AI Summary
5 min readThe Work of God
In Ephesians 2, the apostle Paul describes the change that happens when a person meets Christ as a "continental divide"—one inch one way and a raindrop goes to the Pacific, one inch the other and it goes to the Atlantic. The least possible difference produces the greatest possible result. That, Tim Keller argues, is what becoming a Christian actually is: a momentous shift, not merely a gradual process of self-improvement.
Three Great Changes
Keller breaks down Ephesians 2:1–10 into a before-and-after picture with three dimensions. First, before Christ, people are "dead in trespasses and sins"—spiritually dead, meaning they are either skeptical of spiritual realities entirely or they believe in them as mere intellectual abstractions. After meeting Christ, those same realities (sin, grace, heaven, hell, mercy, truth) become solid and life-shaping. The person moves from death to life.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:42) **Ephesians 2:1-10 as a "Before and After" Picture** - Keller introduces the passage as showing the momentous, continental-divide change that meeting Christ brings.
- 2 (03:11) **Three Great Changes: Death to Life** - The first change is from spiritual death to new life, where spiritual realities become solid and real.
- 3 (10:06) **Three Great Changes: Bondage to Freedom** - The second change is from being a slave to good things to having authority over them.
- 4 (15:09) **Three Great Changes: Condemned to Seated** - The third change is from being a child of wrath to being legally seated in God's presence.
- 5 (19:49) **God's Ultimate Purpose for Grace** - The question is why God gives these gifts; the answer is to display the riches of his grace for all eternity.
- 6 (23:22) **Defining Grace: Love for the Undeserving** - Grace is not just love; it is doing good to someone who deserves the opposite.
- 7 (27:35) **The Les Misérables Example: Grace is Traumatic** - Keller uses Victor Hugo's novel to illustrate how grace is threatening and humbling.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on November 29, 1992. Series: Salvation From the Outside In. Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10.
Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.
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