Ephesians 2:5 …that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) New Living Translation
Ephesians 2:6 For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. New Living Translation
Ephesians 2:7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. New Living Translation
YOU AND I ARE NO LONGER JUST MERE MEN
EMPOWERED TO PRODUCE FRUIT - PARTICULARLY OF KINDNESS
EMPOWERED TO PRODUCE FRUIT - PARTICALLY OF KINDNESS
A new inborn, divine nature, begins to make itself evident in our lives
Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! New Living Translation
EMPOWERED TO PRODUCE FRUIT - PARTICALLY OF KINDNESS
A new inborn, divine nature, begins to make itself evident our lives
We’ve been born-again with a Christ like character
IT’S NO LONGER HARD TO BE LIKE CHRIST; THE DIFFICULT THING IS TO NOT BE LIKE HIM
LOOKING FOR MEPHIBOSHETH
2 Samuel 9:3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” New Living Translation
THE ESSENTIALNESS OF KINDNESS
• God’s kindness - full of tender concern, benevolent, seasoned with grace
• God’s kindness seeks out needs, indiscriminately - it can’t help itself
• God’s kindness yearns to help restore
THE KEY TO FRUIT PRODUCTION
Is understanding that Jesus is the Vine & we are the branches
It’s not in how hard we try, but rather, in how well we yield