Made Alive

It uses the words of 1 Corinthians 15:51–52“51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Follows magnificent songs of the Hallelujah Chorus & I know That My Redeemer Liveth

After sitting through Messiah many think it should end at Hallelujah Chorus

Last portion is the expression of our hope

In fact, Christian hymnody uses this same form throughout history

Notice how many of the hymns we sing about the Gospel are the same

Begin with our sinfulness & the cross, rise to the resurrection & finish triumphantly with our hope of eternal life and heaven

e.g. Songs we’ve sung today: One Day, And Can It Be?, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Amazing Grace

As we celebreate Resurrection Sunday today we’re not just celebrating an event

We’re celebrating what that event means and what it’s power continues to do

Day of joy & celebration

Joy & celebration is because today is about life & hope

OPENING PRAYER READ Eph. 1:15-23

Today is a day of joy and celebration, because today is about life and hope

Why is it so full of joy for us?

Read Eph. 2:1-10

Perhaps notice He made alive in 2:1 is italicized

Not in original but implied

Placing it makes the reading a little smoother

Also puts main focus right at beginning

Everything actually leads to made us alive in Eph. 2:5

Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (a. Condition Described (2:1))

The apostle chooses not to explain the grace of God until he makes inescapably clear the desperate need of human beings.

Harold Hoehner

If today is about life then why are we talking about death?

Understanding being dead helps us recognise glorious miracle of being made alive

Gospel is heart of passage – don’t want to obscure that

Focus particularly is on being made alive

Let’s consider that today, what kind of life is this?

Our Need to be Made Alive

(Eph. 2:1-3)

We are Dead in Our Sin

Eph. 2:1

Spiritually Dead

To be made alive needs context

It start with our need for life

True life is more than just existence, physical

We use it in this context of quality often

e.g. Live your life to the full or this is living

Full life includes spiritual (in fact, requires the spiritual)

God tells us we’re all spiritually dead

Physical death is part of spiritual death

Ephesians 4:18“18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;”

Separated from God & from His life

Nothing good about death itself

Brings pain, sorrow, loss

Death means we’re utterly incapable of living

I know why our society has such major issues with depression, anxiety, etc.

We’re dead people trying to convince ourselves that this death is life

We think we’re living but we’re not

Romans 8:7–8“7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

This is why God must act for our salvation

We’re completely incapable of doing anything

Dead in trespasses and sins

What puts us in this horrible situation is sin?

Sin brings death – in all its forms

Death isn’t because we commit sin, death is because we are in sin, we are natural born sinners

Trespasses = to go wrong direction, to be on wrong path

Sin = to miss the mark, to be guilty

To be in sin is to be opposed to God, different direction, to fall short of His perfect standard

State of sinfulness has separated us from life in God, we are spiritually dead

This is why we need to be made alive

Now see some implications of this body of death

We are Under the Influence of Sin

Eph. 2:2-3

We’re in bondage to temporal living

These explain why we see what we do in the world

Sin is personal but also universal

My sin plays a part in a cosmic battle

Sin/death leaves us with no hope for the future

So, we pursue the present, what advantage can I have now

Course = age, time

Shows us that we pursue what is now, concerned about what is present

Don’t think enough about the past or consider the implications of our choices on the future

This is how sin shapes our minds

This is why we’re so fickle and so easily dissatisfied

Constantly looking for latest trends, what’s fashionable, what’s the latest cultural wave to ride

We exist in death and in death there is only what is now

We’re in bondage to the Wicked One

Live in a spiritual environment

There are forces beyond us we don’t see, don’t know & can’t control

Air = indicates sphere of influence & denotes universality

Doesn’t mean everyone is demon possessed

Does mean we’re all under his influence

1 Jn. 5:19 – We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Satan will do all he can to keep us in bondage & death

2 Cor. 4:4 – whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

We like to think we’re in control of our own destiny but we’re being played

We’re in bondage to our own lusts

We can’t blame anyone else because we are the problem

We live by the creed “if it makes you happy” or “if it’s not hurting anybody else”

Feed our selfish desires

Our philosophy is if I feel it then it must be true & therefore I must obey it

Rarely, if ever, considering that the feeling or desire might be wrong

Rarely, if ever, considering that those urges should be resisted

We are wholly slaves to our lusts

We are Condemned in Our Sin

Eph. 2:3 - by nature the children of wrath

We’re under God’s wrath

These truths lead to only 1 end – judgment

Because of our sin God who is holy, righteous, just, good must punish sin

So by our very nature we are doomed

Doomed to eternal condemnation & judgment

Doomed to eternal separation from God & His life

We’re all the same

We all…just as the others

None of us can sit here in pride

These verses describe every one of us

May have expressed it differently & in varying degrees

Now that’s the bad news, here’s the good news

God Makes Us Alive

Eph. 2:4-7

God Makes Us Alive

Eph. 2:4-5

We’re recipients of God’s great love

God who is holy, righteous, just & good, that must punish sin

Is also God who’s love is far greater than we can comprehend

Jn. 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Rom. 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Those who trust in Jesus are recipients of His great love

Now that you think of it in terms of 2:1-3 how much greater does His love look now?

How is Eph. 1 enacted? By the great love of God

We’ve been made alive with Christ

Rom. 6:4-5 – 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

God who is rich in mercy showed His great love by sending His Son Jesus

We’re made alive not by what we do

Remember we’re dead – there is NO life in us

We’re alive because Christ took our place

Our life is found in Him because in Him we died to sin & rose again

Life comes by believing Jesus

Jn. 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

2 Tim. 1:10 – but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Before we were separated from God & His life

With Christ we are brought near

1 Pet. 3:18 – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

What kind of life is this He gives?

God Gives Us Abundant Life

Eph. 2:6-7

We’re given new life

If we’re existing in this state of death what kind of life does God give?

Is it really possible that even in a world in bondage to sin, death & Satan we can live! Truly live & be completely satisfied?

He makes us alive

This isn’t old life made better

E.g. Not like taking my head & putting it on new body – I’m still same dufus just taller

This is new life, life like we’ve never known before

We believers need to start recognising this glorious reality

We don’t need to keep looking for more just learn to experience what already given

Realise these truths actually affect my everyday life

We’re given a divine life

2 Pet. 1:4 – by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Not a life we can conjure up on own or earn

Not God just supercharging old

E.g. taking something old & giving it more power

This is God taking me out of death & breathing His life into me

My life is magnificently connected to His

This truth which not only makes rest possible but daily realities

We’re given an everlasting life

God defines life & death by more than just existence

Ultimate defining point of life & death revolves around relationship with Him

Physical death doesn’t end life

Spiritual death is eternal separation

Spiritual life is eternal relationship of love

That means that I will see my dad & Hudson again & my greatest joy & hope will be realised

Together we will serve, worship & praise God

It means forever we who believe will know the fullness & satisfaction of why we were created

It means I am no longer in bondage to course of this world

I can break free from it’s temporal, broken fantasies & live with absolute hope that I have more than just what’s here

I have a glorious future

If I never surf the waves of relevance & trend I’m not missing a thing!

We’re given a secure life

Eph. 1:13-14

In the eternal there is security

I know what the future holds & who is in control

I know that God loves me, cares for me & protects me

I know that He will not forsake me nor destroy me

I know that He will hold me fast

Jude 24 – Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

We’re given a joyful life

1 John 1:3–4 “3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

We can say with Nehemiah “joy of the Lord is my strength”

We know forgiveness, have fellowship with God

Have every resource for life at our disposal

Free from bondage of sin, self & Satan

Certainty of our future

We are given real joy

Dissatisfaction comes because we allow our past to rule instead of looking at who we are

Phil. 4:4 – rejoice in the Lord

We’re given a triumphant life

Jn. 11:25 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

1 John 2:12–14“12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.”

We have victory over the wicked one

We are no longer under his bondage

We know how he works (2 Cor. 4:11)

Have resources to defend (Eph. 6)

Neither are we enslaved to our own lusts

Rom. 6:11-12 – 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

2 Cor. 2:14-17

We’re given an abundant life

Overflowing with blessings (Eph. 1:3)

Recipients of exceeding riches of grace

Adopted into family

Life can now be lived to its fullest

Absolutely everything has purpose

Life is full & rich & glorious

Even when it’s dark & you walk through valley of shadow of death He is there with comfort

And on other side is a banquet & rest

We’re given a purposeful life

All of this reveals a life full of purpose

Conclusion

There is more to this world than what we see

We have less control over our lives than we think

In a world ruined by sin God brings life

God takes people like you & me

Dead in sin

Slaves to our passions & easily influenced by wickedness

Without any possibility of life

He makes us alive

You can know that abundant life today

Can know what it is to have genuine hope for future

To be truly free & genuinely joyful

1 Jn. 5:11 – And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

Believer you have been made alive

Sin & death no longer have power over you

Live this life with passion & purpose

Col. 3:1-3 – If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Set your mind on Christ, live the life He has given you

Person you were is gone – Live like who you really are

Praise God that He has delivered from death to life

Jn. 5:24 – Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Closing Prayer

Gracious & loving Heavenly Father,

There is so much about this world that we don’t understand, so much we don’t see so we thank you that you have seen fit to reveal truth to us in your Word. Today, in your Word we have been humbled by the glorious truth that you have made us alive with Christ. We, who once were dead in our trespasses and sins, without hope and aliens from you, have been given true, abundant life. So, now we offer you our thanksgiving and our praise for we are no longer children of wrath but your beloved sons.

I ask that today your Spirit would be moving in the hearts of any here that may still be dead in their sins. Dear God, awaken their spirit, open their eyes and breathe life into their soul today.

In Jesus name, Amen

Benediction

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Heb. 13:20-21

Related Media

Related Sermons