Ephesians 2

Saved to Work: Living Out Our Faith in Christ

Bible Passage: Eph 2:1–22

Summary: Ephesians 2:1-22 elaborates on the transformative power of God's grace in salvation, emphasizing that we were once dead in sin but are made alive through Christ. It highlights the transition from separation from God to being a part of His household, meant for good works. Note the good works context is the Church - this is why Church can often be so hard - it is a classroom for our sanctification.

Application: This sermon can help Christians understand that their salvation is not just a ticket to heaven but a calling to actively live out their faith through good works - linked to Eph 4:1-2. It encourages believers to see themselves as instruments of God's grace in their communities, promoting love and service.

Teaching: The teaching focuses on the concept that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, which prepares us for a life of good works. It emphasizes our identity in Christ and the call to work towards God’s purposes in the Church - as a sign to the world.

How this passage could point to Christ: In the broader context of Scripture, Christ is central to the salvific plan of God. Ephesians 2 speaks about how through Christ, believers are reconciled to God and incorporated into the body of Christ, which is vital for understanding the New Testament's view of salvation and good works.

Big Idea: Our salvation by grace through faith empowers us to engage in good works that reflect God's love and purpose in the world.

1. Disciples of Satan to disciples of Christ - flight from darkness ot light

Eph 2:1-5

Emphasize our transformation from spiritual death to life in Christ - all are disciples of Satan pre-Christ. This pivotal moment is crucial: we were once dead in our transgressions, but God, rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. Encouraging the audience to grasp the depth of this transformation can inspire them to live for Christ.

Said we will never be of any earthly good until we become heavenly minded

                  Let’s get practical!  I’m a practical person!

                  “I’ve committed to be a Christian – just tell me what to do!”

OK, but our behaviour will always be determined by the level of conviction of our beliefs, right?

So people say, “I want to get fit”. Maybe true but we might also really want to be warm and comfortable, so when it is raining hard the issue is which conviction is strongest?

                  Problem is we are committed to many things:  comfort, ease, pleasure, leisure time, family, job…

Ultimately it is our deepest desires and convictions are the ones that ultimately win

The practical examples in this letter are – church community relations

I’m going to show you where this heavenly-minded flight lands, place of testing of our conviction of the importance of our faith is the church – slide spoiler

                  “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness with patience, bearing with one another eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Eph 4:1-3…..remember this is a church letter

                  Shouldn’t work  – and doesn’t work when we don’t fly high into the heavelies

John 13:34-5 love each other AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!

            Total commitment to death!

Church – all races, traditions, politics, ages – love each other and blow the mind of the watching world!

So for the practical amongst us – this is why we are flying so high in the heavenlies

o   Who is sufficient for this worthy walk?

o   Because by any stretch of the imagination this is really hard right?

o   New testament church – no room for disunity, gossip, malicious talking, personal character attacks and assassinations.

o   3 Keys to help us here to love each other and the church

o   Why is church often so hard?

§  Lack of grasp / gripping of grace and gospel

So let’s back track to verse 1-3

 Without Christ you were/are a follower of Satan – dead in sin without hope in the world (2:12)

There is a spirit at work in the world

There is a naturally evil course of events – life without God

o   This is every human who has ever lived(vs. 3 “all”)

o   Every human was a disciple of satan!

§  John 8:44 Father is the devil!

§  Really?  I was a fairly good person…I didn’t really need saving, just forgiving for a few things

o   If you are not learning from God you are learning from Satan

§  Common grace learning

o   Following self and desires of the body over honouring God.

You and I needed saving – what from?

o   Life lived without God!  Hell.

o   Selfishness and self centredness

o   You needed a new teacher, representative, Father, power

 2. Saved by Grace through faith alone

Eph 2:8

You see the journey from Eph 2:1-3 to verse 4-9 is a HUGE flight friends.

Heard of British Airways?

Have you heard of Calvary Cross Airways?

And verse 10 immediately shows the result of a truly graced life that has flown from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light via Calvary Cross Airways.

Friend you can’t move from being a disciple of satan to disciple of Christ in your own strength as much as you could walk to the sun!  You need to be taken there.

You can’t move from verse 1-3 to chapter 4 without the intervention of God.

How do I know this?

·      Because vs 8 says it is a ‘gift of God’

·      Just as repentance and faith are ‘gifts of God’ – Acts 5:31

·      So that no one can boast.

There is no way you will be able to walk in verse 10 (developed in chapter 4) until your heart has been changed! 

                  Before this – no desire to worship God, obey God or serve others in His Name for His glory.

                  Remember the purpose of your life Eph 1:12 “to the praise of His glory”

                                    You didn’t want this

Because of the cross you are now seated in the heavenly realms with Christ because Christ is in YOU!

                  You are in HIM in the heavenly realms because HE is in you in the earthly

Remember the inheritance slide

All a gift of God none your works, lest you and I should boast and we do try don’t we?

·      Wealth of grace

·      Gripped by grace

·      Blinded by this grace – enough for it to stop you having to self-justify?

Verse 8, along with Romans 1:17, are the key verses that God used to reform the church in the 16th century. 

                  “The righteous shall live by faith”

Before this time, the church was teaching that you get to heaven by being good and keeping the rules.

                  Still does in places:  infused righteousness.  Jesus’ work on the cross plus my obedience fused together.

Chap called Martin Luther (who by the way was far from perfect) said, no this verse here shows our righteousness is imputed to us, given as a gift freely!

Some still say – “Ah Andy but what about James 2:24 A person is justified by works and not by faith alone”. James is using justified in a Jewish sense (same as in Matthew) – writing about different things:

                  Romans – about right standing with God – all grace

                  James – about right living – how we respond to the grace

All of these works are marks of genuine faith

True faith works – work out your salvation with fear and trembling: a working faith

Slide – true saving faith

OK if I’m securely saved then…party time!

                  Yes but not to sin – free to work things through and not get offended!

BEST place is Church…

                  Have you been gripped by this grace – blinded?

3. Prepared for Purpose and integrated into God’s family

Eph 2:6-10

1.        You are saved to work out your salvation by applying it practically (vs. 10)

Now let’s get practical. What are these good works prepared in advance for us to do?

It takes heavenly mindedness and Christ honouring spiritual and indwelling power to work worthy.

Eph 4:1-2 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness with patience, bearing with one another eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Eph 4:1-3

High view of the church in Ephesians

                  Worked examples of preaching the gospel to ourselves in the mud and muck of church life

                  Miles easier to stay isolated and away from Church – yes indeed but the church is the classroom God has given to you to become more like Jesus.

·      Whole of chapter 4! Notice “be angry” 4:26 – in context of church community.  Put away slander (4:31)

Someone says something or does something you don’t like in Church

                  How does this all land – does it land?

Just love each other – forgive and move on…

                  Not what Matt 18:15-20 or 5:21-26:

Scenario 1 – you are going to someone about what they have against you (Matt 5:23-24)

You go to someone to ask for forgiveness: meekly and humbly, they may not reciprocate!

Scenario 2 – you go to someone about something you have against them (Matt 18:15)

                  Careful you haven’t got a log in your own eye when helping them with their spiritual eyesight (Matt 7:3)

                  Go to God first, maybe fast and seek wisdom

Courageous Christianity!

Blockers?

                  LOADS!!!   Fear of rejection, shame you might get it all wrong, lack of belief you know what to say, self-worth, historical (tried before it was a disaster!)

Issue is what is at stake here?

                  If it is your name, pride, character – mostly avoid conflict

                  If it is the name of God – so the world will say, look HOW they love one another – courageous.

                  Goal is authentic connection – not necessarily looking GOOD!

Me and Phil – Sunday evening?

Clear teaching is to try to work things through, win your brother over, and keep the unity of the Spirit. How?

1.        Remember where you came from – disciple of satan – low beginning

2.        Remember you have been saved by grace through faith alone (forgiven as massive debt) – secure in God’s love and calling – living in HIGH PLACES!!

3.        Remember you are part of the same family, same Father – high calling much at stake, not living isolated life.

a.        Satan still trying to drive a stake between us – divide and conquer:  much courage sisters and brothers…

Those who have been forgiven much love much right?  Luke 7:47

·      Is this text, email going to help maintain unity?

·      Is this conversation going to win someone over or discourage them?

·      Is this conversation about someone else going to help the person you are talking about really?

·      Kind, true, necessary, helpful?