Ephesians 2:1-10

Intro - Make sure to get them onto church center.

Before Christ, what are you dead in? (Verse 1)

Ephesians 2:1 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

We are dead in our sin and our trespasses.

Trespasses represents our rebellion against God and sin represents our failure.

There is no life without Christ.

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Who did we use to follow? (Verse 2-3)

Ephesians 2:2–3 ESV

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— 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.

The world

Satan (Prince of Power

Doing what we wanted to do

When we are alive in Christ, our desires change. Our idea of what right and wrong is changes. What we do, changes.

What does children of wrath mean? (Verse 3)

Ephesians 2:3 ESV

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.

God is just. There is punishment for our sin.

This punishment is death:

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Without Christ, we do not have life. We are separated from Christ. The punishment is that we are eternally separated from God

There was wrath that was supposed to be placed on us. Prior to us being saved, there was punishment for us.

Before God, we were children of wrath

What is God rich in? What is God great in? Why? (Verse 4)

Ephesians 2:4 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

Sometimes, we like to play God and we think we know what is best. We think we could have done something differently. Or we ask, why did God have to do it this way.

We must be humble and realize, God didn’t have to save us. God didn’t have to love us. He didn’t need to show mercy. But God is rich in mercy, He is great in love. He loves you!

How did God show His mercy and love to us? (Verse 5-6)

Ephesians 2:5–6 ESV

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

He died for you while you were still a sinner! While you were still dead.

When Jesus raise from the dead, He also raised us believers as well from death.

Can we save ourselves? What saves us? (Verse 8-9)

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

The Grace of God saves us through our faith in Him. We are not saved by our works otherwise we can take credit for salvation. Only Christ can save us and make us alive.

However, there we need to accept this gift and believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. This acceptance though, should make your life look a lot more different.

If we are saved, do we just get to be lazy now and do what we want? Why? (Verse 10)

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

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

Once you believe, your life should change and you should start to love Jesus.

We are created to do good works for Jesus. Don’t take advantage of His grace. He did not die so that you could keep on sinning.

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you have faith and trust in Him as your Lord? Why or why not?

- Go to God in prayer, pray with the ACTS Method. Having faith and trusting in God requires time spent with Him.

- Challenge yourself to go to God!