5 Pillars to Build Your Life On
Part 2 - “Grace Alone”

“And Can it Be” (Hymn by Charles Wesley):
And can it be that I should gain An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Ephesians 2:1-10
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

What does this passage teach us about grace alone?
God’s grace is the answer for my spiritual deadness

Ephesians 2:1
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

“Until sin becomes so bitter, grace can never be so sweet.” - Thomas Watson

2. God’s immeasurable grace makes me alive

Ephesians 2:4-7
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

God’s grace…
…made us alive
…saved us
…raised us up
…seated us with him

G.R.A.C.E.
God’s riches at Christ’s expense!!

“Grace is free only because the giver himself has borne the cost.” - Philip Yancey

3. God’s grace allows my life to count for something

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works., which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Our justification is on the basis of faith alone,

Our faith is on the basis of grace alone.

“If you come to that bargaining table with all the world of treasurers in your hand, you will cheapen the righteousness of Christ. He says, ‘Come and bring your emptiness. Bring your nothingness. Bring your poverty of spirit, and I will give you everything. But if you bring one penny, the deal is off.’” - Jared Wilson

“For we are his workmanship”
“…His masterpiece”

James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

James 2:26
faith without works is dead.

“we are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” - Martin Luther

Application:
Receive God’s grace to you through faith in Jesus’ work
Show God’s grace to others through your good works

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

“you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked…”