From Death to Life

Intro

Who are you in Christ? This is something that we have been working through for the last month or so. We are learning just who Christ made us to be. A people of worship. A people of prayer. And today, let’s learn what Paul says about the transformational power of Christ.

The Scripture hinges on the idea that we have to be born again, transformed, made new in Christ in order to receive the salvation that Christ offers.

In youth group we play a game that Ms. Lexi taught us, it is called “dead cow.” Now the premise of this game is that everyone is a cow, they’re on the floor and they’re dead. The farmer has to try to bring these cows back to life by making them move, laugh, or talk!

Actually, let me just show you! (get some youth to help demonstrate).

As fun as that game is, it shows the value of someone caring enough to check on the condition of their herd. Someone who is willing to go to each “cow” and do everything in his power to bring them to life!

This is what we see in Ephesians chapter 2. The Scripture is clear that we once were totally dead, gone — but in Christ, we are made alive!

Let’s examine that now.

Who We Were — Dead

Ephesians 2:1–3 “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.”

The first thing we see is that we were dead!

We Were Dead

Why did Paul use this type of language? I mean, we weren’t actually dead … right? Paul uses strong language to emphasize the strong nature of sin!

Sin isn’t just something we talk about in church. Sin isn’t just doing something that the flesh calls fun. Sin is direct and total rebellion against a Holy God.

Sin is the total rejection of His grace.

Sin is death.

So, in sin, or in unrepentant sin toward God. In a lifestyle to sin. We were dead. You were dead to God, to righteousness, and to heaven eternal.

Some of you still are.

We Were Disobedient

Paul continues to make it clear that in our sin and rebellion that we disobedient toward God, following the world and the course that the world and flesh set before us.

As a people of disobedience we followed not the things of Christ.

Christ is clear that this is not how we were called to live as He offers something more and better.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Actually, Scripture goes so far here as to say that in this lifestyle, we are following the prince of the power of the air. Satan!

James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

It is good to be reminded that apathy against God isn’t just apathy, its enmity. If you do not follow Christ, you are His enemy!

In doing this, you are disobedient, following Satan, and we are being guided by our sinful desires.

Each of us has temptation that we have to work through, and when we were dead, those temptations became desires which became actions.

Having a temptation and a desire to sin are very different things. The fact is, once we are made alive, we must trust the Spirit of God to help us by removing the desire to sin even though we may be tempted.

Because of this, we were doomed for eternity in Hell.

But, look at the next word in this passage!

Who We Are — Alive

Ephesians 2:4–7 “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.”

BUT

Paul is saying that though we were dead, we now are something different. We are now alive in Christ!

Who are you in Christ? You are alive!

The greatest thing about this is that Paul shows us why we are alive.

It starts with God’s Character.

God’s Character

This removes any pride that you or I made ourselves alive! We are alive because God is rich in mercy, His love is great, so is His grace.

Therefore, He makes us alive with Christ.

It isn’t about what you can do for you cannot work yourself closer to salvation, rather it is about Christ Jesus and WHO He is! Because God is so good, we can be saved!

God’s character makes it happen. These aren’t just things He does, this is who He is! He is the God of salvation, grace, mercy, and love. So, realize that you cannot be good enough to come to Christ, rather, Christ is good enough to be able to invite you to Himself!

This isn’t only because of God’s character, but because of His work as well.

God’s Work

Ephesians 2:5–7 “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.”

Note: it doesn’t read “even if you were dead in sins” or “for those of you who were dead in sin” Rather, Paul is clear that when you were all dead in sin, Christ intervened.

He made us alive with Himself by offering repentance through his death, burial, adn resurrection.

Through this amazing grace, you can be saved! If you but repent.

He also raised us up with Christ!

This is a clear picture of the resurrection. We were dead in our sin, and when we accept that with repentance, we bury the old self and are raised up anew in Christ.

Then, Paul is clear that we are then seated with Christ.

What this means is simple: Now that you have the Spirit of God living within you, you have power over sin and evil.

You can overcome because He overcame. You have power only through the Spirit of an almighty God!

Paul finishes this section by saying all of this is so that the riches, the beauty, the power of His grace and kindness can be shown throughout the ages.

We are His amazing creation who need His amazing grace. Show it off! Show people what Christ can do for you!

Who We Continue to Be — His Workmanship

Ephesians 2:8–10 “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.”

Paul is clear in beginning the last part of this section that salvation from God is a gift!

What is a gift? It is something that we receive from someone because we need or want it and they care enough to make it happen!

The gift of God was given to us through the work of Christ on the cross.

God loved us enough, even in our sin, that He left heaven, came to earth, lived, suffered, taught, was then arrested, beaten, and killed.

Then He conquered death and the grave. Rose from the dead. And is in Heaven today preparing a place for you and I to spend eternity with Him.

It is so important to know that salvation is not based on our works or anything that we do. You cannot be good enough to get to heaven. You cannot read the Bible enough or go to church enough to go to heaven.

It is so much simpler. All you have to do is accept the grace that Jesus offers and repent of your sin! That is all!

The great theologian Jonathan Edwards said, “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary”

It is a gift.

Because it is a gift, Paul is clear that we cannot boast about it — except in Christ.

We can boast in Christ and what Christ did. We cannot boast that we got saved based on some other basis.

You cannot boast in someone elses work! If you didn’t die on the cross for the forgiveness of mankind, then you cannot brag that you are a “good Christian.” All you can do is brag on a good Savior that saved you from the miry pits of your sin!

When you do this, then instead of believing that good works produces salvation you will live out the truth that salvation results in good works!

When you are made alive in Christ, that should encourage you to do good things to lead humanity to Christ!

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Salvation Results in Good Works (2:10)

The Reformers used to say, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.” We are not saved by faith plus works but by a faith that does work. We have a living faith, a functioning faith!

The word used to describe us as God’s workmanship is the same word used to describe the beauty of God’s creation in Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

In other words, people should see our works and instead of saying “wow what a great person” they should say “that is a work of God!”

Paul goes on to say that we were created in Christ Jesus for this reason! We were dead, but now we are made alive to be His workmanship to point the world, not to us, but to Christ!

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Salvation Results in Good Works (2:10)

Faith, however, is a divine work in us. It changes us and makes us to be born anew of God (

Paul is clear that we once walked in sin and in darkness — but now we must be made alive in Christ. We must have a faith in God that produces a beautiful array of good works!

SONG

This is grace!

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Salvation Results in Good Works (2:10)

Do you know this grace? If so, you can identify with John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace,” who said,

I am not what I ought to be—ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be—I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be—soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” (Christian Spectator, 186)

Conclusion

Did you know Jesus cares enough about you and your situation that He comes to you with a great gift?

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Will you open?

Are you ready to receive this great grace?

Are you ready to have this wonderful faith?

Are you ready to be brought to life from death?

Who are you in Christ? With His saving grace, you can be made alive!

Put away your disobedience and trust in the Way who is Christ.

*salvation plea*

It is from Christ, because of Christ, and through Christ. His character and His work. Accept Him. Reject the world. Boast in Him. Work for Him!