Ephesians 2:1-10 
Grace is getting what we do not deserve – Mercy is not getting what we deserve
Donald Barnhouse a Presbyterian preacher once said that “Love that goes upward is worship. Love that goes outward is affection. Love that stoops is grace.”
Apostle was preaching to the church in Ephesus about God’s grace.
WHAT GRACE DOES TO OUR PAST
Our past is always connected to sin no matter who we are.
A. We Are Dead People
There is no life in us because of sin – I call it walking dead people - zombies
B. We Are Deceived People
God is reminding us once again who rules the air of our world today – it is Satan
It is the force and power of influence on this world – the ways of this world determined by Satan – this is his kingdom.
So we live in a dreadful and deluded world – world’s standards are deceptive and depraved.
Those who follow the ways of the world are being deceived day in day out.
C. We Are Rebellious People
By nature we are rebellious and disobedient people – doomed people – damaged goods - we keep on gratifying our inborn carnal nature.
We do not deserve mercy but punishment.
WHAT GRACE DOES TO OUR PRESENT
4th verse starts with a wonderful ‘but’ – But God is gracious and rich in mercy
Three things stand out in verses 4-6 – Love, Mercy and Heaven
God is so rich in mercy – Not giving us what we deserve – He loved us so much He stooped down to us in Christ
God is so rich in grace – gifting us what we don’t deserve – made us alive spiritually
In Christ we are brought  back to life – revived – resuscitated.
Someone said that God renovated us spiritually
The first step to become spiritually alive is to receive the gift of grace of God in Christ.
The greatest gift in human history is God’s gift of salvation.
The moment we receive the gift of grace by faith we are heaven bound – one step is already in heaven
No human effort can bring this reality in a person’s life except God’s grace.
Which religion tells this glorious truth that a person already in heaven while living on earth.
We are redeemed from our sin to be with Christ forever.
 WHAT GRACE DOES TO OUR FUTURE
Lord Jesus promised that HE already prepared your place and my place according to HIS riches.
Because of God’s grace we will have spiritual blessing beyond human comprehension.
Because of God’s grace we will inherit what Christ has in glory
We received God’s special favor when we first believed in HIM – so no one can take credit.
Grace is everything in a Christian’s life - our faith – our good works – our blessings – all linked to the grace of God in Christ.
Salvation is not a reward from God but always a free gift through Jesus Christ.
This is the only difference in Christianity and other world religion.
We Are God’s Handiwork created in Christ
God’s grace in Christ initiates the process for us to live as children of God. 
Grace of God molds our character and attitudes to mature spiritually.
Grace of God enables us to serve and one another.
God made us such that we can be useful tools to be used by Him.
In our Christian life everything hinges on Grace of God.
We should never forget that it cost our Lord Jesus everything.
That is why Grace is hard to understand or grasp for those who live outside of HIS grace.
It’s by grace we have been saved, through our faith in Lord Jesus Christ.

We are still in the subject of Baptism in the Protest Denominations
Baptism is only for believers
Who is a believer?
Must be a forgiven sinner – accepted the gift of salvation - received HIM as Lord and Savior – transformed spiritually with a changed heart.
Whoever repents for sins and believes in Lord Jesus Christ becomes a believer immediately.
Baptism is a symbolic act 
Baptism is not required for salvation - salvation is required for baptism
Baptism is only by full immersion in water
This is the only way believers in the Lord are being baptized throughout the world.
Why to be baptized?
I. BECAUSE IT IS AN ACT OF CLEANSING
Significance of inward cleansing of the heart of a person
The stains of sin cannot be washed but cleansed with precious blood of Christ.
Cleansing of the heart symbolizes two things
A. Justified   (Sinner becomes saint)
At Garden of Eden, Adam lost the original relationship with God because of disobedience.
Since then every human is at war with God because of DNA of sin.
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
God declare everyone who receives Christ to be righteous, based on Christ’s righteousness.
We are justified, declared righteous, the moment we receive Christ into our hearts.
His sacrifice covers all human sin where God sees us as perfect and unblemished. 
God declares us righteous and justified.
Since we have been justified we have peace with God.
As Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 3:21 now we have a clear conscience before God.
B. Reconciled   (Relationship repaired)
Since everyone has a broken relationship with God we needed reconciliation.
Christ repaired the broken relationship between human and God through Cross.
2 Cor 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. 
Now there is no barrier between Holy God and sinful human.
We were God’s enemies, but are now His friends (Romans 5:10)
We were in a state of condemnation because of our sins, but we are now forgiven. 
II. BECAUSE IT IS AN IDENTIFICATION WITH LORD JESUS
A. Identifies with the Lord’s death and resurrection
In baptism a person considers himself/herself as having died, buried and risen with the Lord Jesus Christ.
The believer is ‘identifying’ and ‘joining’ with the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
B. Clothed with Christ
Apostle Paul says that we are clothed with Christ.
Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
It is to mean that we belong to Christ.
Through this act of baptism, a believer is declaring that he/she belongs to Lord Jesus.
In Baptism, a believer declares outwardly that he/she received forgiveness of sins. 
In Baptism, the Christian publicly proclaims an end to the old way of life or the old order. 
In baptism the old sinful life is buried and submerged under water.
Raising out of the water the believer is ushered into a new life under Christ.
The believer will be under the Lordship of Christ till death.
The baptized believer will join the fellowship of the church and the people of God worldwide.
A believer confirms the inward conversion in the outward expression of baptism.

It is important for every Christian to get a grasp of the baptism given by John the Baptist as it relates to Protestant baptism by immersion.
I will raise three questions and answer them to grasp the ministry of John the Baptist.
WHO IS JOHN THE BAPTIST?
Gospel writers refer to John as the one prophet Isaiah was talking about in Isaiah 40:3.
In John 1:6 Gospel writer describes John being sent by God.
Matthew talks about the miraculous birth of John through Angel Gabriel.
Writer of Matthew says He lived in the desert, wore clothes made of camel’s hair, leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey.
WHAT IS HIS PURPOSE?
A. To prepare the way for Lord Jesus
He was preaching to repent for sins and get baptized.
He was preparing the people of Israel for the coming kingdom of Lord Jesus.
He was preparing the hearts of people to see the Messiah in Lord Jesus Christ.
He was fulfilling the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah: “Prepare the way for the Lord – straight paths for HIM”
He also challenged the Jewish establishment and confronted the king Herod for his immorality.
Similarities in Lord Jesus and John the Baptist lives:
Both challenged the established religion and authorities and both were killed violently. 
B. To witness for the Lord
Summarizing John 1: 19-31: He is not the Christ – He is not worthy to untie the shoe laces of Jesus.
Declares Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sins.
He saw Holy Spirit descending on Jesus after he baptized HIM in Jordan.
John declared that Jesus will baptize with Holy Spirit and testified that HE is the Son of God.
John’s main purpose to baptize people is to reveal Jesus to Israel.
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM JESUS BAPTISM?
Acts 19:1-5
Apostle Paul was instrumental to establish many churches in the 1st century.
He gave the structure, design and doctrines in the early years of the church.
Apostle Paul understood the role of John and also the baptism given by him.
We have to keep in mind some factors to understand the differences.
There was no established Church because church started after Pentecost.
Christ did not die for the sins yet.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ was not preached yet.
Great commission was not yet given and Holy Spirit was not promised to the believer yet.
Finally John’s baptism was not in the Name of the Son (Jesus Christ).
The only connection between the two baptisms is this that one has to repent for sins before taking baptism.
His main role was to reveal Lord Jesus Christ and declare HIM to be the Son of God.
That was his great privilege as a fore runner to the Lord.
He came in the spirit of Elijah with such boldness and courage to challenge the establishment.
His baptism was insufficient for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Immersion Baptism given by the disciples of the Lord overrides John’s baptism.