Sermon Notes + 10.4.2026
SERMON NOTES
To the Praise of His Glorious Grace
Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:8-10
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor
Overview: The Reformation doctrine of salvation by grace alone is found throughout the Bible but perhaps nowhere more vividly than Ephesians 1, where the Apostle Paul blesses God the Father for blessing us in Christ. Paul traces the source of our salvation to God the Father, who chose us in Christ, predestined us for adoption, and works all things according to the counsel of His will. Paul then highlights the work of Christ in our salvation, noting that in him we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. The will of the Father and the work of the Son is fully realized when we hear and believe the word of truth through the power of the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory. In light of these glorious truths, we should give God all the glory and praise for His glorious grace and live lives that reflect His purposes of grace.
01. We praise God for His glorious grace by tracing the source, process, purpose, and effect of our salvation to God alone. Any works we add to our salvation make God’s grace less glorious.
02. We praise God for His glorious grace by living according to the purpose for which He saved us. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. What is the grand theme of Ephesians 1:3-14? How often does Paul cite God’s grace? What does it mean to be blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places? Do you pray, as Paul does in verses 15-19, to understand more of the hope to which He has called you?
2. Trace the work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in this passage. What did the Father do to secure our salvation? According to verses 4-5, what is the underlying attribute for our election in Christ?
3. What did the Son do to secure our salvation? Note how the work of redemption and forgiveness of sins requires Jesus’ incarnation, obedience, and blood. Given that God designed the plan of salvation to come through the work of Christ, are you praying for and financially supporting the spread of this gospel?
4. What did the Spirit do to secure our salvation? Are we able to believe the gospel apart from the Spirit convicting us of sin or opening our heart to receive Christ as our Savior? How does the Holy Spirit’s guarantee of our inheritance free us from fear or worry that somehow faith in Christ is not sufficient to save?
5. When you look back at the grace of God in salvation, are you still motivated to pursue a life of holiness, blamelessness, and good works? How does Ephesians 2:8-10 inform us about grace as a motivation and empowerment to actively serve the Lord?
For Further Reading: Timothy George, Amazing Grace: God’s Pursuit, Our Response (Crossway, 2011)