Cedarville Magazine Fall 2019

CHAPEL NOTES EVERY CHRISTIAN’S TESTIMONY The following is an excerpt from a September 3, 2019, chapel presentation from Matt Smethurst. Listen to his full message at cedarville.edu/chapel . In Ephesians 2:1–3 , we find one of the most devastating descriptions of the human condition apart from God. Paul is making eye contact with us and saying, “You were not alive; you were spiritually dead. You were not free; you were enslaved. You were not OK with God; you stood condemned.” This is what we’re saved from. The result of our bondage to self: “We were by nature children of wrath.” God’s wrath is unlike yours and mine. It is never an overreaction. Hell is an infinite sentence because it’s punishing an infinite crime, and sin is an infinite crime because it’s an assault on an infinite God. So, what are you saved by? “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 …” (Eph. 2:4–5 ). God adores rebels. I don’t know if the God you grew up hearing about adores rebels, but the God of the Bible does. He loves them so much that He reached into Ephesians 2:1–3 and pulled us out. Lastly, what are you saved for? “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing” (Eph. 2:8 ). We a r e n a t u r a l l y hardwired to think that if God is going to like me, if God is not going to regret saving me, then I’d better get my act together. Ephesians 2:8–10 is meant to be like a bomb detonated in the midst of our moralism. Paul concludes with verse 10 , “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works ...” Once your good deeds are shattered as the basis of your salvation, they can begin to appear as the fruit of it. Whether you feel like a million bucks this morning or a piece of junk at a yard sale, you are the craftsmanship of God. Also, the God who made you and who loves you has already gone ahead of you. So, what are you saved from? The wrath and the justice of God. What are you saved by? The mercy and the grace of God. And what are you saved for? The glory and the purpose of God. Turn to Him and treasure Him because only through Him do we have a story like this. Matt Smethurst is Managing Editor for The Gospel Coalition. Once your good deeds are shattered as the basis of your salvation, they can begin to appear as the fruit of it. Watch Chapel on Your Smartphone or Tablet With CUChapel+ Livestream chapel and access other Cedarville videos on demand with the CU Chapel+ app. Learn more at cedarville.edu/cuChapelPlus . Cedarville Magazine | 21