“Love Through the Resurrection”

INTRODUCTION.

Why did God bring us out of sin and make us alive and give us work to do?

Let me show you three reasons why God brought us out of sin into life and good works.

Ephesians 2:1–10 NASB95

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, 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, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

MESSAGE.

1. God wants a relationship with us.

We are dead.

Ephesians 2:1 NASB95

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

We walk according to satan.

Ephesians 2:2 NASB95

2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Live in the lust of flesh.

desires of the flesh

desires of the mind

Ephesians 2:3 NASB95

3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, . . .

Deserving of God’s wrath.

Ephesians 2:3 NASB95

3 . . . and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Colossians 3:6 NASB95

6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,

2. God knows we are not capable of change on our own.

Ephesians 2:8 NASB95

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

We were dead to Him.

Ephesians 2:5 NASB95

5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Colossians 2:13 NASB95

13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

Isaiah 59:1–2 NASB95

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

He raised us.

Ephesians 2:6 NASB95

6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

3. God has work prepared for us.

God designed us special.

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, . . .

God prepared plans for us.

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

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

CONCLUSION.

We are saved for good works.

John 15:8, 2 Cor. 9:8, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:8, and James 2:20.

God wants what is good for us.

Now let us be about working out our salvation.