Preaching from Perspective of Evangelical Theology

Topic:         The Work of God’s Grace-Salvation

Ephesians 2:8-10

Introduction

                           If a man wants to be saved, these verses tell him how to be saved. Salvation is the work of God, of God’s Grace and of God’s grace alone. It is not of man, not to any degree. Salvation is a free gift of God. It is by grace alone that man is saved. Man can do nothing whatsoever to save himself. He cannot earn, win, or merit salvation. All man can do is accept what the Lord says. Man must believe just what God says and accept His word, accept His free offer of salvation. When he accepts the fact that God says He will save him, God takes him and creates him into a new person, anew creation. (2 Cor 5:17).

A. We are saved by God grace and by Grace

(1)We are saved by God’s grace

                                                      Grace means the favor and kindness of God, but there I uniqueness about God’s favor and kindness. His favor and kindness are given despite the fact that it is undeserved and unmerited. Grace is giving, but it is giving to people who do not deserve the gift. What is the gift that God has given? Jesus Christ. God has given His son, Jesus Christ, to save men. God is full of mercy and love and kindness-by His very nature He is full of these glorious qualities. God is not off someplace in the distance, far removes from man, disinterested and unconcerned with man’s sufferings and death. God is gracious, full of mercy, love, and kindness for man; therefore, He has reached out through His son Jesus Christ to help man. How?

By giving His Son to die for man. When Jesus Christ hung upon the cross, He was taking our sins upon Himself and bearing the punishment for our sins. We had committed high treason against God: rejected and rebelled against Him. The penalty for high treason is death; we are condemned to die. But Christ took our penalty and condemnation upon Himself. He died for us-in our place, in our stead, as our substitute. This is what Scripture means when it says that Christ died for us. ( Rom 5:6,8,10)

This is the grace of God-God grace that showered itself upon sinful men who were lost and condemned-God grace that gave the greatest gift possible to men- the gift of His Son to save the world.

(2)We are saved through faith

                                 What does it mean to be saved through faith? Simply this: Jesus Christ die for us. He bore our sin and punishment upon the cross. When we believe, really believe that Jesus Christ died for us, God does a wonderful thing. God takes our faith and counts it as the death of Jesus Christ for us. That is when we honor God’s dear Son by believing in Him so much that we give all we are and have to Him, God takes the death of Jesus Christ and applies it to us. It is our faith that causes God to look upon us as having been in Christ when He died. It is our faith that causes God credit us with salvation. Jesus Christ is God’s gift to us. Salvation through Christ has been wrapped up as a gift and God hands it over to us. This is what is meant by faith. If you believe, really believe that Jesus Christ died for you; you will reach out and receive the gift of God’s grace. (John 3:16, 5:24, 20:31)

(3) We are not saved in and of ourselves

                                                                 Man is not perfect; therefore, he can never live in God’s presence-not in and of himself. Even if man could be good enough and do enough good to become perfect (he cannot, but even if he could) he would not be acceptable to God. Why? Because he has already transgressed and become imperfect. He already stands imperfect, corruptible, aging, dying, and decaying. If man is ever to be acceptable to God-if he is ever to be perfected and have his past wipe clean-it will not be by his own hands. He cannot save himself. Salvation is not of man. ( 2 Cor. 10:12, Gal 6:3, Titus 3:5, Prov 28:26 )

(4) The reason salvation is by grace and not by works is to prevent men from ever boasting

                                          God is the supreme and Majestic being of the universe. He is the Creator of all that is in heaven and earth. God is the one who dwells in the ultimate of light and holu of eternity. The honor and glory and glory due His name are not to be shared with anyone. If man was saved by some effort of his own, he would be due some credit, some boast, some honor. This God cannot allow. His very nature forbids it. As God, He is to receive the supreme glory-that is, all glory and praise. His Supremacy-His being God-demands it. (Rom 3:19,27)

B. We are God’s workmanship

(1) We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus

                    The believer experiences two creations, both a natural birth and a spiritual birth. The spiritual birth is the point of this verse. When a man believes in Jesus Christ, God creates him in Christ. What does this mean? It means that God quickens the spirit of the believer and makes his spirit alive. Whereas the believer’s spirit was dead to God, God creates it anew and makes it alive to God.

(2) We are created to do good works

                                         God saves man for good works not by good works. The believer is God’s workmanship, God’s work of art, God’s masterpiece. God fashions man and creates a masterpiece. God’s workmanship is always a work of art. The believer does not create the beauty, the art that shows in the canvas of his life. The believer just shows that he is God’s workmanship by life he lives and displays. Works are an evidence of salvation. God has prepared in advance for us to walk in good works. Doing good works is not an option for the believer; it is the very nature of the believer. If a man has been created in Christ-if God has truly worked in him-the man does good works. He is a new creation created to do good works.

Conclusion

                       Man can do nothing whatsoever to save himself. Salvation is a free gift of God. God has given His son, Jesus Christ, to save men. When Jesus Christ hung up upon the cross, He was taking our sins upon Himself and bearing the punishment for our sins. He died for us in our place. When we believe, really believe that Jesus Christ died for us, God does a wonderful thing. It is by grace along that man is saved. We are saved by His grace and by faith not by works.

                                                                 

Pakhat le pakhat I upat hna uh sih

               A cung lei ka bia tlangtar ban tuk in, lai mi kan thinlung ah ngeih awk le si ve uh sih ti ka duh mi cu, Pathat le Pakhat hi I upat hna uh sih ti hi si. Kan mah le kan mah kan I upat lo ruang ah midang mi phun hna nih kan laimi an kan upat khawh lonak bik a si tiin kei ka hmuih ning a si.

Tih khi Upat a si lo

Upat timi hi tih he cun a dang ngai te, Lai mi kan ruah nak ah Upat kan ti tik ah hin tih nak hi kan mit thlam ah a cuang tawn zei caah ti ah cun kan nu le kan pa hna nih hin fa le an kan chimh hrin tik ah kan tih hna she tiin an kan (tlerh)chimh hrin tawn, cu lawng si lo in kan sianginn kai nak saya/mah tenih an kan chimh hrin tik ah kan tih hna she tiin an kan tlerh tawn cu ruang ah Upat timi hi tih ah kan ruah sual tawn. Kan nih laimi cu kan saya/mah le kan nu le kan pa hna he um thut dir le lung khat bia ruah ding ah kan tih hna, mah cu kan upat rua hna tiin kan ruah tawn. A si nain mah hi cu upat si lo in tih tu a rak si.

Upatnak ti mi cu kan tuah/tuan mi cung ah a tha I tuah/tuan khawhnak le thiamnak a ngeih mi cung ah theih thiam piak le hngalh piak/ hmuih piak khawh, I upat nak pek khi a si. Mi nung nih hin a mah le si tawk tein tuah(tuan) khawh mi ngeih cio a si. Kan thil ti khawh nak hi a dang cio ban tuk in kan tuah khawh nak cio cung ah khan Pakhat le pakhat upatnak, I hngalh piaknak, theih thiam piak le hmuih thiam hi a herh bik mi asi.

A kan dawn tu thil hna

(1)   Keimah tinak thinlung ( kan Hawi I an tuah mi tuan mi kha zei I rel piak lo I, kei mah tuah/tuan mi hi a si (dik) bik ti I, Hawi tuan/tuan mi kha zei rel piak lo).

(2)   Nihsawhnak thinlung ( Hawi nih an tuah mi thil ah, a mah pa/nu tuah/taun mi te hna cu ti I, that nak hmuih piak lo in nihsawh zumh teih nak thinlung).

(3)   Zeirel lo

(4)   I uahnak thinlung

(5)   Hawi thatnak hmuih khawh lo

Hi bantuk thinlung/ruahnak kan ngeih chung hi cu kan hawi le cung ah upatnak thinlung kan ngei kho lai lo. Pakhat le pakhat upatnak thin lung kan ngeih lo chung poh hi cu kan khua le ram than chonak ah donkhan tu kan si.

Ngeihawk ah Herhmi thinglung

Thatnak tuahmi kha I hmuih thim piak

Kan tuah/tuan mi kha a thatnak lei kam in I hmuih thiam piak hi a herh ngai mi a si. Kan I hmuih thiam piak khawh nak caah a herh ngai mi thinlung cu dawtnak a si. Dawtnak kan ngei lo sicun zeiban tuk hmenh a tha lei in kan I hmui piak kho lai lo I a chiat nak lei lawng kan hmuih khawh lai. Thatnak kan tuah/tuan mi ah khan thazang I pek le hmai fandeuh nak ah forhfial hi a bia pi ngai mi si fawn. Thiltha tuah mi kha thazang kan vapek lo le forhfial nak hna kan chim lo ah cun a tuah mi kha a that le that lo a thei kho ve lai lo. Curuangah thazang pek le I forhfial hi a hauih nak asi.

I cawisang hna uh sih

                        Mah pakhat le pakhat I Cawisang hi laimi kan nun ah a bau ngai rua tiin ka hmuih, kan hawi nih rian an tuan mi, an thiamnak, an fimnak, etc… mah pawl ah khan hmaizahnak upat pek ding a si. A tu kan laimi chung ah upat pek awk tlak mi tampi upatnak kan pek lo mi hna an tam ngai te. A biana ah hla phuah thiam, hlasak thiam, fim thiamnak, ram caah thatnak a tuahmi etc… mah hna pawl hi upatnak pek lo mi an tam pi I, an tuah/tuan mi hna kan theih piak hna lo mi zong an tam, mah cu zei ruang ah si ti ah cun kan pawngkam um mi pakhat le pakhat kan I cawisang hna lo ruang ah a si. Mi nungpakhat kha thannak lam a penh cuahmah I hi ti ka bawmh ah cun mi ah, aa chuah lai ti kan thei ko nain, kan bawm duh tawn hna lo. An kan tei lai tu kha kan phan I kan rial dipchih tawn hna, Hibantuk zawn ah hin a tu kan pa a si mi Dr. Dennis nun zia hi ka uar ngai mi a si. A mah pawngkam ah a um mi a fa le pawl hi an mah le sikhawh tawk cio te in a cawi san hna, a si khawh tawk in a zohkhenh hna I a bawmhchanh hna, a mah thinlung ngeihmi ka hmuih mi ah, kan lai mi nih hi ban tuk thin lung ngeihi kan herh ngai mi a si. Pakhat le pakhat thatnak kan tuahmi kha I hmuihpiak thiam hna uh sih law, pakhat le pakhat kan tuah/tuan mi ah I cawisang hna sih. Cuthinlung nih cun pakhat le pakhat i upat khawh nak thinlung a kan pek lai.

Lungrual Tein Thlacamnak A Hmual le Deihnak Lungthin

Act 12: 1- 19

Lungrual Tein Thlacamnak A hmual le Deihnak Lungthin

Bia hmaithi

Lungkhat te le rual rem tein thlacam ti nak nih thil a ti khawh ning le hmual a ngeih nak kong hi tlawmpal in vun langh ter ka duh. Hi ka kan bible rel mi chung zong ah hin zumtu mi hna nih lung rual tein thla an cam I thongchung ah a um mi Piter nih luat nak a hmuh nak kong kan hmuih. Cu ban tuk in kan nih ni hin Krifa mi hna zong nih hin, lung rual tein kan au le thla kan cam si cun luat nak hi kan hmuih ve ko lai.

(1)Piter cu thong chung ah khan an tlak (v 1-5) (the background of History)

Siangpahrang Herod nih hin Jesus cu Pathian a si ti I a zum tu mi kha thong ah a tlak hna I a ahrem hna lio can a si.

a) Siangpahrang Herod nih Krifa bu a hrem hna (v1- 3)

Mah lio can ah hin siangpahrang Herod nih a uk lio can a si I, Siangpahrang Herod nih hin (Jesus Kri a zum mi) Krifa bu le Krifa mi kha a hrem hna lio can a si. Jesus Kri cu Pathian a si ti in an zumh nak khan an I let nak ding ah Kri a zum tu mi kha a hrem hna lio a can arak si.

Hi ti Krifa le Krifa bu a hrem lio can ah Johan unau a si mi Jeim cu vainam in a that ter hna. Zei ruang ah ti ah cun, zum tu mi hna an zumh nak in an I let duh lo ruang ah si. Mah a tha nak nih hin zum tu mi hna caah tih nak chuak she ti hna hi a si laidah, a that kha mi pi an I nuamh le an I lawmh kha a hmuih tik ah Piter kha tleih a fial hna I Piter zong cu an tleih ve.

b) Piter cu thong ah an tlak (v 4-5)

Piter cu an tleih dih hnu in thong chung ah an tlak. Zei caah tiah cun Jeim a thah lio ah khan mipi an I nuam tuk a hmuih tik ah Piter ka thah ah hin cun mi pi nih lawmhnak an hmuih chin lai ti kha ruah nak a ngei. Piter cu thong chung sawhsawh lawng hmenh si lo in a cawng tu hmenh khi ralkap bu buli nih an congh. Mah cu lanhtak pui dih ah, a bia ceih I that kha a duh ve caah si.( lanhtak pui kong hi vun hrilh fiah ka duh ko nain a sau tuk lai caah ka kal tak lai rak ka thei thiam ko uh). A si nain mah lio can ah hin Krifabu mi hna cu dai tein um lo in, lung rual tein Piter caah cun thla an cam hna, mah ban tuk te hin kan nih Krifami hna zong hi zei kan ton mi thil poh ah lungrual tein thla cam ti hna uh sih. Kan I bawmh khawh bik mi cu thlacam hi a si ko. Nifa zan thla cam in I bawm cio ko hna uh sih cun lung rual tein le hmun khat te I thlacam ti nak kan ngeih mi, kan hman mi hi ngol hna hlah uh sih. Lungrual tein Pa Pathian sin ah lungrual te le lung khat tein thlacam ti hna uh sih ti hi ka vin chim duh mi si.

(2) Piter nih Zeitin in dah Thong chung in luat nak a hmuih (v 6-10)

Mah tluk in thong chung I an tlak hnu ah ralkap bu buli bak in an cawnh ko bu ah zei tin in dah lawt nak a hmuih ti hi khua ruah har thil a si ko.

a) Herod nih Piter cu zaa pi hmai ah ka chuah pi lai a ti zaan (v 6-7)

Piter cu thaizing cu mizaa pi hmai ah chuah pi ding in timh tuah a si caah, a zan cu thong chung ah an chiah, thirhri pahnih in an hren, mah hnu ah ralkap nih an cawngh rih. Mah cun thaizing cu a bia ceih I that ding a si cang. Sihmenh sehlaw Piter cu dai tein a hngelh rih ti kan hmuih. Unau nan le kei tah harnak, ngeih chiatnak le retheih nak nih a kan nenh ah tha tein kan I hngelh kho ve maw. Piter ban tuk in hna ngam deih nak tling kan ngei kho ve maw? Kan nun hi I check ve hna uh sih. Mi tam deuh cu harnak ngeihchiatnak le retheihnak nih a kan nenh zan cu zan khuadei hngelh lo in kan um, thin phan nak in kan khat, harsat nak kan kal tak mi kha kan vun zoh than I thinphang in zan khua kan dei can a tam tawn hna, sihmenhsehlaw Piter cu daitein a hngelh ko. Hi Piter nun te hi I ngeih kho hna uh sih ti hi forh fial kan duh hna. Piter cu thongchung ah a mah tein zei hmenh tuah khawh nak a ngei ti lo, cu ruang ah lungdai tein a hngelh ko. Thirhri in an hren I colcangh khawh nak zei a ngei lo. Mah lio ah krifabu nih thla an cam piak nak cu Pathian nih a cohlan I a vancung mi cu Piter sin ah a thlah. Vancung mi nih cu Piter cu tho tuah a ti I hma khat te ah a thirhri cu a tla dih ti kan hmuih. A mah tein zei a tuah kho ti lo hnu ah Pathian nih a va tuah piak ti kan hmuih. Cu vebantuk in kan nih zong harnak le retheihnak chung in kan mah tein kan chuah khawh ti lo hnu ah Pathian nih hin a rak kan chuah tawn. Mah hi lungkhat te le lungrual tein thlacam nak a hmual cu a si..

b) Pathian nih a mah tein a tuah khawh mi kha cu a mah a rinh ko (v 8- 10)

Cun van cung mi nih khan a thawh hnu ah na tai sawm I sawmh law rak ka zul a ti. Van cung mi nih khan a taisawm an sawmh piak lo a mah tein a tuah khawh mi a si caah, a mah tein, a sawmh ter nak cu a si. Mah hnu ah rak ka zual a ti. Hi thil vial te hi Pathian nih a mah tein a tuah ter, zei caah ti ah cun a mah tein a tuah khawh mi a si caah si. Cu hnu ah thirkutka cu Piter nih a ong khawh ding a si lo caah vancung mi nih a ong piak ti kan hmuih. Cun Piter cu khua chung I a vun lut bak in vancung mi nih cun a kal tak, cuvebantuk in kan nih zong har nak tam pi kan cung ah a tlung tawn, mah can ah hin kan thin a phang I zei tin dah ka tuah lai tiah kan mah tein kan I zuam tawn. Kan Pathian zei zong thil ti kho tu kan philh sual tawn cu ruang ah thin phang le thlalau in kan um nak cu a si. Abianaah kan zawt can ah khin, sii kan ding a si nain kan thin a phan thiamthiam rih. A si nain kan mah tein I dam ter khawh nak kan ngei lo. Kan mah tein dam khawh nak kan ngeih lo caah Pathian sin tu ah thlacam ko, na lungre theih nak cu Pathian kha pe law a mah nih an dam ter ko lai. Kan mah nih kan tuah khawh mi sii din kha kan rian a si I, a dam ter nak ngei tu cu Pathian a si I a mah nih an dam ter ko lai. Thin phan in um ding si lo. Kan ton mi hi lungrual te le lungkhat tein thla cam ah cun Pathian nih a kan tuah piak ko lai hawi dawt..

(3) Piter nih Pathian cu ka sin ah a um I rian a tuan ti kha a theih (v11-17)

Piter cu van mi nih a kal tak bak khan a lung a hung fim I Bawipa Pathian cu kan sin ah a um ti kha a fiang. Thongchung in a chauh tik ah khuaruah har in a um I Pathian rian tuan nak kha a theih than.

a) A tu cu hihi a hman tiah ka hngalh cang!

Piter cu a lung a fim tik ah cun thong chung um ti lo in khuachung I a um kha a hngalh tik ah, aw mah hi Pathian rian tuan nak a si ti kha a hngalh. Nang le kei tah harsat nak chung ah lungdong in kan um lio ah khat lei in bawmh nak kan vun hmuih ah khin kan theih kho ve tawn maw? Mi tam pi cu Pathian nih a kan chuah khi thei lo in mi nung ah kan ruah sual tawn. Teinak kan hmuih ah khuika ah dah lawmh nak kan chim tawm. Unau tam pi cu tei nak kan hmuih ah lawm nak kan chim nak hmun hi a dang te a va si sual tawn, ka tei nak khuaika in dah a si ti hngal lo mi kan tam. Cu ruang ah mah bible cang nih a kan cawn piak mi cu tei nak kan hmuih le harnak chung in kan vun chuah bak ah hin Pathian khuaruahhar thawng nak a si ti hi piter bang in hngal ve hna uh tiin kan dawm hna…

b) Piter kha an sin a phak tian Krifabu nih thla an cam piak

Krifabu nih Piter thong chung in a chuah nak ding caah biatak tein thla an cam paik. Biatak tein thlacam mi cu Pathian nih a theih piak hna I a leh hna, Piter cu thla an cam lio cuahmah ah a rak phan. Cuvebantuk in kan nih zong harnak kan ton mi hna hi Pathian nih a kan let le lawmh nak le luat nak kan hmuih tiang lungsau te le biatak tein thlacam ve hna uh sih. Piter thongchung in a chuah nak le luat nak a hmuih nak cu lungrual tein thla an cam piak nak thawng in a si. Cu ban tuk in kan nih zong lung rual tein Pathian sin ah biatak tein thlacam ve hna uh sih law, kan ram le kan mi phun nih har nak a ton mi chung in kan chuah khawhnak le kan luat tiang in biatak tein thlacam ko hna uh sih…

Bia donghnak

A cung lei I ka chim cia bang in harnak kan ton can le ngeih chiat, retheih nak kan ton can ah zungzal kan theih ding ah chim ka duh mi cu kan tuah khawh mi kha cu kan mah tein tuah uh sih law, kan tuah khawh lo mi kha cu Pathian pe uh sih. A mah nih a kan tuah piak ko lai. (so when we meet a crisis, trouble always remember: what we can do, we are expected to do, what we can’t do, God will do for us) Kan mah I kan tuah khawh lo mi thil kong ah lungre thei in um lo in thlacam nak tu in Pathian kha pe hna uh sih law, a mah nih a kan tuah piak ko lai. Krifabu nih Piter caah lungrual tein thla an cam bangkan nih zong lungrual te le lung khat tein kan ton mi thil hi Pathian sin ah thla I cam piak cio hna uh sih ti hi vun langh ter ka duh mi si. Tuu zing I a rel tu Unau nan zan te cung ah Pathian hna ngam, deih nak cu nan cung ah um ko seh.