Eleventh Sunday after Trinity (2025)

Eph 2:1-10

My Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is a passage that was as Lutherans ought to know well. That Salvation is not by our works, not by our efforts, not because of our worthy, or anything that is inside of us, it is the work of Jesus Christ our Lord who rescued us from our sins, and restored us to God’s kingdom. This chapter follows a beautiful opening that is focused on Predestination and Divine Election, which is a teaching of pure grace as I hope you will see. For this passage let us work them in order to understand the blessed teaching that we have here that shares with us first the danger that you and all of mankind were in, and how God has saved us and brought us into His kingdom, and then delves into why we are here in this world. Since this is so beautiful laid out, we are going to look at the passage in sequence.

Dead in Sin, Sons of Disobedience(v1-3)

We were the walking dead.

For not only are we referred to as Dead in our Trespasses and sins, but we also walked following the course of this world. This is every man, woman, and child, we are born into sin as those who are all destined for hell. It doesn’t matter what family you were born into, it doesn’t matter what year you were born, it doesn’t matter if you had all the toys in the world, or had none at all. We

We began as disciples of the devil.

Following his lead, and his example, that we none us would fear, love or trust in God at all. We set our rules, we want to be our own people, we stubbornly and proudly follow our own hearts as we walk the road to hell, that is what it means he says, we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, and He means you, and me, and the whole world. For

This is where every christian begins.

None of us started in a better state even if we were born in Christian households, the Scriptures tell us that we were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. What that means is that by our birth, by our works, and by our desires, we deserved temporal and eternal punishment. If God were to act toward us in His Goodness, and His Justice, then everyone of us here would end up in hell, along with the whole human rest. The sinner inside of us cries out thats not fair, but how is it not fair that your creator who made you for a purpose watched you reject him and throw everything he had given you away? If this were the only message in Holy Scripture, it would be a bleak book without hope for anyone in the world, and that’s why v4 is so precious.

The Great Reversal and God’s Mercy(v4-6)

God is rich in mercy.

Mercy is what you and I rely on for our salvation. Not our works, not our birth, not our desires, but God’s mercy, and love that was shown to us while we were yet still sinners. For the Gospel was shared with us, not while we loved God, or cared for God, or honored God, the Gospel was proclaimed because God loves you. Because Mercy and Love isn’t about what is in your heart, and your being, but rather what is in the heart of God towards you. What does God do?

He brings us from death to life.

You WERE dead in your trespasses and sins, but God made you alive together with Christ. Which means once again, does it depend upon your works? Your walk with God? It depends upon the Mercy and Love of the Father who sent Christ to bring you to life. This is all building on the chapter that came right before it, that is all about Predestination, Divine Election, that God chose you through Christ before the foundation of the world, and if God did that, then your salvation doesn’t depend upon the works of someone who was a follower and disciple of the devil himself, for what good can they do? It depends upon the one who made all things Good in the first place. Then the text says, that he raised us up with him, and seated us with him.

To be seated means we have a place.

A place in the House of God at the table of God where we partake of that banquet of rich food, marrow, and well aged wine well refined that we are on that Holy Mountain where death has been swallowed up forever and the victory belongs to us, because Christ has given it to you. But why?

For What Purpose? (v7)

The coming age is Christ’s kingdom.

This is what the Old Testament Believers longed to see, and what the Disciples longed to see, and what we long to see. Christ’s eternal kingdom. It is that beautiful place described in Revelation where every tear is wiped away from our eyes, and where death is no more. Pain, suffering, and anguish are all gone, and we dwell with Christ.

The Scriptures speak of kindness.

But what does that mean? The word itself refers to goodness, uprightness, honesty, and generosity all admirable and desirable things. In this world there is a shortness of kindness, and I don’t just mean at the higher levels of governments, and organizations, I mean even at the ground level and the kindness we are to show each other. But God has shown great kindness to us already in Christ Jesus who did not abandon us, but gave up his life to die for us while were sinners. This goodness should not surprise us,

Think back to the creation.

When God created Adam and Eve he gave them everything they needed and planted it within the garden, but why? Why do this for them? Why create this garden, why provide food, and even when they fell into sin, why promise that there would be a savior to these bits of clay that had spit in his face? Grace, Mercy, Kindness which God has in abundance, and he has shown that same kindness to you. How often have you heard God’s word and yet spurned him? Have often have you treated his treasures as cheap because they don’t get you what you want in this world that follows the course of satan? Yet all of us today can look there at the Cross and with thankful hearts say, Jesus is there for me. For its

The Gift of God (v8-9)

By grace you have been saved through faith.

This means salvation does not depend upon you, you are merely the recipient of God’s grace. For what did you contribute to the Cross of Jesus? What did you offer up that was equal to the sacrifice of Christ? There is nothing, that is why it is By grace, you have been saved through faith, and what is faith? Believing what Jesus said and that is created by the Spirit in your heart through God’s Word, which means, it’s all a gift.

Since it’s a gift, no one can boast.

No one can say that they saved themselves, that they worked hard enough so that God approved them, for the one who worked to accomplish salvation for mankind, didn’t need to be saved. It was Jesus who shed his blood for you and me. So that no one may say, salvation is too hard, there is no way God could forgive me, God only wants good or perfect people.

God saved you while Satan was working in you.

If God saved you when you were that far gone, if Jesus shed his blood for you, then you don’t you see the riches of His grace and the kindness that is in His heart for you. For if it depends upon God’s grace, His mercy, and His Kindness, then there is hope for every sinner by grace through faith. So what now?

God’s Workmanship (v10)

We are God’s creation.

When God created us in the garden it wasn’t just to be idle and wander around doing whatever pleased our hearts, that’s Satan’s way, but we seek to do His will and show that same love, grace, and kindness that God has shown to each of us. For we were created for God works, and

Good works don’t precede faith.

For if you are following the passions of the flesh, if you are following the prince of the power of the air, and are part of the sons of disobedience you ain’t doing good works, no matter how hard you try because you are dead in your trespasses and sins, but if you have been made alive in Christ, then Good works flow and serve your neighbor as God intended. So

Let us walk in the light of Jesus.

The world won’t want us to, and it will seek to drag us back down into the same slavery that was leading us into death. But what did we gain from it? God has shown us mercy and kindness and extended to us grace beyond measure. Don’t we want to remain with the one who has given us all these treasures? He has freed us from death and made us alive and given us a place in His Kingdom. Don’t throw it away, rather remain in the light of Christ that we might join together in Christ’s kingdom.

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this is a beautiful passage and you can see why we as Lutherans have held up this passage which succintly teaches, about the sinfulness of mankind, the grace and kindness shown to us by God, how we are saved, and then after we are saved what we are then to do. Cherish this passage and know it well for it reminds us that the reason we are saved isn’t because of what we have done, but rather by what God, Father, Son, and HOly Spirit, have done for us and the great kindness that has been shown to each of us. In Jesus name. Amen.