Collins Peter preaches from Ephesians 2:1–10, focusing on the contrast between humanity’s hopeless condition in sin and the overwhelming brilliance of God’s saving grace. He begins by emphasizing that Scripture does not describe people as merely struggling or sick in sin, but as spiritually dead—unable to respond to God apart from divine intervention.
He explains that before salvation, people are described as:
Dead in trespasses and sins
Following the course of the world
Under the influence of the devil
Living according to sinful desires
Objects of God’s righteous judgment
Against this dark backdrop, Collins highlights the glorious turning point of the passage:
“But God…”
These words reveal the brightness of God’s grace, shining most clearly against the darkness of human sin. God, rich in mercy and motivated by great love, makes spiritually dead sinners alive together with Christ.
A central emphasis of the sermon is that salvation is entirely God’s work. Collins stresses that believers contribute nothing to their salvation except their need. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, and is not earned by works, morality, or religious effort. Even faith itself is a gift from God.
He further explains that while good works do not save, they are the inevitable result of salvation. Believers are described as God’s workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared in advance. The grace that saves is also the grace that transforms.
Collins concludes by inviting listeners to respond personally to God’s grace. No matter how deep the sin or how dark the past, the brightness of God’s grace is greater still. Those who were once part of the “family of the devil” can, by grace, become members of the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ.