Break the ice. What’s one favorite gift from childhood, and why? (i.e. Christmas puppy, birthday bike, etc.)

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Read Ephesians 2:1-10. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

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Discuss the sixth core, essential belief of Citizens Church: the doctrine of salvation.

We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone. We believe that, due to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again (John 3:5-8); that salvation is only by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; and that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are declared righteous by God (Romans 3:28) and become children of God (John 1:12).

1. Summarize the passage: What have you been saved from? By? For?
2. Is there anything from the passage that sparks wonder, new insights, or new appreciation for God’s work of salvation?
3. Verse 7 starts with “so that” and reveals that the final goal of our salvation and the “end” of the current age are in some sense just the beginning of God’s unfolding love for His people in Christ. What hope or excitement does verse 7 give you for the future? What does it say about what God enjoys most?
4. As God has graciously shared with us out of his immeasurable riches, we get to imitate him by generously sharing with others. How do you plan to share the generous resource God has given you (the gift of salvation) with others?

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Rest in God’s promises. The Bible teaches that salvation is a gracious work of God and a gift that is grasped by faith alone in Christ alone. Salvation is from beginning to end the work of God. The only thing we bring to salvation is the sin that made it necessary. We are chosen, called, regenerated, justified, adopted, sanctified, preserved, and glorified - kept safe until the end, by the work of our Triune God. God saves us from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and one day even the presence of sin.

Close in prayer, giving thanks to God for your salvation, given to you by grace through faith in Christ.