But God in Great Love Quickened Us
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 5/15/2016 AM |
Text: | Ephesians 2:4-7 |
Psalters: | 127, 180, 309, 297 |
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper |
- What God did.
- We who were dead in sins and under wrath God quickened, i.e., made alive.
- We who were spiritually dead in sin (incapable to doing any good) are now made spiritually alive.
- We are regenerated so a new life is implanted into us (Gal. 2:20), with a new governing disposition in our souls.
- And we are “raised up.”
- God had to raise us up with Christ because God can no longer hold us under in His condemning wrath. Jesus paid it all.
- Our old man was crucified with Christ and we were raised with Him unto newness of life.
- And we are made “sit … in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
- This new life introduced us (earthly humans) into the realm of the kingdom of heaven where God shows His presence.
- Now we are citizens of that kingdom, made pilgrims and strangers here, no long under the prince of the power of the air.
- We who were dead in sins and under wrath God quickened, i.e., made alive.
- The basis for these realities.
- First, it is because of the God-made union of the elect with Jesus Christ.
- Second, it is because of God’s rich mercy.
- Third, it is because of God’s great love, from which nothing can separate us.
- Fourth, it is because of the exceeding riches of His grace toward us in Christ Jesus.
- The purpose for God’s graciously making us alive in Christ is to show/display God and His grace.
- God will show to all future ages Himself and His glory.
- God will show, so we can see and know Him as the perfect good and the fountain of all good.