BIG IDEA: The totality of total depravity and its only remedy.
I. THE TOTALITY OF TOTAL DEPRAVITY (vv. 1-3)
I) IN CHRIST, YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM YOUR NATURAL CONDITION (v. 1)
(I) In Christ, you have been saved from the deadness of sin (v. 1a)
Ephesians 2:1a “And you were dead.”
(II) In Christ, you have been saved from the domination of sin (v. 1b)
Ephesians 2:1b “in the trespasses and sins”
II) IN CHRIST, YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM YOUR NATURAL CONVERSATION (vv. 2-3a)
Ephesians 2:2a “in which you once walked,”
(I) In Christ, you have been saved from the dominion of sin (v. 2b)
Ephesians 2:2b “following the course of this world,”
(II) In Christ, you have been saved from the Devil, who is the prince of sin (v. 2c)
Ephesians 2:2c “following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
(III) In Christ, you have been from the delight of sin (v. 3a)
Ephesians 2:3a “among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,”
III) IN CHRIST, YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM YOUR NATURAL CONDEMNATION (v. 3b)
(I) In Christ, you have been saved from the damnation owed to sin! (v. 3b)
Ephesians 2:3b “and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
II. THE ONLY REMEDY OF TOTAL DEPRAVITY (vv. 4-5)
The only remedy to the totality of our total depravity is God’s sovereign grace.
I) In Christ, you have been saved according to God’s rich mercy toward you (v. 4a)
Ephesians 2:4a “But God, being rich in mercy,”
II) In Christ, you have been saved because of God’s great affection for you (v. 4b)
Ephesians 2:4b “because of [His] great love with which he loved us,”
III) In Christ, you have been saved by God making you alive even when you were dead—this is what it means to be saved by grace (v. 5)
Ephesians 2:5 “even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
THE TOTALITY OF TOTAL DEPRAVITY AND THE ONLY REMEDY: Ephesians 2:1-5
Ephesians 2:1-5
December 13, 2021 • Brett Baggett • Ephesians 2:1–5
WHY ARE WE DOING SHEPHERD SCHOOL? 2 Timothy 4:1-6
August 9, 2021 • Brett Baggett • 2 Timothy 2:1–6, 2 Timothy
Why are we doing Shepherd School? I. So that you would be strengthened by grace (v. 1) 2 Timothy 2:1 “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” II. So that you would be taught the truth (v. 2a) 2 Timothy 2:2a “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,” III. So that you would be equipped to teach others (v. 2b) 2 Timothy 2:2b “who will be able to teach others also. IV. So that you would be a good soldier of Jesus Christ (v. 3) 2 Timothy 2:3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” V. So that you would please your King (v. 4) 2 Timothy 2:4 “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” VI. So that you would live your life according to the the rules and so be rewarded (v. 5) 2 Timothy 2:5 “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” VII. So that you would exhaust yourselves in planting and watering, and therefore most enjoy the fruit that God grows (v. 6) 2 Timothy 2:6 “It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.”
THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES (2021): 1 Thessalonians 2:13
August 16, 2021 • Brett Baggett • 1 Thessalonians 2:13
I. THE SCRIPTURES COME THROUGH MEN (v. 13a) 1 Thessalonians 2:13a “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us,” II. THE SCRIPTURES COME FROM GOD (v. 13b) 1 Thessalonians 2:13b “you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God,” III. THE SCRIPTURES WORK IN BELIEVERS (v. 13c) 1 Thessalonians 2:13c “which is at work in you believers.” IV. HOW THE WORD IS TO BE READ AND HEARD PREACHED Thomas Watson (1620-1686), in his book The Ten Commandments, has a sermon that seeks to answer the question, How is the word of God made effectual for salvation (justification and sanctification)? His answer is I) by reading the Word, and II) by hearing the Word preached. How the word of God may be read so as to be effectually working in us who believe: (1) That we may so read the Word that it may conduce effectually to our salvation, let us have a reverend esteem of every part of Scripture. (2) If we would have the written Word effectual to our souls, let us peruse it with "intenseness of mind." (3) If we would have the written Word effectual, we must bring faith to the reading of it; believe it to be the Word of the eternal Jehovah. (4) If we would have the written Word effectual to salvation, we must delight in it as our spiritual cordial (i.e. pleasant tasting medicine). (5) If we would have the Scripture effectual and saving, we must be sure, when we have read the Word, to hide it in our hearts. (6) If we would have the written Word effectual, let us labor not only to have the light of it in our heads—but its power in our hearts! (7) When we read the holy Scriptures—let us look up to God for a blessing. How the word of God preached may be heard so as to be effectually working in us who believe: (1) If you would have the Word preached effectual, give great attention to the Word preached. (2) If you would have the Word preached effectual, come with a holy appetite to the Word. (3) If you would have the preaching of the Word effectual, come to it with tenderness upon your heart. (4) If you would have the Word effectual, receive it with meekness. (5) If you would have the Word effectual, mingle the Word preached with faith. (6) If you would have the preaching of the Word effectual, be not only attentive in hearing—but retentive after hearing. (7) If you would have the preaching of the Word effectual, reduce your hearing to practice. (8) If you would have the Word effectual, beg of God that he will accompany his Word with his presence and blessing. (9) If you would have the Word effectual, if you would have the Word work effectually to your salvation, make it familiar to you.
