Prayer Service

Introduction

• What are you thankful for this week?

Being here with my church family. Back from Seminary.

• What difficulties have you faced this week?

Being in a DEMILITARIZED ZONE.

• How did you experience God this past week?

Fellowship with other Pastor’s and professor.

• How can we pray for each other?

I pray for this church as we move into a new year and season.

Read the Passage: Ephesians 2:1-10

• Are there any words you do not understand in this passage?

Tresspass and Sin: Paul addresses sin in other writings. Ephesians 2:1–3 is a key text when considering the doctrine of sin. Paul tells the Ephesian believers, “you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Eph 2:1). Paul adds, “we were by nature deserving of wrath” (v. 3). These statements are sometimes cited to support the claim that people are born spiritually dead and under God’s wrath. However, Paul begins by telling the Ephesian believers: you were dead in “your transgressions and sins” (v. 1). The reason they were spiritually dead (before they were made alive in Christ) was their own acts of transgression and sin. Additionally, verses 2 and 3 refer to sinful actions committed prior to the conversion of those believers. Paul clarifies his statement on transgressions and sins, “in which you [plural] used to live when you followed the ways of this world” (v. 2). Paul repeats the theme in verse 5, explaining that God “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.” Our transgressions result in our spiritual death. As Paul writes in Romans 7:9, “Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.”

Adam Harwood, Christian Theology: Biblical, Historical, and Systematic (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Academic, 2022), 348.

Eph 2:1 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins”

We were spiritually dead because of our missteps and actions against God.

Eph 2:2 “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—”

Course - Age

“prince” - Satan

Eph 2:3 “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.”

We are all born with a proclivity toward sin.

Eph 2:4 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,” -

Marks a turning point in this passage. From death to life.

“Rich in mercy”

Alive by Big Daddy Weave

I was dead in my transgressions Wandering in sin I went searching for redemption Down a road that had no end

I was walking through the fire I was living on the run With my flesh lost in desire I was drowning in the flood

But God, rich in mercy You came to save me Now I'm alive But God, strong and mighty You reached down for me So I could rise Now I'm alive

Eph 2:5 “even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”

We are saved through God’s grace.

Eph 2:6 “and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”

Important because Ephesus had occult practices.

Eph 2:7 “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Since the debt we had to pay was so great, the kindness and grace that had to be shown was immeasurable. Coming from an infinite God, there is no way to gauge it.

Eph 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”

The verb form for “have been saved” (Gk. sesōsmenoi, perfect tense) communicates that the Christian’s salvation is fully secured.

Eph 2:9 “not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Ephesians 2:9–10 (ESV Study Bible): Salvation is not based on works, but the good works Christians do are the result and consequence of God’s new creation work.

Eph 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

VBS Spark Studios.

God and Christ together.

Ephesians 2:10 (JCAC): The Greek word translated “workmanship” is poiema—from which we get our word “poem.” Thus, we are God’s poetry.

• What happened in this passage?

Col 2:13

Discover God’s Word

• What do you like?

God did not leave us in our fallen state.

• What surprised you?

God showed us grace.

• What confused you? Why?

He chose to save us.

• What does this passage tell us about God?

He is powerful and gracious.

• What does this passage tell us about people?

We are dead in our sin.

• What does this passage tell us about the relationship between God and people?

God reconciles us to himself. We are saved to do good works, not THROUGH good works. The order is important. The works come because of our love for Christ, not out of a sense of obligation.

Obey God’s Word

• How does this passage change how you view God?

He is loving, holy, and just. He showed compassion in choosing to save us.

• How does this passage change how you view yourself?

The actions I do are important.

• How does this passage change how you view other people?

Encourage one another to do good works.s

• How should this passage change how you live?

Obey God’s Word and do good works!

• What specifically will you do differently this coming week?

Seek God’s guidance.

• Who can you tell what you learned?

The church!