Topical · Week 1 of 3

A Blessing Undeserved

Ezekiel 36:22-32

The restoration God promises in Ezekiel 36 is explicitly, emphatically NOT based on anything Israel deserves

Main Point

The restoration God promises in Ezekiel 36 is explicitly, emphatically NOT based on anything Israel deserves. It is God acting for His own name's sake — which is the only basis on which any of us can hope for restoration.

Application Ideas

Reflect on how the restoration god promises in ezekiel 36 is explicitly, emphatically not based on anything israel deserves applies to your current situation. What is one way you can practice this truth in your relationships or decisions this week? How does understanding this deepen your faith?

Discussion Questions

What is the core message of a blessing undeserved? How does this fit into the larger story of the Gospel? What would change if you truly believed and lived this out? How can your community support each other in this?

Detailed Sermon Outline

Primary Text: Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 3:4-7

Supporting Texts: Romans 3:23-24, 1 Corinthians 15:9-10, Psalm 103:10-14

Big Idea: Grace is an undeserved gift from God that rescues us; we can never earn what God freely gives.

Target Length: 35-40 minutes

Introduction

Imagine being bankrupt. Not just financially, but morally, spiritually. You owe a debt you cannot pay. You're guilty of crimes you cannot undo. You're dead in sin. That's how Paul describes our condition before grace: 'As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.'

And then—someone pays the debt you cannot pay. Someone takes your place. Someone gives you what you don't deserve. That's grace. And it changes everything.

Today, we're exploring what grace actually is—a blessing we don't deserve and cannot earn.

I. We Need Grace (Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23)

Paul writes, 'You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.' We weren't just sinners making occasional mistakes. We were dead. Separated from God. Subject to the rule of sin.

He continues, 'All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.' This isn't judgment. It's diagnosis. We all—everyone—has lived this way. We all have pursued our own way, our own desires, at the expense of God's way.

Romans says plainly, 'All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' Not some. Not most. All. You. Me. Everyone. We're all guilty. We all owe a debt we cannot pay.

Sin isn't just breaking rules. It's breaking relationship with God.
Sin has consequences—spiritual death, separation from God, judgment.
We cannot fix this ourselves. We cannot work hard enough, be good enough, earn God's approval.

This is the foundation for grace. Grace only makes sense if you understand your condition. You're lost. You're guilty. You're helpless. You need rescue you cannot provide.

II. Grace Intervenes (Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 2:4-5)

Paul describes what happens next: 'When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.'

Notice: God's kindness appeared. God's love moved first. We didn't earn this. We didn't deserve this. God saw our condition and, moved by mercy, acted.

Ephesians adds, 'Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions.' God doesn't wait for us to get our act together. God acts while we're still sinners. While we're dead in sin. God's grace reaches us in our helplessness.

Grace is not earned. It's given.
Grace is not deserved. It's extended to the undeserving.
Grace is not about your effort. It's about God's movement.
Grace saves you—makes you alive when you were dead.

This is revolutionary. You cannot work your way to God. You cannot be good enough. But you can receive. You can accept the rescue God offers. And that acceptance changes everything.

III. Grace Transforms (Ephesians 2:6-10, Titus 3:4-7)

Grace doesn't just forgive. It transforms. Paul says, 'God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.' Your condition changes. You're no longer dead. You're alive. No longer condemned. You're redeemed. No longer separated. You're reconciled.

But transformation goes deeper. 'For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.' Grace not only frees you from sin. It frees you for purpose. For good works. You're no longer enslaved to your worst impulses. You're now equipped to become your best self—not through effort, but through transformation.

Titus says, 'This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.' The result of grace? Devotion to good. Not out of guilt. Out of gratitude. Out of being transformed.

Grace forgives your past.
Grace redeems your future.
Grace transforms your present.
You're no longer who you were. You're alive in Christ.

This is why grace changes everything. It's not just a legal transaction. It's a resurrection. A new life. A new identity. You belong to God now. That changes how you live, what you pursue, how you see yourself.

Conclusion & Appeal

You were dead in sin. Separated from God. Subject to judgment. You couldn't fix it. You couldn't earn your way out. But God moved. God's love appeared. God offered rescue. And all you had to do was receive it.

This week, I want you to sit with that. If you've never accepted that rescue, today is the day. Come to God as you are. Broken. Guilty. Helpless. And receive the grace God offers. If you have accepted it, remember it. Let gratitude fill you. You didn't earn this. God gave it. And because you're forgiven, transformed, alive—devote yourself to good. To becoming who God created you to be.

A blessing undeserved. That's grace. That's your story. That's the door to everything.