From Death to Life

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Ephesians 2:1–20 NIV

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Introduction

Movie Clip??

I’m guessing that most of you have seen “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart (released on Christmas day, 1946)

George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all - and it's Christmas! As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence - who then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn't been for all his good deeds over the years.

When George hit bottom, he thought there was no hope. Everything sort of went black for him. He couldn’t see life the right way. Everything turned out right in the end, thanks to divine intervention.

The reason we have hope today is because of divine intervention…and not from an angel trying to earn His wings…but from the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Summary of

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church to broaden their horizons in the Lord — they were a young church and he wanted them to better understand God’s plan and His grace. He wanted them to come to appreciate the high goals God has for His people.

In verses 1-14, Paul reminds them that they had been saved, not only for their personal benefit, but also to bring honor and praise to God.

Ephesians 1:10 NIV

to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Ephesians 1:10–13 NIV

to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

After explaining God’s goals for the church, Paul prayed that the Lord would give them the Spirit of wisdom and and that the Lord would reveal to them the depth of the hope to which they had been called. He prayed that their eyes would be opened to the inheritance they have in Christ, to the power they have in Christ — the same power that raised Him from the dead. That they would clearly see that Jesus is above all rule and authority wherever and whenever it may be found.

Ephesians 1:22–23 NIV

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:

In chapter 2, after Paul had reminded them of God’s plan for His people, he goes back and reminds them, step by step, How God fulfills His plan in our lives.

Every single person on this planet is blind to real life if they haven’t surrendered their lives to Christ. The Bible says they are spiritually dead…blind to the truth, held captive to sin. I think of Mr. Potter in “It’s a wonderful life.” He was as blind and lost as they come: greedy, selfish, and sneaky.

Because of that devastating condition, we deserve to experience God’s wrath. This is a hopeless condition…unless we have an encounter with the Living Christ — He is the one that turns hopelessness on it’s head and brings peace, hope and joy to all that call upon Him to saved them from their impossible situation.

When our human condition meets God's grace, the "impossible" happens

What is our “human condition”?

WITHOUT CHRIST, WE ARE HOPELESS

Exposition: Apart from Jesus, people are in hopeless situation — no matter who they are — no matter how rich or poor — no matter how much or little education they have — no matter how nice or mean. Paul made it clear that this included both Gentile and Jew — all mankind…hopeless

Ephesians 2:1–3 NIV

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Eph 2

Hopelessly Dead

Ephesians 2:1 NIV

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

Ephesians 2:1

This is not a figure of speech — but a literal fact

Outside of Christ, everyone is spiritually dead — and our spiritual condition determines everything else about us…including what happens after we die.

What separates us from Christ?

Our trespasses

Trespass: A false step / crossing the line / deviating from the right path

Our sins

Sin: Missing the mark / falling short of a standard

Before God we are both rebels (transgressions…crossing a line…intentional) and failures (sins…falling short of God’s standard)

Ephesians 4:18 NIV

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

Dead where it matters most…spiritually

The area that matters most is not: the body, the mind, the personality, but the soul

This is what all humanity has in common…without Christ — hopelessly dead

and...

Hopelessly Enslaved and Condemned

Where are you today? Dead in sin and trespasses or alive in Christ

We were all created by God and for God — when we live outside of His grace, we are lost

Our great hope is that our Good Shepherd, Jesus has made a way for us to get where God intended for us to be…part of His flock…the family of God

Ephesians 2:2–3 NET

in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience,among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest …

Apart from Jesus, we cannot know true freedom — only miserable bondage to forces we have no power over

What are these forces?

If death comes from sin, what causes sin?

THE WORLD

The social/cultural value system that is alien to the ways of God

THE DEVIL — the spirit that is at work in this world

Source of temptation

A liar, murderer, and predator

THE FLESH

The passions of the flesh — which the wrong desires of both our minds and our bodies

Philippians 3:3–6 NIV

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

Phil 3:3-6

“By nature children of wrath”

God’s wrath

Not a bad temper

Never inconsistent — entirely predictable

God’s wrath is His personal, righteous, and constant hostility toward evil — it is His refusal to compromise with it — His resolve to condemn it.

God’s wrath is not contrary to His nature — He is perfect in all of His ways

Hopelessly Enslaved

Application:

What is the remedy to our hopeless situation?

What is the remedy to our hopeless situation?

People try many things to lift themselves up in this life

Where are you today? Dead in sin and trespasses or alive in Christ

Education — an important thing, to be sure, but one can have a ton of education and still be hopelessly lost

We were all created by God and for God — when we live outside of His grace, we are lost

Good laws for society

Our great hope is that our Good Shepherd, Jesus has made a way for us to get where God intended for us to be…part of His flock…the family of God

Again…important and necessary, but simply being a good citizen and a generous person, etc. doesn’t bring us back from our spiritually dead and hopeless situation

Our great hope is that our Good Shepherd, Jesus has made a way for us to get where God intended for us to be…part of His flock…the family of God

Radical diseases require radical treatment

Transitional : God’s wrath is not at odds with His love...

WITH CHRIST, HOPE NEVER CEASES

Exposition

The radical treatment we require was very costly…the life’s blood of Jesus

Ephesians 2:4–10 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

People try many things to lift themselves up in this life

We were children of wrath…BUT GOD

Education — an important thing, to be sure, but one can have a ton of education and still be hopelessly lost

Ephesians 2:4 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

Why did God give us the opportunity to escape His wrath and righteous judgment

He loves us more than we can ever imagine

His mercy overflows to all that call upon Jesus as Lord

Good laws for society

Mercy — Because of God’s love for us, He offers mercy…compassion on us even though we deserve His judgment. Mercy means that He withholds wrath from us when we come to Him.

We were dead: dead people stay dead…BUT GOD

…in His mercy...

Ephesians 2:5 NIV

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Again…important and necessary, but simply being a good citizen and a generous person, etc. doesn’t bring us back from our spiritually dead and hopeless situation

Grace: God gives us what we don’t deserve, the privilege to become sons and daughters…brother and sisters in Christ.

We were powerlessly enslaved to sin…BUT GOD

We were condemned to face His wrath…BUT GOD

Radical diseases require radical treatment

Ephesians 2:6–7 NIV

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

All of this is only possible through Jesus…our victor, the one who paid the price to set us free from bondage and judgment.

An important thing to notice:

made US alive

raised US up & seated US in the heavenly realms

expressed His kindness to US

God has united us as His people — what unites us?

We share in Jesus’ resurrection — because we have been raised into a new life — the most important thing we have in common

We were once dead, but have been made spiritually alive and alert — were in captivity but now are seated with Christ

Be amazed at what God has done

Ephesians 2:8–10 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Our salvation is not our own doing...

It is God’s gift

Our salvation is not because of our works

We have no room to boast about it

We are GOD’S handiwork…His masterpiece

We were dead…now we are God’s handiwork because we are in Christ

Because of God’s creative action in make us brand new in Him

Dead people cannot raise themselves from the dead

Before coming to salvation in Jesus…we walked in sin and transgression

Now we walk in good works which God has planned for us to do

The contrast is between 2 lifestyles

Evil and good

The contrast is between 2 masters

The devil and God

CHALLENGE

When our human condition meets God's grace, the "impossible" happens

We are transformed

We are transformed

from dead to alive

from enslaved to being free

from condemned to having a clean slate

Why preach this message at Christmas time?

Because the only reason we can have life, freedom, a clean slate, and a powerful relationship with God is because Jesus willingly took on flesh…humanity, born a babe in a manger

Christmas is about the immeasurable, undeserved love, grace, and mercy offered to us through the Messiah…Jesus Christ

Because the message Christ is the most important message we can preach