
It is the joyful overflow of already belonging to Him.
As members of God’s family, we now participate in our Father’s
business. His work extends far beyond church activities—it reaches into our
homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, schools, and communities.
Every sphere of life becomes an opportunity to reflect His grace.
Our Response to Grace
Grace is completely free.
Yet it calls for our entire lives.
As Isaac Watts beautifully wrote:
“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Perhaps today you identify with the prodigal son, burdened by shame
and regret. Maybe you recognize the heart of the elder brother, struggling with
pride or finding it difficult to extend grace. Or perhaps you’ve been living as
though God’s love must continually be earned.
The invitation of Ephesians 2 remains the same.
Come to the Father.
Receive His grace.
Rest in the position He has already given you.
Then go and live out the good works He has lovingly prepared for
you—not to gain His approval, but because you already have it.
Grace doesn’t simply change our destination.
It changes our identity, restores our relationship, establishes our position, and transforms the way we live every day.
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