Ephesians 2:1-10

Intro

Announcement: Moving to the gym

Illustration: On the Journey of life it is good to sometimes look back… to get a picture of how far the Lord has brought you from then until now.

Time Hop application

Where are we going? Paul is going to do three things in this passage,

1) he is going to cause us to stare long and hard at the person we were before we met Jesus Christ. Its going to be uncomfortable.

2) He is going to Unpack how God shows his love for us.

3) We are going to see how all of this then should begin to alter the trajectory of our lives in this world.

– In other words, we going to see how exactly God begins to change us.

The Gospel in a paragraph

Big Idea: You were dead, but God made you alive, so that we may bring him Glory!

Read and Pray

Part 1: You Were… V 1-3

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 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— 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.

Who is the You?

the message can be applied to all people but Paul is likely directly talking to the Gentiles.

Gentiles- those who are following Jesus who were outside of the Jewish faith.

You Gentiles V 11 (Next weeks Sermon)

None the less the message can be applied to all people.

Dead:

The Spiritually dead?

Following the world.

Following the devil.

Following the flesh.

By Nature… (We all) (You were born this way)

Trespasses of sin: commit an offense against (a person or a set of rules).

Your family Tree = Sons of disobedience

Piper “Our Parents are Mr and Mrs Disobedience.”

This is why when people sin it shouldnt suprise us… They need Jesus

Children of Wrath= You were seperated from God… outside his family… yet we will see God wants to change that and welcome you in.

of wrath.. and therefore living Lives that do not please God.

Dead in Sin

Sin:

Romans 7:8 (ESV)

But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

Romans 6:17 (ESV)

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,

(Outside of Christ):

Following….

Living in….

Carrying Out….

Walking in…

Children of …..

Transition: Your condition dictate's your need for saving…

Part 2: But God…

Ephesians 2:4–6 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Even when we were dead…

God: How does the passage describe God?

Rich in Mercy

Because of Love (Motivated by Love)

Love Directed at us.

Because of Gods love directed towards us….

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Made us alive (The Action):

He took what was spiritually dead and made us alive…

How?

Extended Grace.

Seated us with him.

In Chris you have been moved from death to life.

Eyes of our Hearts enlightened.

New Positional l Reality in Christ:

Made us… Have been saved… Raised us up… seated us… (Already reality for those in Christ)

Transition: Now the story does not stop there. We have an entire life to live. Paul goes on to describe Why God did this, and now how we live in response to this reality. turn with me to verse 7

Part 3: So that…

Ephesians 2:7–10 (ESV)

so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reason 1: Show

His character. (So that we may know what God is like)

His love to us.

Reason 2: You may not boast in yourself. (You may boast in God)

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Reason 3: You may walk in your new identity

created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

You are his workmanship.

Here is where you find the purpose for life? Living out the way you were designed by God… his workmanship.

Conclusion: A Gift from God

This is the great gift from God.

Matthew 7:11 ESV

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Romans 6:23 ESV

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