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477 illustrations
Ephesians 2
1You were made alive when you were dead through your trespasses and sins,
2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience;
3among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have you been saved),
6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9not of works, that no one would boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
11Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "uncircumcision" by that which is called "circumcision," (in the flesh, made by hands);
12that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition,
15having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace;
16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby.
17He came and preached peace to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near.
18For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
20being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
21in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
22in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
SermonWise.ai generates complete sermon outlines for any passage across 17 theological traditions. Try it with Ephesians.
Generate a sermon →"True faith—the faith through which grace saves—bears fruit. It creates a community of transformed people living differently. We are saved by grace, not works; but saving grace always produces the works of love, peace, and mutual aid." — Menno Simons.
"Grace goes before us, awakening us to our need. Grace enables the faith by which we receive salvation. Grace sustains us after we believe. All is grace—but grace that invites response. We contribute nothing except the 'yes' that grace itself enables." — John Wesley.
"Salvation is God's gift—entirely, completely. Yet Orthodoxy speaks of synergy: not that we add to grace, but that grace transforms us into participants. We are saved by grace through faith—faith that is itself grace's gift, making us co-workers with God." — Kallistos Ware.
"We live in the dispensation of grace. The church age is uniquely characterized by salvation through faith alone, apart from law-keeping. This was always God's way, but now it is fully revealed. Grace distinguishes this age—pure gift, received by faith." — Charles Ryrie.
Amazing grace! You can't earn it, buy it, or deserve it—you can only RECEIVE it! Open your heart right now and let grace flood in! The same grace that saved you empowers you. Grace isn't just for salvation; it's for LIVING!" — David Wilkerson.
"Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and nothing we can do to make God love us less. It is gift—pure, unearned, undeserved. We cannot boast because we contributed nothing. We can only...
"Grace is liberation—freedom from sin AND from oppressive structures. The poor receive grace not because they are morally better but because God's grace goes to those with nothing. 'Not of works' means the powerful cannot buy salvation; it comes freely...
"Sola gratia—grace alone. Not grace plus works, not grace plus merit, not grace plus anything. Even the faith by which we receive grace is itself a gift: 'and that not of yourselves.' From first to last, salvation is God's work,...
"Grace is entirely God's gift—the Council of Trent affirmed this clearly. Yet grace invites our cooperation; it transforms us from within, enabling the good works that flow from salvation. We are saved by grace, and grace makes us capable of love." — Pope Benedict XVI.
"Grace saves us INTO something: the new creation already begun in Christ. We are saved by grace through faith—not for private salvation but for participation in God's renewal of all things. Grace rescues and recruits; we become agents of the kingdom." — N.T.
"Grace has a name: Jesus Christ. He is not merely the messenger of grace but grace itself embodied. We are saved by grace—which means we are saved by Christ. Faith receives not an abstract gift but a living Person. In...
"Here is the thunderbolt against all works-righteousness! 'Not of works, lest anyone should boast.' The law demands; grace gives. The law kills; grace makes alive. We are beggars before God, receiving everything, contributing nothing. This is the gospel!" — Martin Luther.
"We are saved by grace—and saved FOR good works (verse 10). Grace is not the end but the beginning. The gift received becomes gift given. Those who know they are undeserving become the most generous, the most missional. Grace creates senders." — Tim Keller.
"Have you received this gift? Grace is offered to YOU—personally, specifically, right now. You cannot earn salvation; you can only accept it. Put your faith in Christ today. Believe and receive. This is the simple, profound gospel: grace through faith." — Billy Graham.
"Grace subverts every merit system—religious, economic, social. 'Not of works' challenges not just legalism but capitalism's myth that you get what you deserve. Grace says worth is given, not earned. This is revolutionary: nobody earns belonging." — Brian McLaren. Progressive: grace against merit systems.
"Grace is not just unmerited favor—it is God's EMPOWERING presence! The same grace that saved you now enables you to live victoriously. Stop striving and start receiving! Grace isn't permission to sin; it's power to reign! Live in radical grace!" — Joseph Prince.
"Grace comes to those with nothing to offer—and the disinherited know this best. Those denied worth by society receive infinite worth from God. 'Not of works'—this is good news for those whose work was stolen, whose merit was denied. Grace levels." — Howard Thurman.