Redemption - Something Old & Something New

Study Notes

Paul tells us what we were “dead in trespasses and sins” and he tells us what we are “quickened together with Christ”.

Ephesians 2:1–10 KJV 1900

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Main Thought

In the middle of Paul’s discussion here about our redemption he highlights a significant truth. He begins to explain this truth with the phrase “but God”. If you think about it, the phrase “but God” is one of the most marvelous phrases in all of the Bible. Paul says simply, this is what you were, but because of the mercy of God, this is what you are! Paul want us to appreciate what it means to stand on redemption ground!

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In this lesson we will look at 2 important truths. The first is where we were and the second is where we are. These two truths are divided by the important phrase “but God”.

I. The Terrible Pit of Man’s Condition

This is the explanation of our condition before we were rescued by the wonderful grace of God!

Isaiah 51:1 KJV 1900

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, And to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

If you have been saved any length of time you are aware of how easy it is for us to forget where we were and where God has brought us.

Let’s look at how Paul describes our prior condition

A. Controlled by the direction of the world

"ye walked according to the course of this world"

Ephesians 2:2 KJV 1900

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

What does Paul mean "the course of this world"?- He means the world has a direction, the world has a system and it is trying to force you into it and at one time it was all you knew and it was all you thought about.

It has things it cares about

Matthew 13:22 KJV 1900

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

It can taint us still:

James 1:27 KJV 1900

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

We are admonished not to love it and we are reminded that it is contrary to God- it is not of God

1 John 2:15–16 KJV 1900

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

B. Controlled by the dominating power of Satan.

Ephesians 2:2 KJV 1900

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Many people, even Christians, hear the name Satan and they think he is some force of darkness that only really wicked people have to deal with.

This verse is telling us that there is a spirit working in the “children of disobedience” (the unsaved man), and it is not the Holy Spirit. Paul said furthermore that at one time we were walking according to the direction of this “spirit”.

Do you look at the world and ask yourself “How can people act the way they are acting”?

How does Satan “the prince of the power of the air” work in these people?

Illustration: I watched a news article on one of the Phoenix TV stations about 2 women who had opened a clinic in Scottsdale. They were sure they could heal people by channeling positive energy over their patients. They used terms like spiritual, love, alternative medicine - but what they are doing is in line with the “prince of the power of the air”!

Examples of conditioning in culture:

Harry Potter books (you had better look into the books your children are reading)

Video Games that are full of demonic characters

Movies that promote occult practices

Middle Eastern meditative practices (Yoga and Meditation) - Teaching it in school

Teenagers cutting themselves

Tattoos are on the rise

Body mutilation

2 Thessalonians 2 The Bible tells us that he is working but he is being restrained

C. Controlled by the desires of our flesh.

Ephesians 2:3 KJV 1900

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

What are the desires of our flesh?

Galatians 5:19–21 KJV 1900

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The flesh is simply our old nature- our old man

Psalm 40:2 KJV 1900

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,

II. The Towering Pinnacle of Man’s Redemption

After Paul describes for us what we were and where we were, he turns the conversation toward the wonderful event that was our redemption.

Do you remember the day you got saved?

Do you realize what a miracle it was?

Do you realize what took place that moment?

A. Alive through Christ

“hath quickened us together with Christ”

Ephesians 2:4–5 KJV 1900

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Illustration: Think for a moment to the worlds answer to death…they don't have one. The only answer is to place the body in a tomb or in a box and bury it 6 feet under the ground. Oh sure they embalm first. They preserve for a few moments to cherish the memory of a lost loved one, but there is no answer, there is no solution only weeping and sorrow and questions!

But God!!!!!!

Colossians 2:13 KJV 1900

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

B. Ascended with Christ

“raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”

Ephesians 2:6 KJV 1900

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

When God looks at us all he sees is Jesus Christ! We are in Him, and we are seated with Him!!

This is a thought beyond all thought: He has raised us from the tomb and placed us on the throne. The verbs quickened, raised, and seated in Ephesians 2:5-6 are all in the aorist tense - it is already done.- Phillips

C. Assigned to live for Christ

“unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”

Ephesians 2:10 KJV 1900

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

i. We are His workmanship (His creation)

Deuteronomy 32:6 KJV 1900

Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee, and established thee?

Psalm 100:3 KJV 1900

Know ye that the Lord he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

ii. We are to work

Colossians 1:10 KJV 1900

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Conclusion